I. Phytosanitary Approval: The "Green Threshold" for Foreign Trade Imports and Exports

As a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in the foreign trade industry, I often liken the inbound plant quarantine approval to a "green pass" in international trade. According to the "Law on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine," propagating materials such as plant seeds and seedlings must undergo quarantine approval procedures, which serve as a crucial line of defense in safeguarding China's agricultural production security and ecological environment.

In practice, Ive found many foreign trade enterprises tend to overlook three key points:

• Pre-approval requirement: Approval must be completed before goods arrive at the port, otherwise there may be risks of shipment rejection
• Access list verification: Products like fruits and grains must come from countries/enterprises on the General Administration of Customs approved access list
• Qualification matching: The applicant must have independent legal person status and directly sign the trade contract

II. Preparation of Application Materials: Details Determine Success or Failure

Based on my experience, material preparation is the key to approval success. Different product types require different supporting documents:

• Inbound grainsThe production, processing, and storage unit assessment report is a "standard requirement."
• Imported fruits: Need to provide designated cold storage certification documents, and storage agreements are also mandatory
• Feed additives: Grade I risk products require complete production and processing chain certifications

Special reminder: When the applicant differs from the production/storage unit,contract agreementsIt is the "golden key" that connects the two. I once encountered a case where the lack of a warehousing agreement caused a two-week delay in approval, directly affecting the arrival time of the containers.

III. Complete Guide to Online Processing: Quarantine Approval at Your Fingertips

Now the entire approval process is conducted online, but operational details still require attention:

After logging into the "Internet + Customs" platform, it is recommended to download first.application form samplesfor offline completion to avoid webpage timeouts
2. Scanned documents must maintain300dpior higher resolution - blurry files are a common reason for rejection
3. After system submission, be sure to saveAcceptance numberthe confirmation page as it serves as proof for follow-up queries

Our company has established a "dual verification" mechanism: after submission by the salesperson, the documentation supervisor conducts a secondary confirmation to ensure the "first-pass approval rate" remains above 95%.

IV. Time Node Control: Racing Against Customs Clock

The statutory time limit for quarantine approval is 20 working days, but in practice note:

• During peak seasons, its advisable to reserve30 working daysas buffer time
• Applications submitted on Thursday afternoons often process faster than Mondays backlog
• When supplementary materials are required,Within 3 working daystimely submission maintains the original queue position

Last year, we imported a batch of citrus fruits from South Africa, coinciding with the peak approval period before the Spring Festival. By proactively communicating with customs and adopting the "pre-audit" method, we ultimately saved 7 working days compared to the conventional process.

V. Frequently Asked Questions: Avoiding Those "Pitfalls"

Q: Can subsidiaries use parent company qualifications for application?
A: No! It must be thedirect contractingThe legal entity, this "red line" was verified by us through painful lessons.

Q: Is declaration required when transiting epidemic areas with sealed cargo?
A: Declaration is mandatory! Transit through epidemic areas needs to specifySpecial instructionstransport method and sealing measures

in the application form.
Q: How long is the license valid?A: Generally6 months

VI. Professional Advice: Secrets to Smoother Approval

Based on years of hands-on experience, I have summarized three "golden rules" for improving efficiency:

1. EstablishedBased on years of practical experience, Ive summarized three golden rules for efficiency improvement:Product database
2. Train: Standardize approval requirements for different productsDedicated approver
3. Make good use of12360 hotline: Specialized personnel increase efficiency by 40% compared to rotating responsibility

Finally, a reminder to all our foreign trade colleagues: quarantine approval is not just a simple "stamping process," but a systematic project that requires professionalism, patience, and continuous learning. Mastering these key points will allow your import and export business to gracefully navigate this "green threshold" and clear customs smoothly!