An important stage after manufacturing of goods or their procurement is their preparation for shipment which involves packaging and labelling of goods to be exported. Proper packaging and labelling not only makes the final product look attractive but also save a huge amount of money by saving the product from wrong handling the export process.

Packaging

The primary role of packaging is to contain, protect and preserve a product as well as aid in its handling and final presentation. Packaging also refers to the process of design, evaluation, and production of packages. The packaging can be done within the export company or the job can be assigned to an outside packaging company. Packaging provides following benefits to the goods to be exported:

• Physical Protection- Packaging provides protection against shock, vibration, temperature, moisture and dust.
• Containment or agglomeration- Packaging provides agglomeration of small objects into one package for reason of efficiency and cost factor. For example it is better to put 1000 pencils in one box rather than putting each pencil in separate 1000 boxes.
• Marketing - Proper and attractive packaging play an important role in encouraging a potential buyer.
• Convenience- Packages can have features which add convenience in distribution, handling, display, sale, opening, use, and reuse.
• Security- Packaging can play an important role in reducing the security risks of shipment. It also provides authentication seals to indicate that the package and contents are not counterfeit. Packages also can include anti-theft devices, such as dye-packs, RFID tags, or electronic article surveillance tags, that can be activated or detected by devices at exit points and require specialized tools to deactivate. Using packaging in this way is a means of loss prevention.

Labeling

Like packaging, labeling should also be done with extra care. It is also important for an exporter to be familiar with all kinds of sign and symbols and should also maintain all the nationally and internationally standers while using these symbols. Labelling should be in English, and words indicating country of origin should be as large and as prominent as any other English wording on the package or label.

• Shipper's mark
• Country of origin
• Weight marking (in pounds and in kilograms)
• Number of packages and size of cases (in inches and centimeters)
• Handling marks (international pictorial symbols)
• Cautionary markings, such as "This Side Up."
• Port of entry
• Labels for hazardous materials

Marking

The surface to be marked should be smooth and clean. If packages are to be bonded, they can be marked before this is done; the hoops should not however, cover the markings.

It is better to choose a fast dyes for labelling purpose. Only fast dyes should be used for labeling. Essential data should be in black and subsidiary data in a less conspicuous colour; red and orange and so on. For food packed in sacks, only harmless dyes should be employed, and the dye should not come through the packing in such a way as to affect the goods.