Shipment
The Core Facility Metabolomics receives biological research samples, including animal by-products and GMO material, which require customs documentation and prior approval before shipping. Read the critical points below and consult the full instruction document before arranging any shipment.
Shipment Instructions – Customs Regulated Materials
Critical shipping points
Approval first: shipments containing animal by-products or GMO material must be approved before shipping. The order is: complete the documents → Core Facility review → BMG approval → Malenstein (customs broker) approval → arrange transport. Do not ship before all approvals are in. Do not contact Malenstein directly; this runs via BMG.
Classification: all samples ship as Biological Substance, Category B (UN3373), packed per IATA PI650. We do not accept Category A (UN2814) materials.
Biosafety: only Risk Category 1 and 2 (BSL1, BSL2) materials. No BSL3/BSL4 or Risk Category 3/4.
Temperature & packaging: ship at the appropriate temperature (frozen on dry ice, refrigerated, or ambient). Double-package in leak-proof containers with absorbent. Label the box with the assigned project number and label each sample unambiguously.
Incoterm: DDP only; all shipping and customs costs are the sender's responsibility.
Carriers: we strongly recommend QuickSTAT, Marken, or World Courier. We advise against FedEx and TNT, which handle customs clearance independently and frequently cause delays and loss of samples.
Living animal cell lines (e.g. CHO, Vero) are not animal by-products.
Which documents do you need
The required documents depend on origin and material type (animal by-products, GMO/pathogens, human, mixed). The instruction document contains a decision flowchart and a reference table. A Commercial Invoice is required for all shipments; the EU Commercial Document (handelsdocument) is required for all animal by-product shipments entering or moving within the EU.
Shipment Instructions – Customs Regulated Materials
Templates and labels
Commercial Invoice template - all shipments
EU commercial Document (handelsdocument) - all animal by by-product shipments entering or within the EU
Import Exemption Application Form - non-EU imports of animal by-products
Import Form - Pathogens and GMOs (non-ABP) - non-EU imports of pathogens/GMOs without animal by-products
EU adress label - intra-EU / general shipments (includes UN3373)
Non-EU dispatch label - non-EU imports (broker + consignee, includes UN3373)
CAT1 label - animal by by-product shipments Print labels at 100% / actual size so the UN3373 diamond stays at least 50 × 50 mm.
Sample receipt
Monday to Thursday, 08:30-16:00 CET. Friday, 08:30-12:00 (noon)
Our laboratory is closed on the following holidays:
2026
New year's day - January 1
Easter - April 5 and 6
Kings day - April 27
Liberation day - May 5
Ascension day - May 14
Pentecost - May 24 and 25
Christmas - December 25 and 26
Shipping costs are the responsibility of the researcher. Our laboratory does not accept responsibility for shipping costs, which may include additional charges for customs clearance.
Payment information
All payments should be made within 30 days of receiving the invoice, with reference to the invoice number, to ING account no. 653157363, BIC INGBNL2A, IBAN NL87 INGB 0653 1573 63, account holder Stichting Amsterdam UMC. Bank transfers only, no cheques. VAT identification number: NL855546670B01.
Contact:
For regular mail only (NOT for sample shipment)
Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases (F0-118)
Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC
P.O. Box 22700
1100 DE AMSTERDAM
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 20 566 5393
E-mail: Core Facility Metabolomics metabolomics@amsterdamumc.nl