Boston, United States
Customs clearance in Boston
Import and export clearance for shipments to and from Boston. Customs clearance in the United States is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
Industries in Boston and how we support them
Boston and Cambridge host one of the largest biotech and life sciences clusters in the world, centred on Kendall Square, together with universities, research hospitals and medical device manufacturers along Route 128. These companies ship clinical trial supplies, biological samples, research reagents and devices, often temperature-controlled and time-critical. We support them with air freight under our own air waybills via BOS, temperature-controlled transport with dry ice or active containers, On-Board Courier for irreplaceable samples, and Next Flight Out for urgent lab equipment. Import permits and FDA data are checked before the shipment departs.
Operational logistics facts for Boston
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) | Belly capacity to Europe and Asia, express freight | Short distance to Cambridge labs and hospitals |
| Kendall Square / Cambridge biotech cluster | Clinical samples, reagents and trial supplies | Temperature-controlled shipments close to the airport |
| Route 128 / I-95 corridor | Medical devices and technology manufacturing | Pick-up along the ring road around Boston |
| Port of Boston (Conley Terminal) | FCL/LCL containers to Europe and Asia | Regional sea freight option for New England |
Airports, seaports and connections in Boston
- AirportBoston Logan
BOS - SeaportPort of Boston
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is the main airport of New England, with widebody passenger flights to Europe and Asia that carry most of the region's international air cargo in the belly, plus freighter and express operations. Other airports in the region, such as Manchester-Boston Regional (MHT) and Worcester (ORH), play a smaller role for freight. By sea, the Port of Boston handles containers at the Conley Terminal in South Boston, with services mainly to Europe and Asia; much of New England's ocean freight also moves through the Port of New York and New Jersey.
I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) connects Logan via the Ted Williams Tunnel with the western suburbs, while I-93 and I-95/Route 128 form the ring road along which many technology and life sciences companies are located. Logan is close to downtown and Cambridge, which keeps delivery distances to the biotech labs short, although city traffic needs careful planning.
Clearance through the Ziem network in the United States
In the United States, customs entries are filed by a partner team in the Ziem network. They work under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures; our operations desk prepares the shipment data and remains your contact for the whole shipment.
Customs clearance in the United States
Ziem network
Customs clearance in the United States is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from the United States we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in the United States need an importer of record number and, for most formal entries, a customs bond.
Avoiding delays at customs
Most customs delays come from inconsistent documents: different values on invoice and packing list, missing HS codes or unclear goods descriptions. We review the documents against each other before departure, so the declaration in the United States can be filed without queries.
Frequently asked questions
Who clears biotech imports into Boston through customs?
Customs clearance is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network under the Ziem Logistics brand, to our procedures and with the shipment data we prepare. Entries are filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and you deal only with Ziem Logistics.
Which additional permits may biological samples need when arriving at Logan?
Depending on the material, a CDC import permit may be required for infectious biological agents, USDA permits for materials of animal origin, and FDA rules can apply to drugs and medical products. We check the requirements with you before the shipment departs.
How are clinical trial supplies valued for US customs?
Clinical trial supplies still need a declared value for customs, even if they are not sold. The value is usually based on production cost or a comparable basis. A clear commercial or pro forma invoice helps avoid questions at clearance.