Clean bill of lading

A clean bill of lading is one issued without any clause or notation that records defect, damage, or shortage in the goods or their packaging at the time the carrier received them. The carrier’s mate or tally clerk inspects the cargo and, finding it in apparent good order and condition, omits any adverse remark. Documentary credits routinely require a clean bill, since UCP 600 Article 27 defines a clean transport document as one bearing no clause expressly declaring a defective condition. The opposite, a claused or foul bill recording such a defect, is normally unacceptable to banks and breaks the credit.