Export Documentation & Compliance Services
The certificates and cleaning that decide whether used machinery, vehicles and boats clear at destination: USDA phytosanitary certificates, certificates of origin certified by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, and biosecurity pressure washing at our yard. We do the work in-house and send every document with your bill of lading.
On this page
Our compliance services
A used machine that arrives dirty, without the right certificate or with an origin that does not match its paperwork can be held, cleaned, treated or sent back at the buyer's cost. These three services exist to stop that from happening.
USDA phytosanitary certificate
We file in APHIS's PCIT system, clean the cargo so it passes and book the federal inspection before loading. Required for used farm and forestry machinery to the EU and Peru.
Certificate of origin
We prepare the certificate, have the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce certify it and send it with the bill of lading. For FTA shipments we help set out the origin statement.
Equipment washdown
We pressure wash machinery, vehicles and boats at our yard before loading and issue a certificate of cleaning your buyer can verify online. Built for Australia, New Zealand and the EU.
How they fit into your shipment
- 1
Booking
We check the destination's biosecurity, phytosanitary and origin rules and tell you which documents the shipment needs.
- 2
Arrival at our yard
The machine, vehicle or boat is checked in, photographed and its plate, VIN or serial number recorded for the certificates.
- 3
Washdown
Our team pressure washes it and issues our certificate of cleaning.
- 4
Inspection
If the destination needs a phytosanitary certificate, the APHIS inspection happens now, before loading.
- 5
Documents
We prepare the certificate of origin, have it certified by the Savannah chamber and send everything with the bill of lading.
What the main destinations ask for
| Destination | Cleaning | Phytosanitary certificate | Certificate of origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Inspected on arrival; BMSB treatment September to April | Not usually | Not needed for the FTA rate |
| New Zealand | Inside and out; MPI cleaning certificate | Not usually | If the buyer asks |
| Germany and the EU | Free of soil and plant debris | Required for farm and forestry machinery | If the buyer asks |
| Peru | Inside and out | Required for used agricultural machinery | Origin statement for the TPA rate |
| Chile | Inspected by SAG | Depends on the machine | Origin statement for the FTA rate |
| United Arab Emirates | Not usually | Not usually | Chamber-certified, plus invoice attestation |
Who issues what
| Document | Issued or certified by | Our part |
|---|---|---|
| Phytosanitary certificate (PPQ Form 577) | USDA APHIS | Apply in PCIT, prepare the cargo, arrange the inspection, deliver it |
| Generic certificate of origin | Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce | Prepare it and submit it for certification |
| FTA origin statement | The exporter, producer or importer | Help set out the data elements |
| Certificate of cleaning and disinfection | Seaway Export | Do the washdown and issue it |
| Consular legalization | The destination's embassy or consulate | Not offered; we flag it at booking |
Shipping services they support
Compliance work is booked together with the shipment it belongs to: heavy equipment export shipping, vehicle export shipping, boat export shipping and project cargo. Container fit and loading methods for machinery are covered in our guide to shipping heavy equipment overseas.
Sources
- 1. Cleanliness requirements for imported machinery, equipment and spare parts, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 2. Seasonal measures for brown marmorated stink bug: target high-risk goods and offshore treatment, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 3. Steps to importing vehicles, machinery or parts: cleaning inside and out, cleaning certificate, on-arrival verification, Ministry for Primary Industries (New Zealand) (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 4. Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, Annexes VII and XI: used agricultural and forestry machinery need a phytosanitary certificate, EUR-Lex (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 5. RD 027-2024-MIDAGRI-SENASA-DSV: used agricultural machinery, SENASA (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 6. Resolución 3103/2016: phytosanitary requirements for used machinery, Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
- 7. UAE Country Commercial Guide: import requirements and documentation, U.S. International Trade Administration (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you issue phytosanitary certificates?
No. USDA APHIS issues them after inspecting the cargo. We are the applicant in APHIS's PCIT system: we prepare the cargo, file the application, arrange the inspection and deliver the certificate.
Which chamber of commerce certifies your certificates of origin?
The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, in Savannah, Georgia.
Do you provide consular legalization?
No. We do not provide consular legalization or attestation. We tell you at booking when a destination requires it and send the chamber-certified originals early.
Who does the pressure washing?
Our own team, at our Savannah-area yard. Each unit gets a certificate of cleaning and disinfection with a QR code your buyer can verify.
Can I book these services without shipping with you?
They are built around the shipments we book, because the certificates have to match our bill of lading and the cargo we load. Ask us about your case if you need one on its own.
Which destinations are strictest about used machinery?
Australia and New Zealand inspect used machinery on arrival and apply seasonal stink bug rules. The EU and Peru require a USDA phytosanitary certificate for farm and forestry machinery. Chile's SAG inspects used machinery for cleanliness.
Ready for an exact quote?
Tell us what you're shipping and where it's going — we respond with a locked-in rate within 1 business day.