The Great Market of China: Meeting Customs Inspections With Quality-Assured Products

As globalization continues to blur the lines between individual--i.e. national--markets, it is easy to see how the largest market opportunity for exporters among nations would also be the world’s largest nation: China.

Measured in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), China was considered the largest economy in the world in 2016. And although their economy is very much the result of their own exports, their import capacity should not be ignored. It is a country filled with buyers hungry for globally recognized consumer brands, quality food products, construction materials, and more.

The United States alone exported $115 billion worth of goods to China in 2016, a 115% increase from 2006. Measured in dollars, America’s agricultural products top the U.S.-to-China export list, with the biggest items being soybeans, coarse grains, pork products, and cotton. Machinery, electrical equipment and automotive parts also make up a large (and growing) fraction of total exports.

China’s Developing Lab Testing Requirements

Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine

Like with any other market, different products imported into China are subject to different standards, and mandatory testing may or may not be applicable. In 2017, the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) released the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Process Management Rules to establish customs inspection and lab testing requirements on a “List” of various products--many of them agricultural goods like food products, seeds, fertilizers, and tobacco.

An important component of the “Rules” is inspection and testing frequency, which can vary based on an individual company’s track record of compliance. If your company has developed a negative reputation based on previous inspection issues, your product can face increased inspections (measured as a percentage of your total batch) and, if initially found to be “where epidemic situation is detected on-site”, quarantined for further lab testing.

The “List” extends well beyond agricultural products too. Any product where safety is its primary function, like automobile tires and child seats, can be found on this list.

QIMA Brings Accreditation and Acumen to Your China-Bound Product

QIMA's lab accreditation list covers all industry bases to help your product find success in China’s diverse market, including:

  • China Metrology Association (CMA) and (CMAF -- for food)
  • China National Accreditation Service (CNAS)
  • Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS)
  • GuoBiao (GB/T)
  • Approved by Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau

Beyond accreditation, QIMA's commitment to protecting your company’s product quality through uncompromising testing acumen is in line with China’s rising import standards as the nation begins to recognize its citizens’ growing desire to look beyond its borders for the highest quality goods available worldwide.

QIMA's comprehensive inspection and accredited lab testing services will help keep your company in high regard with Chinese customs inspectors and your product in high demand amongst its imports-hungry buyers.

Easily Schedule Your Chinese Market Compliance Tests Online

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