What is DDP?
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is a shipping arrangement where you, the sender, pay all duties and import taxes upfront — the recipient never sees a separate bill. DDP makes the customer experience much smoother but it requires more upfront work because Stallion must classify each product correctly and present all regulatory data to customs.
This article covers the requirements to use DDP for products subject to FDA and PGA oversight — primarily cosmetics, beauty products, and food-contact articles.
FDA and PGA at a glance
| Term | Meaning |
|---|
| FDA restriction | A regulatory requirement enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for products that impact public health (labelling, safety, ingredients) |
| PGA | Partner/Participating Government Agency — any U.S. agency (FDA, EPA, USDA, etc.) that sets specific import rules |
| MoCRA | Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act — the framework FDA uses to regulate cosmetics |
If your product falls under any of these regulations, you cannot ship DDP until the compliance steps below are complete.
Products affected
The following categories typically require FDA/PGA registration:
- Makeup
- Nail polishes
- Shaving creams and grooming products
- Perfumes
- Face and body cleansers
- Haircare products
- Moisturizers and other skincare
- Food-contact products (utensils, packaging, etc.)
Steps to enable DDP
1. Register your manufacturer with the FDA
Use the FDA Cosmetics Direct Portal at direct.fda.gov to:
- Create an account (or log in if you have one).
- Complete the facility registration form. You'll need:
- Facility legal name and address
- DUNS number
- U.S. agent (if your facility is foreign)
- Contact person
- Submit product listings — one per SKU or grouped — including brand name, product name, category, description, ingredient list (INCI format), package size, and label file.
2. Submit product details to Stallion
Once your facility and products are registered with the FDA, send the products template with the following data elements to [email protected]:
| Element | Value |
|---|
fdaProgramCode | COS (cosmetics) or FOO (food-contact) |
fdaProcessingCode | Leave blank for cosmetics; CCW for food-contact |
fdaIntendedUseCode | 100 (personal use) or 130 (consumer use). For food-contact, 130.029 |
fdaSourceTypeCode | 39 |
fdaProductCodeNumber | Find using the FDA Product Code Builder |
| HTS code | Harmonized Tariff Schedule code |
| Manufacturer info | Name, address, DUNS or FEI |
3. Enroll the product on Stallion for classification
Stallion classifies each registered product internally so it can be shipped DDP. This happens after step 2; products move into the Approved state when classification is complete and customs data is in place.
4. Set up Importer of Record (IOR) and Customs Bond
DDP shipments require an active Importer of Record and a customs bond.
| Item | One-time / Annual | Cost (USD) |
|---|
| Importer of Record setup | One-time | $150 |
| Customs Bond | Annual | $400 |
Contact [email protected] to begin the IOR and bond setup with the designated customs broker.
5. Verify product details on the Products page
For every approved product, double-check that:
- The FDA Product Code is set
- All required data elements are filled
- The HTS code matches the classification
- Manufacturer info is current
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) filing pulls directly from these fields. Missing or incorrect data will cause shipment delays or rejection.
After setup
Once classification, IOR, and bond are in place, DDP becomes available as a rate option for affected products at the Rates step of shipment creation. Stallion handles the customs filing using the product data on file.
Accurate declarations matter
Even for non-DDP shipments, accurate retail value and product descriptions are required by Stallion, carriers, and international customs. Inaccurate declarations can result in:
- Package delays
- Penalties
- Account closure
