General Terms & Conditions

General Trading Conditions apply to all offers, quotations, and services provided by CliFar GmbH

A. Applicability and priority

1. ADSp 2017 applies. All services are performed exclusively on the basis of the German Freight Forwarders’ Standard Terms and Conditions 2017 (ADSp 2017). In case of doubt or discrepancies, the German version of ADSp 2017 shall prevail. Mandatory statutory provisions remain unaffected.

2. These conditions apply to all transport modes (road/air/sea), warehousing, customs-related support, and any ancillary logistics services provided by CliFar.

B. Quotations and booking

3. Non-binding quotation. All quotations are non-binding and subject to final acceptance, operational feasibility, and space/equipment availability.

4. Validity. Unless stated otherwise, quotations are valid as mentioned in ProForma  and only for shipments tendered within that period.

5. Basis of quotation. Rates are calculated using the shipment details provided by the client (commodity, Incoterm, pickup/delivery addresses, gross weight, dimensions, package count, special handling requirements, value, and any certificates/permits).

6. Surcharges / changes. Rates may change due to carrier/terminal/authority surcharges, fuel/security measures, peak season, congestion, route changes, or regulatory requirements up to the time of shipment and invoicing. If freight-related costs change by more than 3%, CliFar may re-rate/renegotiate accordingly.

7. General cargo assumption. Unless stated otherwise, rates are quoted for general, non-hazardous cargo. Any dangerous goods (ADR/IMDG/IATA DGR), temperature-controlled, oversized/heavy-lift, high-value, fragile, or restricted cargo must be declared in advance and confirmed in writing.

C. Scope of charges (what is / isn’t included)

8. Net prices. All quoted rates are net and exclude VAT/taxes/duties/levies and any third-party charges unless explicitly included.

9. Excluded unless stated. Unless expressly included, the quotation excludes (non-exhaustive): waiting time, storage, re-delivery, demurrage/detention, port/terminal handling, exams/scans/laboratory, special equipment (crane/forklift), escort/security measures, fines/penalties, amendments, extra documentation, and any carrier/terminal/authority-imposed surcharges.

10. Transport documents. Where applicable, one standard set of transport documents is included (e.g., B/L for sea, AWB for air). Any additional originals/sets and courier charges are chargeable.

D. Client duties: information, documents, packaging, compliance

11. Accuracy of information. The client/shipper is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all shipment information (HS codes, values, descriptions, weights/dimensions, marks, permits, licenses).

12. Documents and certificates. The client/shipper must provide all required documents and certificates for the entire route (export/import/transit) in time and in usable form. Any costs caused by missing/late/incorrect documents (inspections, storage, demurrage/detention, waiting, rework, penalties) are chargeable to the client.

13. Packaging/marking. Cargo must be packed, labelled, and secured suitably for the chosen transport mode and handling. CliFar and its partners may refuse cargo that is inadequately packed, misdeclared, or not compliant.

14. Dangerous/restricted goods. Dangerous goods must be declared and compliant with ADR/IMDG/IATA rules. The client bears all costs, consequences, and penalties arising from incorrect DG declaration, packing, marking, or documentation.

15. Sanctions / export-control / embargo. Shipment is subject to compliance with all applicable sanctions and export-control laws and carrier restrictions. CliFar may refuse, hold, suspend, or cancel shipments where compliance cannot be confirmed. All resulting costs are for the client and shipper/client are held liable against customs for import/export.

E. Transit time and performance

16. Transit times are estimates. Any schedules/ETD/ETA are non-binding estimates. CliFar is not liable for delay-related losses unless mandatory law provides otherwise.

17. Partial shipments / routing. Where operationally necessary, cargo may be shipped partially, re-routed, rolled, or transferred via alternative gateways/partners.

F. Storage, demurrage/detention, and non-collection

18. No free storage unless agreed. Warehousing/storage is chargeable unless a free time is expressly agreed in writing.

19. Non-collection/refusal. If the consignee does not accept/collect cargo at destination, all costs (storage, demurrage/detention, re-handling, re-delivery, return, disposal) are for the booking party/client unless agreed otherwise.

G. Payment terms, claims, and right of lien

20. Payment due regardless of claims. Freight and all charges are payable in full and on time. Claims/discrepancies must be pursued separately and do not entitle withholding payment.

21. Bank charges. All bank/intermediary fees are for the payer. For payments originating outside the EU, a handling fee of EUR 30 may apply (if stated in the quotation/invoice).

22. Lien/retention. CliFar may withhold documents and/or cargo release until all outstanding amounts (including older invoices) are paid in full, to the extent permitted by law/ADSp.

H. Liability and insurance

23. Liability framework. CliFar’s liability (if any) is limited according to ADSp 2017 and mandatory conventions/laws applicable to the transport mode (CMR/Montreal/sea carrier B/L terms, etc.).

24. No consequential loss. CliFar is not liable for indirect or consequential damages (loss of profit, production stoppage, etc.) unless mandatory law provides otherwise.

25. Insurance not included. Cargo insurance is not included unless expressly requested in writing and confirmed by CliFar. The client is responsible to insure high-value cargo appropriately for the full goods value and risk profile.

I. Cancellation

26. Cancellation after nomination. Cancellation fees may apply once booking/nomination is confirmed and/or capacity is reserved, including third-party cancellation/no-show charges.

J. Force majeure

27. Force majeure. CliFar is not liable for failure/delay caused by events outside its reasonable control (e.g., strikes, congestion, war, government actions, customs holds, security measures, IT outages, carrier disruptions, pandemics, severe weather, sanctions/banking restrictions).

K. Governing law and jurisdiction

28. Governing law / venue. German law applies. Jurisdiction/venue: Stuttgart, unless mandatory rules require otherwise.

29. Severability. If any clause is invalid, the remainder remains effective.

General terms & conditions of the latest version of German ADSp are always applicable.