Think You’ve Mastered International Shipping? Not Without These Labeling and Compliance Rules

International shipping is full of curveballs, but one area that often gets overlooked until it’s too late? Labeling compliance and business rule management.

If you’re an enterprise shipper expanding across borders, it’s not just about printing a label and sticking it on a box. Between evolving customs regulations, language requirements, and special handling for dangerous goods, international shipping labels come with a long list of must-knows.

Here’s what your shipping operation needs to keep in mind—and what your technology should be doing to stay ahead.

1. Not All Shipping Labels Are Created Equal

Most carriers today support paperless invoicing. That’s great news for automation. It means fewer documents to manage and faster parcel processing through scanning, weighing, and print-and-apply equipment.

But paperless options don’t cover every country.

In many cases, you’ll still need a printed commercial invoice or even an extra copy of the shipping label. If you’re using USPS to ship to an IPC (International Postal Council) country,  you may need a CN 22 (Form 2976) or a CP 72 (Form 2976a), which is a multi-part label.

This isn’t just a paperwork problem. It has real implications for how you design your fulfillment center. You’ll need space and tools to handle the labeling requirements for countries with more traditional or manual processes.

What to do: Make sure your shipping software includes business rules that automatically identify when a shipment needs extra documentation. Your platform should trigger the right forms and label formats based on the destination and carrier, without slowing down your team.

2. Language Requirements Are on the Rise

While most international carriers accept English on shipping labels, that’s beginning to change. Places like Quebec are starting to require that certain label fields appear in the local language.

Even when it’s not required, providing labels in the local language can be a smart move. It helps avoid delivery issues and improves the customer experience. But localizing your labels isn’t as easy as translating field names in Google Translate.

Carriers and customs authorities often expect specific terminology, formats, and layouts—and these can vary across borders and sorting facilities.

What to do: Ensure your shipping technology supports not only the carrier’s requirements, but also the destination country’s localization requirements. It should also give you flexibility to set label preferences by country, so you can deliver a consistent experience while staying compliant.

3. Dangerous Goods/Hazmat Will Always Add Layers of Complexity

Shipping dangerous goods internationally is a category of its own. It’s not just about following IATA regulations. You also have to factor in any additional ground transport rules that apply once the package lands in the destination country.

Many carriers use label markings to flag dangerous goods or limited quantities. These markings aren’t optional—they must appear if the item qualifies, and they need to be backed up by the right data.

If your shipping system isn’t configured correctly, those visual cues may not show up, and your shipment could get delayed, flagged, or rejected entirely. And that’s not all – the shipper can also be served with a fine from both the origin and destination countries on top of that.

What to do: Coordinate with your carrier and software provider to ensure all relevant data fields are included in your business rules. Your shipping platform should recognize when a shipment qualifies as dangerous goods and apply the correct labels and codes automatically.

4. Your Warehouse Setup Plays a Role Too

Label compliance isn’t just a software challenge. It’s also a physical one.

If your warehouse is designed solely for domestic shipments, international requirements like multi-label printing or attaching customs forms can be a bottleneck. You’ll need dedicated stations or processes to handle shipments that fall outside the paperless, one-label norm.

What to do: Factor international workflows into your warehouse design early. The right tools, printers, and processes can help you handle both streamlined and manual requirements without creating inefficiencies.

The Tech Behind the Scenes

None of this has to be a daily headache. With the right shipping software—especially one that integrates with platforms like Flavorcloud—you can automate many of these decisions.

From language rules to documentation needs to carrier-specific labeling formats, your platform should act as a compliance partner behind the scenes. That way, your team can focus on fulfillment instead of scrambling to troubleshoot rejected shipments.

Final Thought: Shipping Labels Carry More Than Just an Address

An international shipping label does more than tell the package where to go. It’s also your compliance document, your customs declaration, and your carrier-specific handshake.

If you get it wrong, your shipment might not go anywhere. But with the right shipping software and smart business rule management, you can handle complexity with confidence—and keep your global operations running smoothly.

Because in international shipping, every label tells a story. Make sure yours says the right thing.

Partnership Matters: Global Shipping, Without the Guesswork

Expanding internationally isn’t just about reaching new markets—it’s about meeting new rules. From evolving tariffs to region-specific labeling requirements, compliance is now a critical part of cross-border success. That’s why carrier diversification alone isn’t enough. It needs to be backed by smart infrastructure that understands the nuances of global shipping.

That’s where the ProShip and FlavorCloud partnership comes in.

By combining ProShip’s robust multi-carrier technology with FlavorCloud’s cross-border expertise, merchants get the tools to diversify carriers and comply confidently—whether it’s meeting EU label regulations or navigating customs clearance in Asia. The result? A more agile shipping strategy that turns complexity into opportunity.

[Click here to see how ProShip + FlavorCloud simplify global shipping →]

About ProShip, Inc.

ProShip, the industry-leading multi-carrier shipping software solution, allows high-volume enterprise shippers to automate carrier service optimization (rate shopping), and easily build and manage complex business rules all within one carrier-agnostic system. ProShip seamlessly integrates with your existing WMS, OMS, ERP systems, and other automation processes, scaling as your business grows. With both on-platform and private cloud hosting deployment options, ProShip empowers enterprise shippers to streamline complex workflows, maintain carrier compliance, decrease IT dependency through continuous updates, and find a quick ROI. Trusted by leading brands, ProShip is the last shipping software you’ll ever need. Visit www.proshipinc.com to learn more.