HS codes are ln fact very specific, but have little to do with valuation, they are for classification purposes. Many specific goods have a wide range of values - a dress from the House of Dior does not compare in valuation to a dress from Walmart.
In most developed countries the importer is responsible for all papers and declarations relating to an importation, including making sure the exporter sends the correct paperwork. It is the importer who can be re-assessed, fined, charged wtih fraud, face a larger fine imposed by the courts, or even be imprisoned. It is also the importer's responsibility to know whether the article they purchased is allowed, requires an import permit, or is limited in various ways that could affect them. Both the USA and UK have websites with excellent information directed at people who are buying online, so they don't end up with sad surprises. The only circumstance I could think of that would involve notifying the authorities in the exporter's country would be in the case of international criminal activities or a CITES violation. I suppose if an exporter/seller became noticed because s/he habitually undervalued customs declarations, and their shipments were habitually re-assessed, that the appropriate authorities in their country could be notified. With computerized systems and the international sharing of all types of information, this could become a reality.
But right now, pj, I think I would up the ante and say it's more likely I would be struck by lightning than that an RCMP officer would come calling on me for a low valuation.
Customs/Immigration officers are highly trained, and develop a "nose" for sniffing out suspicious imports. However, the reality is they are mostly understaffed, more concerned with drug and weapons trafficking, human trafficking, large frauds, elephant ivory, and all kinds of more important illegal activities. On the other hand, there are more and more small shipments being imported by individuals through the mail systems, meaning fewer are presented with completed customs papers. The addition of the HS code is meant to make the job of clearing these faster, thus giving more time for inspections of a different type - perhaps focusing more on false values and other smaller infractions.
I written before in these forums about the need to take seriously the choice of HS code, and I believe we also need to take seriously the choice of declared value. As I've read here so many times before, our job as sellers is not done until the buyer receives their goods. The choices we make in these 2 areas could impact that end result. Most of you have never even been in a bonded warehouse, let alone in the criminal investigations branch of a foreign Customs Department. Believe me, I seen bored Customs Officers hold up shipments because they didn't like the truck driver, opening every box in a mixed bonded shipment on a full 16-wheeler, checking every line on the papers against the items; hold up clearance because the importer didn't have the paperwork in the order the officer preferred, and be just all-around jerks about nothing at all. And that's in Canada - in less developed countries it's worse, very unpredictable and full of theft and bribery. Using the right HS code, declaring the correct (selling price) valuation, putting an invoice (not a packing slip, which goes inside the box for the receiver to check the contents, does not have pricing, and is not used for Customs valuation) on the outside of the package, behind the shipping label - these are three easy ways you can help to ensure that your buyer receives their goods in a timely fashion.
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