The "Clearance Code" for Down Import Trade

As a seasoned veteran in the foreign trade industry, I often receive inquiries from clients about importing down and feathers. This seemingly ordinary commodity actually holds many "clearance codes." Today, let me leverage my 20 years of hands-on experience to guide you through the key quarantine and supervision points for imported washed down and feathers as regulated by customs.

Hello fellow foreign trade colleagues! As a veteran with 20 years of experience in foreign trade, today I want to talk to you about the Regulations on the Registration of Overseas Food Manufacturers for Imported Food (GACC Decree No. 248) implemented from January 1, 2022. These new regulations concern all overseas enterprises wanting to sell food to China, and we as foreign trade agents must be thoroughly familiar!Down and feathers are two different commodities.. According to national standards, products with a down content of ≥50% are called down, and those with <50% are feathers. This distinction is very important because the quarantine requirements for different categories may vary.

Step 1: Secure the "admission ticket" for quarantine access.

Down imports are not something that can be brought in at will; the General Administration of Customs has established a strict quarantine access system. This system is like a "ticket" for international trade, mainly including:

• Product Risk Analysis: The customs will assess the biosafety risks that down may bring.
• Regulatory System Assessment: Conducting a "Health Check" on the Regulatory Capacity of Exporting Countries
• determinedInspection of vaccinesRequirements: Establish specialized "rules of the game."
• Overseas Enterprise Registration: Only enterprises on the "whitelist" are permitted to export.

Specifically reminded:Countries that export down to China for the first timeIt must pass the risk analysis and system evaluation conducted by the General Administration of Customs. For countries that have already exported, customs will also conduct regular "look-back" reviews.

Step 2: The "Clearance Document" for Overseas Enterprise Registration

Overseas down production enterprises must obtain the "customs clearance document"—registration qualification from the General Administration of Customs to enter the Chinese market. This process is somewhat like "getting a driver's license."

• First, you must pass the "Subject One" examination administered by the domestic competent authority.
• Then the competent authority of that country will "recommend the application" to China Customs.
• The General Administration of Customs conducts a written review and, when necessary, an on-site "road test."
• Qualified enterprises will be listed on the "Honor Roll" of the customs official website.

Practical experience tells me:Be sure to regularly check the official website of the General Administration of Customsbecause the list of registered enterprises is updated dynamically. Last year, a customer imported from an enterprise whose qualification was cancelled due to not paying attention to the update, and as a result, the whole batch of goods was returned.

Step Three: The "Three-Tiered Checkpoint" of Inspection and Quarantine

Upon arrival at the port, the down must pass through the "three checkpoints" set up by customs.

1. Document Verification: The "Keen Eyes" of Customs

Customs officers will, like detectives, carefully check each document:

• Is the quarantine certificate the "official" version recognized by the General Administration of Customs?
• Whether the certificate indicates that it comes from a registered enterprise
• Whether the process description of washing and high - temperature drying meets the standards

2. On-site Quarantine: The "Health Check Center" for Down

When conducting an unpacking inspection, the customs will focus on checking:

• Whether the goods and documents are "consistent with each other"
• Is the packaging intact?
• Are there any "prohibited items" carried: harmful organisms, mold, animal excrement, etc.

3. Laboratory Testing: The "Demon-Revealing Mirror" of Technology

The customs laboratory will conduct two key tests:

• Turbidity test: To determine whether the cleaning meets the standard
• Avian influenza test: To prevent the risk of animal diseases

Here is a practical suggestion:Conduct pre - tests in advance.One of our customers conducts turbidity tests on each batch of goods abroad first. After passing the test, the goods are shipped, which greatly reduces the customs clearance risk.

Step 4: "Emergency Plan" for Nonconforming Goods

If unfortunately encountering non-compliance, don't panic, we have an "emergency plan":

• Enterprises without certificates or not registered: Directly return or destroy, with no room for negotiation
• Discovery of items prohibited from entryIsolate immediately to prevent the "spread of the epidemic."
• Turbidity is non - compliant but avian influenza is negative: You can choose fumigation treatment or rework for washing

Pay special attention: Rework for washing mustBe carried out under the supervision of the customsThe process shall be conducted with customs seals applied during transportation to ensure "closed-loop management."

Customs Clearance Tips for Importers

Finally, here are a few practical "tips" to share:

• EstablishedDynamic management mechanism for overseas suppliers, regularly check the registration statusIn the trade contract
• Clarify the quality termsand require overseas enterprises to provide test reportsConsider purchasing
• Trade insuranceto reduce losses caused by quarantine risksCooperate with professional customs brokers and establish
• Remember, down import is not a one - time deal. Only by establishingRapid response mechanism

A full - process quality control systemFull - process quality control systemOnly then can you achieve long-term success in this industry. Hopefully, this guide will help you avoid the "pitfalls" we encountered back in the day and navigate your way smoothly!