I. The "Safety Lock" for Grain Imports: Why is Quarantine Supervision Necessary?

As a seasoned customs professional with 20 years of experience in foreign trade, I often liken the quarantine supervision of imported grains to a sophisticated "security lock." According to the "Law on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine," this system is designed to lock down three key risks:Epidemic transmission riskandQuality safety riskandMarket circulation risk.

In actual cases, we encountered an enterprise that failed to properly handle by-products, leading to the spread of quarantine weeds around the port. This not only resulted in substantial pest control costs but also caused a three-month suspension of grain imports at that port. The lesson tells us:Epidemic prevention is no trivial matter, supervision must be strict.

II. Enterprise Qualification "Health Check Form": Essential Requirements for Three Types of Venues

Just as different departments require different medical equipment, customs has distinct epidemic prevention requirements for three types of facilities:

• The "Hardcore Equipment" of the Processing Plant: Solid perimeter walls are a standard requirement, and thorough screening and impurity removal are absolute necessities. Special reminder: The waste disposal facilities must match the processing capacity—this is a "one-vote veto" item during on-site inspections.
• The "Isolation Guidelines" of the transit warehouseThe requirement is to "store specific grains in dedicated warehouses," and they must never be "mixed" with other goods. There was once a case where an entire batch of wheat had to be returned due to being stored together with chemical fertilizers in a transit warehouse.
• The "epidemic prevention package" in the reserve stock: In addition to basic storage conditions, a dual system of "monitoring + emergency response" must be equipped. It is recommended to refer to the latest construction standards issued by the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

III. "Pitfall Avoidance Guide" for Application Materials

After reviewing thousands of applications, I've identified three common "pitfalls":

• The Floor Plan Trap: Must clearly mark specific locations of epidemic prevention facilities. Vague schematic diagrams will be rejected. Its recommended to use different colors to mark functional zones like isolation areas and processing areas.
• Route map misconceptions: Transportation routes must avoid sensitive areas like farmland and greenbelts. One enterprise had to redesign their transportation plan because the route passed through a wetland reserve.
• Document validity: Quality management system certificates must be valid, and copies need official seals. Last year, an enterprise delayed their import plan by providing expired certificates.

IV. Smart Customs Clearance: Complete Online Process

Now, the entire process can be handled online, making quarantine supervision "zero legwork":

• Step 1: Log in to the "Internet + Customs" platform. It is recommended to use IE11 or Chrome browsers.
• Step 2: Note for document uploads: single file not exceeding 10M, total size not exceeding 50M
• Step 3: Track application progress, the system will push real-time updates on review status

Special reminder: Although the promised processing time is 20 working days, during peak grain import seasons, its recommended to apply 60 days in advance. Last year, a soybean importer had to pay high demurrage fees because they applied only when the shipment arrived.

V. Dynamic Supervision: Not the End but the Beginning

Being listed as a designated enterprise is just the beginning. Customs maintains continuous supervision through three methods:

• Spot checks: Unannounced on-site inspections, focusing on epidemic prevention record logs
• Video monitoring: Some ports have implemented real-time video supervision of key processing procedures
• Traceability of leftover materials: Enterprises are required to establish processing records with a retention period of no less than 2 years

Remember: Last year, some companies were removed from the designated list for tampering with monitoring data, at the cost of being barred from reapplying for six months.

VI. Three Pieces of Advice for Enterprises

As a veteran in the industry, I would like to emphasize:

• Epidemic prevention requires cost-benefit analysis: Investments in perimeter walls and processing facilities are far less than the costs of pandemic response
• Processes must leave traces: It is recommended to establish digital epidemic prevention records for easy retrieval
• Personnel require regular training: Conduct epidemic prevention drills at least quarterly, and new employees must undergo pre-job training

Food security is a matter of national importance. We hope all trade partners will join hands with customs to jointly strengthen this safety barrier "from port to plate." For any specific inquiries, please feel free to call the 12360 Customs Hotline at any time—we are available 24/7 to assist you.