Freight Consolidation

To begin, you'll need to provide:

• Volume (in cubic meters or estimated number of cartons/pallets)
• Total weight (approximate)
• Estimated ready date from your factory
• Pickup location (typically your manufacturer in China)
• Destination country and fulfillment hub

Once we have your details, we can begin preparing a shipping quote. Keep in mind:

• VAT/import duties (particularly in the EU/US) are not included in the quote
• Factory pickup to our consolidation warehouse in China isn't included in the initial quote. However, if it's needed due to low shipment volume, we'll coordinate everything smoothly once you confirm.

Submitting your cargo information early improves your chances of securing space in the next container and saving money.

Also, it is very important to understand the concept of "Dead Freight". If you book space for 20CBM (10 pallets) and at the last minute you change your cargo to 16CBM (8 pallets), then you will still pay for the extra 2 pallets whether you load them or not.

You should Google the meaning of "Dead Freight", and/or read this article.

You may receive two freight quote options for the same cargo. Please review both options and choose the one that best fits your timeline and budget.

Standalone Freight

This is an LCL shipment. Your cargo ships independently and does not need to wait for other creators' cargo to fill a container. The expected departure timing will depend on the quote details shown for your cargo.

Freight Consolidation

With this option, we group creators by destination and timing to fill entire containers. Once enough volume is gathered:

• We arrange pickup from your factory to our consolidation warehouse in China
• A shipping date is booked based on readiness and container availability
• You'll receive estimated timelines and costs for approval

This can reduce freight cost, but the consolidation process may take up to 30 days because it depends on gathering enough cargo from multiple creators and waiting for the participating productions to be completed.

When the shipment is confirmed:

• Your cargo is delivered to our consolidation warehouse in China
• It is loaded into a 40HQ container a few days before the scheduled departure
• The container is moved to port and then shipped by sea

Typical transit time is 45-60 days, depending on destination.

You'll receive updates as your shipment progresses — including pickup, container load, ship departure, and estimated arrival.

Once the container arrives at your destination country:

• Our team arranges final delivery to your fulfillment hub
• All customs and import coordination are handled for you
• If additional documents are required (e.g., CE certificate for the EU), our consolidation warehouse in China will work with your factory to supply them

All you need to provide is:

• Packing list
• Commercial invoice
• (Optionally) CE certificate if required in the EU

Everything else is managed on your behalf.

Freight consolidation is built for creators like you — campaigns that don't need a full container, but still want professional, reliable international shipping. You only pay for the space you use. You benefit from shared costs, simplified logistics, and clear communication throughout.

It's collaborative shipping, with the guidance and structure of a dedicated logistics partner.

Start by gathering your cargo details — and we'll take care of the rest.

If you do not have a business entity at the destination country (for example you are shipping to an EU hub and you are a US company), then we (Hive) can act as the Importer Of Record (IOR) on your behalf, and take care of all the necessary paperwork.

Below you can see how this service work using as an example the import to EU.

The scope of this service is the following:

1. Coordinate international transportation from the supplier’s facility (e.g., China) to the EU entry point (normally Germany or Greece).
2. Act as Importer of Record for customs purposes, using its Greek EORI and VAT numbers.
3. Handle customs clearance, payment of import duties, import VAT, and related fees.
4. Arrange onward delivery to fulfillment centers or warehouses as instructed by the Client.
5. Provide documentation, including customs declarations and transport proofs.

As far as the ownership of the goods is concerned, the following apply:

1. For customs and tax compliance purposes only, legal title to the goods shall be deemed to transfer to Hive at the point of export from the non-EU supplier, and shall automatically transfer back to you immediately after customs clearance in the EU.
2. Hive’s temporary ownership exists solely to enable lawful importation and shall not constitute a commercial sale of the goods.
3. You remain the beneficial owner of the goods and retain full responsibility for payment to the supplier/manufacturer.

For the EU specifically, there are the following implications as far as Import VAT is concerned.

1. Hive shall pay import VAT and customs duties to the relevant customs authority as required by law.
2. You acknowledge that:
    - Hive, as Importer of Record, is the sole entity entitled to deduct or reclaim import VAT.
   - You will have no right to reclaim import VAT paid on your behalf, unless you have a subsidiary with a valid EU VAT ID.
   - VAT and duties that cannot be reclaimed, will be included in the Service Fee or charged as pass-through costs.

As of July 2026, to import products into the EU and US, you will need to supply to the proper authorities an SKU List that includes the right HTS Code for your product. Find the right HTS Code from here.

The HTS Code, classifies the type of your product and then dictates:

• Any Duties that need to be paid during import.
• Any Tariffs that need to be paid during import.
• Any specific Certificates that need to be presented during import.
• Any logos and other warnings that may need to be printed on top of your product's box.

For example if you product is a boardgame, then the HTS Code is "9504.90.60".

Products Intended for Children Under 14 (Toy Safety Directive)

The EU Toy Safety Directive applies to products that are intended for use in play by children under 14 years of age.

If your product falls within this definition, you must:

• Affix the CE marking to the product and/or its packaging.
• Prepare an EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC).
• Maintain a Technical File demonstrating compliance with the Toy Safety Directive (typically including EN 71 test reports and other supporting documentation).
• Be prepared to provide this documentation to EU customs or market surveillance authorities upon request.

• The product's design
• Packaging
• Artwork
• Marketing materials
• Intended audience
• How and where the product is sold

Simply labeling a product as "14+" does not guarantee that it is exempt from the Toy Safety Directive.

Products Intended for Ages 14+

If your game is genuinely intended for consumers aged 14 years and older, it will generally fall outside the scope of the Toy Safety Directive.

However, it must still comply with the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). This regulation requires that all consumer products placed on the EU market are safe.

As the manufacturer (or importer), you are responsible for ensuring the product's safety and maintaining appropriate technical documentation demonstrating compliance with applicable legislation, including chemical safety requirements where relevant.

Because the Toy Safety Directive does not apply, you must not affix the CE marking solely under the GPSR.

Documentation Required

Depending on how your product is classified, you will need to provide one of the following:

If your product is classified as a toy (under the Toy Safety Directive):

• EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
• Supporting EN 71 test reports and Technical File (Minimum: EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 Safety of toys-Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties. EN 71-2:2020 Safety of toys-Part 2: Flammability. EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021 Safety of toys-Part 3: Migration of certain elements)

If your product is classified as a 14+ product (under the GPSR):

• REACH Declaration of Compliance (covering applicable chemical safety requirements)
• Any supporting safety documentation requested by the authorities

Customs Considerations

Although a genuine 14+ hobby game is generally exempt from the Toy Safety Directive, customs officials may occasionally question whether a product has been classified correctly.

If they determine that the product should be considered a toy, they may request evidence of compliance with the Toy Safety Directive before allowing the shipment to proceed.

For this reason, some publishers choose to voluntarily comply with the Toy Safety Directive (including EN 71 testing and CE marking) even for 14+ hobby games, as it can simplify customs clearance and reduce the risk of delays.

Documentation Required by Us

As your Importer of Record, we will require documentation demonstrating compliance with the applicable EU legislation.

Depending on your product's classification, this will normally be either:

• the EU Declaration of Conformity (supported by the relevant toy safety documentation), or
• a REACH Declaration of Compliance together with any supporting safety documentation required under the GPSR.

United Kingdom

The same principles generally apply in the United Kingdom.

Products classified as toys must comply with the UK toy safety legislation and bear the UKCA marking (or the CE marking where still accepted under current UK rules).

Products intended solely for consumers aged 14 and over are generally subject to the UK's general product safety legislation rather than the toy regulations.

Consumer products imported into the United States that are subject to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations must comply with the applicable U.S. safety standards before they can be imported.

Depending on the type of product, this typically requires either a:

• Children's Product Certificate (CPC) for products intended primarily for children (generally ages 12 and under), or
• General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) for general-use consumer products that are subject to mandatory CPSC safety regulations.

The required certificate must be supported by the appropriate laboratory testing required under the applicable U.S. regulations.

At the moment of writing this article (Jul 2026) we know of the following examples:

• 9504.90.6000: Board games, and board game accessories, are affected.
• 9504.40.0000: custom card games such as trading card games or other custom card games (no board), are NOT affected.
• 8473.30.5100: Game mats, playmats, they can be considered as mousepads or deskmats and are NOT affected.
• 4901.99.0070: TTRPG books, hardbound books are NOT affected.
• 4901.99.0093: Soft cover TTRPG books, rulebooks are NOT affected.

How the CPSC Evaluates a Product's True Age Group

A publisher cannot just slap a "14+" sticker on a toddler's game to dodge safety laws. According to the CPSC Age Determination Guidelines, investigators evaluate multiple factors to see if a game is truly meant for older audiences:

• Manufacturer Intent and Labeling: The official age statement on the box.
• Marketing and Advertising: Whether the game's commercials, descriptions, and imagery are targeted toward adults, teens, or small children.
• Common Recognition: Whether the general public naturally views and uses the game as an adult/hobbyist product or a children's toy.
• Physical Characteristics: The complexity of the rules, the reading level required, the themes (e.g., historical warfare vs. cartoon animals), and the physical design of the pieces.

Common Certificates/Test needed for CPC:

• ASTM F963-17 / ASTM F963-23
• Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) compliance
• Phthalate testing

New eFiling Requirements (Effective July 8, 2026)

Beginning July 8, 2026, the U.S. government requires importers of regulated consumer products to electronically submit certificate information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through its ACE (Automated Commercial Environment) system before or at the time the shipment is entered into the United States.

Previously, manufacturers and importers were generally only required to maintain these certificates and provide them upon request. Under the new rules, certificate information must now be submitted electronically as part of the customs entry process.

The eFiling requirement does not introduce new testing or certification requirements. Instead, it changes how existing compliance documentation is submitted and verified.

The electronic filing must include information such as:

• Product identifier (SKU, UPC, model number, or equivalent)
• Which type of certificate (GCC or CPC) applies to the product
• Date and place of manufacture
• Date of the most recent compliance testing
• Testing laboratory information. IMPORTANT: Choosing the right laboratory can save you a lot of time and money! Some laboratories are certified/accredited partners for both Amazon and the US Customs Authorities, e.g. "Eurofins" and "ITS-Intertek". Make sure you choose one that is a partner of both, to avoid your certificates being rejected, and you having to pay to re-issue them.
• Contact information for the party maintaining the compliance records

This information must match the corresponding CPC or GCC and the supporting test reports.

Documentation Required by Us

As your U.S. Importer of Record, we will require the appropriate compliance informatin and documentation before your shipment departs for the United States, for each SKU that is affected by these changes.

The steps that you need to follow to comply are:

Step 1: In the "SKU List" of Hive you will need to fill out for each SKU you will be shipping with us the: Code, Description, HTS Code, Barcode, Age From and Upload the relevant certificates. If your product is in a category that requires certification, we will need from you either a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) if your product is for 14+, or a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) if it is for less than 14.

Step 2: In the "Freight Consolidation" you need to declare which SKUs will be part of the shipment.

Step 3: We will get the SKU information from our platform and we will submit it to the US eFilling system. This will give us three numbers: Importer ID, Laboratory ID and Product ID.

Step 4: We will give you those numbers and you need to give us back a Commercial Invoice that includes all the following columns per SKU: Code, Description, Barcode, HTS Code, Importer ID, Laboratory ID and Product ID. This information MUST match the information in Hive, because that's the one we will have submitted to the proper authorities.

Without this information, we will be unable to complete the mandatory eFiling process, which may result in customs delays, shipment holds, or refusal of entry into the United States.

We will need this information supplied to us BEFORE the shipment leaves the factory!

For the EU, you must have a European address printed on the box. If we (Hive) are acting as your IOR, then please ask us and we will give you the relevant information.

For the UK, you also need to have a UK address and a very specific wording on the box. It needs to say "Imported and distributed in the UK by: <Company Name>", followed by a UK address.

The above are needed to be compliant with the EU and UK regulations, so that you can sell your games to distributors, on Amazon and import them to those countries without issues at the border authorities.

Here is a sample of a box that shows all of the above:

What is expected to be seen on your box:

• A Barcode. Read this article for more information.
• A Production Number: This is a code that includes the SKU and usually a date so that you can identify the exact print-run that this product came from. If you are working with multiple factories, then the code should also be able to designate the factory this product came from.
• Choking Hazard Warning. If your product has small components, no matter what the target audience's age may be, you need to clearly display the Choking Hazard logo in English. If you intend to sell your games in Germany, and specifically at Essen Spiel, then you need to have the same logo in German also on the box. This is important, as the authorities can shut down your booth if you are not compliant.
• Your company's information.
• Any Importer of Record's information. Read the article above for more information.
• The "Made In <COUNTRY>" label.
• Certification markings (if applicable), or a "14+" for the age that this product is targeted to, and/or a "Not a Toy" label.
• Having your logo and and some copyright/trademark labels is also good.