
Customs Inspection: The Inevitable Path for Foreign Trade Clearance
As a 20-year foreign trade veteran, I often compare customs inspections to 'physical exams' - while somewhat tedious, they're essential for healthy international trade. Per Customs Law Article 28, all import/export goods undergo inspection, a crucial enforcement measure for verifying declaration authenticity.
In actual operations, inspections mainly involve three core purposes:
- Verify the authenticity of declarations: Check whether the commodity names, quantities, specifications, etc. of the goods are consistent with the declarations
- Determine the commodity attributes: Including key elements such as classification, price, and place of origin
- Investigate potential safety hazards: For special commodities such as food, chemicals, and animal and plant products
Inspection process breakdown: 'Three-Step Inspection' from preparation to completion
According to the Measures for the Administration of Customs Inspection of Import and Export Goods, the complete inspection process can be divided into three stages:
Phase 1: Inspection Preparation
When customs declaration shows 'inspection' status, enterprises must:
- Immediately arrange personnel to be present (consignor/consignee or their authorized agent)
- Prepare complete accompanying documents (contract, invoice, packing list, etc.)
- Declare special handling requirements in advance for vulnerable goods
Phase 2: On-site Inspection
During the inspection process, special attention should be paid to:
- Cooperate with the customs in moving the goods and opening the packaging
- Answer the questions of the inspection personnel truthfully.
- Sign and confirm the sampling and testing process.
- Special goods can apply for priority inspection or off-site inspection.
Phase 3: Result Handling
After the inspection, three possible results will occur:
- Normal release: No abnormalities are found in the inspection, and the goods can continue the customs clearance process.
- Amend the documents and pay supplementary taxes: If the declaration is inconsistent, supplementary taxes and late fees need to be paid.
- Case transfer: If clues of smuggling violations are found, they will be transferred to the anti-smuggling department.
'Customs physical exam' considerations for special goods
According to regulations such as the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law and the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on the Quarantine of Animals and Plants, the following commodities require extra attention:
Food Products
It is necessary to provide a health certificate, a component test report, etc. Pay special attention:
- Whether the use of food additives complies with Chinese standards
- Whether the Chinese label is standardized and complete
- Whether the shelf life meets the import requirements
Including live animals, embryos, semen, etc.
According to the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on the Quarantine of Animals and Plants Entering or Leaving the Country:
- For imports, quarantine approval needs to be handled in advance.
- For exports, quarantine needs to be carried out at designated places.
- Wooden packaging needs to be disinfected.
Dangerous Chemicals
Particular attention is needed:
- MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) must be complete.
- The packaging must meet the requirements of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.
- Transportation requires the use of qualified dangerous goods vehicles.
Inspection Pit-avoidance Guide for Seasoned Foreign Traders
Combining years of practical experience, share several secrets to improve inspection efficiency:
'Three Consistency' principle in declaration
- Consistency between documents: The content of the customs declaration form is consistent with that of the contract and invoice.
- Consistency between documents and goods: The declared information is consistent with the actual goods.
- Consistency between documents: The information among various sets of documents corroborates each other.
'Three Ease Standards' for cargo packaging
- Easy to identify: The shipping marks are clearly visible.
- Easy to open: Facilitate the rapid inspection by the customs.
- Easy to restore: The original packaging state can be restored after inspection.
'Three Timelinesses' in emergency handling
- Communicate in a timely manner: Contact the customs immediately to explain when problems are found.
- Timely rectification: Supplement materials or modify declarations as required
- Timely appeal: If you have objections to the inspection conclusion, you can apply for re - inspection
Remember, customs inspections aren't 'troublemaking' but international trade's 'safety valve'. With proper preparation and communication, most inspections proceed smoothly. For queries, call Customs hotline 12360 or check detailed guides on regional customs websites.