Why do import and export commodities need "health checks"?

Just like we undergo annual health check-ups, import and export goods also need to go through customs' "health inspection"—this is statutory inspection. As a "veteran" with 20 years of experience in foreign trade, I often compare statutory inspection to a "medical report" for goods, ensuring they meet national standards for safety, hygiene, environmental protection, and more.

According to the Commodity Inspection Law, statutory inspection mainly targets two types of goods:

• Catalogued goods: Goods listed in the Catalog of Import and Export Commodities Subject to Inspection
• Special requirement goods: Other goods that must be inspected as stipulated by laws and administrative regulations

The workflow of the Customs "Health Examination Center"

The customs inspection process is actually very systematic, with clear divisions of labor just like a hospitals health check center:

• Registration process: Submit application materials through the "Single Window" or "Internet + Customs" system.
• : The customs reviews the "medical records" (declaration materials) submitted by the enterprise.
• Inspection process: Conduct on-site inspection or sampling testing as needed
• Report issuance process: Issue inspection result certification documents

Special reminder: Most procedures can now be completed online, as convenient as a "virtual consultation." However, if you are selected for an on-site inspection, be prepared to welcome the customs' "doorstep health check"!

Precautions for preparing "medical examination materials"

As a seasoned professional who frequently assists clients in preparing materials, I have compiled a set of insights on material preparation:

• Contracts and invoices must be complete: Just like bringing ID for a health check, these are basic identity proofs
• Packing lists must be detailed: Equivalent to the "inspection checklist" for goods.
• Agency agreements must be standardized: If declaring through an agent, authorization documents are essential
• Factory inspection reports must be authentic: The self-inspection report for export commodities is like a "pre-examination self-check."

Tips: Customs now encourages paperless declaration. Scanned documents should be clear and legible. It is recommended to use PDF format to avoid rejection due to "unclear medical examination materials."

What should you do if the "physical examination" fails?

In my 20-year foreign trade career, I have handled many cases of failed inspections. The handling methods vary depending on the type of goods:

• Failed safety items: Must be destroyed or returned without any room for negotiation.
• Failed general items: "Treatment" (technical processing) can be conducted under customs supervision.
• Failed complete sets of equipment: You will receive a "Notice Prohibiting Installation and Use."

My experience is: Conduct thorough self-inspection before export, just like a mock test before an exam, which can significantly reduce the risk of failure. Once problems are found, emergency plans should be activated immediately.

Practical Tips for Clearing "Health Check" Customs

As someone who has been through it, I'd like to share a few tips to make your "physical examination" go more smoothly:

• Understand the HS code of the goods in advance: Confirm whether it is included in the statutory inspection catalog.
• Pay attention to updates in technical specifications: Just like inspection standards may change, inspection requirements will also be adjusted.
• Make good use of customs consultation servicesThe 12360 hotline is like a "health check-up consultation desk."
• Establish a quality traceability system: Complete records can make the inspection process smoother.

Remember: statutory inspection is not a "stumbling block" to clearance, but a "protective net" for trade security. Rather than passively coping, it's better to proactively adapt and treat inspection as an opportunity to improve product quality.

The Trend of "Cloud-Based Health Checkups" in the Digital Era

With trade facilitation reforms, statutory inspections are also moving toward intelligent development:

• Paperless declaration: Over 90% of business can be completed online.
• Smart targeting: Customs big data analysis makes inspections more accurate.
• Credit management: AEO-certified enterprises can enjoy facilitation measures.
• Electronic certificates: Inspection results can be queried and verified online.

Recommendation for enterprises: Adapt to digital transformation as early as possible. Just as we are now accustomed to scheduling medical check-ups via mobile phones, master the operational skills of "Internet + Customs" to make customs clearance more efficient.

Finally, I would like to share an industry insight with everyone:Compliance is the best passport, and quality is the hardest stepping stone.Treat statutory inspection as an opportunity to enhance competitiveness, not just a regulatory obligation, and your foreign trade journey will surely broaden!