Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to agrocargo.ec and your use of services provided by AgroCargo ("we," "us," or "our"), including pre-shipment inspection, cargo integrity verification, chain-of-custody documentation, and legal support coordinated through our Legal Agro partnership. By using our website or engaging our services, you agree to these Terms.

1. About our services

AgroCargo provides origin risk mitigation services for importers of agricultural products from Ecuador. Our services may include on-site inspections, photographic and written documentation, supplier verification, chain-of-custody protocols, and coordination of independent legal review through Legal Agro. Specific scope, deliverables, timelines, and fees are defined in a separate written proposal or service agreement for each engagement.

2. Website use

When you use our website, you agree to:

• Use the site only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of others or restrict their use of the site.
• Not attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems, interfere with site security, or transmit harmful code.
• Not reproduce, scrape, or republish site content without our prior written consent, except as permitted by applicable law.

Information on this website is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or import-compliance advice. Contact us for advice tailored to your operation.

3. Service engagements

A binding service relationship is created only when both parties sign a written proposal, statement of work, or service agreement ("Service Agreement"). In the event of conflict between these Terms and a signed Service Agreement, the Service Agreement controls for that engagement. We reserve the right to decline or discontinue services at our discretion before a Service Agreement is executed.

4. Client responsibilities

To enable us to perform our services, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information about suppliers, shipments, products, and relevant contracts.
• Grant timely access to facilities, personnel, and documentation reasonably required for inspections or reviews.
• Notify us promptly of any material changes to shipment schedules, product specifications, or dispute circumstances.
• Comply with applicable import, customs, phytosanitary, and food-safety regulations in your destination market.

5. Inspection reports and limitations

Inspection and verification services reflect conditions observed at a specific time and location. Unless expressly stated in your Service Agreement:

• Reports document findings based on agreed inspection protocols; they are not a guarantee of product quality, regulatory approval, or successful import clearance.
• We do not assume responsibility for events occurring after inspection, including transit damage, repackaging, or substitution of goods.
• Sampling and testing, when included, are limited to the scope and methods specified in the Service Agreement.

6. Legal services

Legal review, contract drafting, and dispute support are provided by Legal Agro, an independent law firm, under separate engagement terms. AgroCargo coordinates access to these services but does not provide legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed between you and AgroCargo. Legal Agro's work is independent from our inspection activities unless otherwise agreed in writing.

7. Fees and payment

Fees, expenses, invoicing schedules, and payment terms are set out in each Service Agreement. Unless otherwise agreed, invoices are due within the period stated on the invoice. Late payments may incur interest or suspension of services. You are responsible for applicable taxes, customs charges, travel costs, and third-party fees agreed in advance.

8. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to treat non-public business, supplier, shipment, and contractual information shared in connection with our services as confidential, except where disclosure is required by law, requested by customs or regulatory authorities, or authorized in writing. Confidentiality obligations survive termination of the service relationship as described in the applicable Service Agreement or, if none is specified, for three years.

9. Intellectual property

We retain ownership of our methodologies, templates, inspection protocols, and website content. Upon full payment, you receive a license to use deliverables created specifically for your engagement for your internal business purposes. You may not resell, sublicense, or publicly distribute our reports or materials without written permission, except as needed to support import documentation or dispute resolution related to the inspected shipment.

10. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, AgroCargo's total liability arising from or related to any service or these Terms is limited to the fees paid by you for the specific engagement giving rise to the claim. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits, shipment delays, rejected cargo, or regulatory penalties, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless AgroCargo, its personnel, and partners from claims, losses, and expenses arising from inaccurate information you provide, your breach of these Terms or a Service Agreement, or your violation of applicable laws or third-party rights, except to the extent caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct.

12. Term and termination

These Terms apply for as long as you use our website or receive our services. Either party may terminate a Service Agreement as provided therein. We may suspend or terminate website access or services if you materially breach these Terms, fail to pay amounts due, or if continued performance would violate law or create undue risk. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination — including confidentiality, intellectual property, limitation of liability, and indemnification — will survive.

13. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of Ecuador, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Disputes arising from these Terms or our services that are not resolved through good-faith negotiation shall be submitted to the competent courts of Ecuador, unless your Service Agreement specifies a different dispute resolution mechanism. You may also have mandatory consumer or commercial protections under the laws of your home jurisdiction.

14. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when they were last revised. Continued use of our website after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. For active Service Agreements, changes apply only as stated in those agreements or with your consent.

15. Contact us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at contact@agrocargo.ec or write to AgroCargo, Edificio The Point, Office 1013, Ecuador. For privacy-related matters, see our Privacy Policy at privacy.html.