Determining the import category/import conditions of goods into China
Not all goods are allowed to be imported into China, and not all imported goods are subject to the same import mechanism. Similar to Vietnam and other countries in the world, China also sets regulations on import bans, import restrictions or special controls for certain goods.
Therefore, before importing goods into the Chinese market, importers should carefully consider whether the goods belong to one of the following categories:
(1) Goods prohibited from import
Some goods are not allowed to be imported into China for the purpose of protecting national security, protecting human life, health, flora and fauna and the environment, etc. List of goods banned from import into China includes:
- Arms, ammunition and explosives, of all kinds.
- Coins, banknotes, currency notes, securities of any kind payable to bearer, travelers’ checks, counterfeit currencies and counterfeit negotiable securities.
- Printed matter, films, photographs, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and videotapes, compact discs (video and audio), storage medium for the computer and other articles which are detrimental to the political, economic, cultural and moral interests of the People’s Republic of China.
- Deadly poisons of all kinds.
- Opium, morphine, heroin, marijuana and other addiction-inducing drugs and psychedelic substances.
- Animals, plants and products thereof infected with or carrying disease germs, insect pests and other harmful organisms.
- Foodstuff, medicines and other articles coming from epidemic-stricken areas and harmful to man and livestock or those capable of spreading diseases.
(2) Goods subject to special control/inspection
Goods imported into China depending on different types may be controlled in different ways, for example:
- Products originating from animals and plants must be inspected and quarantined when imported into China.
- Electrical equipment, machinery, etc. must undergo quality supervision and inspection before being circulated in the Chinese market.
These imported goods will be managed by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ).
When imported into China, goods subject to specialized inspection will have to register for inspection/quarantine with the relevant authorities to be inspected/quarantined upon arrival at the port and obtain a certificate of conformity before circulation in the Chinese market.
(3) Goods that must have an import license
Under China’s regulations, Customs will require importers to provide import licenses for specific goods. Depending on the type of imported goods, the required license may be an automatic import license or a non-automatic import license.
The Ministry of Trade (MOFCOM) and the General Department of Customs (GAC) jointly release catalogues of goods that are subjected to automatic import licensing and (non-automatic) import licensing on an annual basis.
On January 1, 2023, MOFCOM and GAC issued adjusted catalogues of imported goods that are subjected to automatic import licensing and (non-automatic) import licensing.
- Catalogue of goods subject to automatic import licensing administration
The 2023 automatic import licensing catalogue covers a total of 45 categories of goods, including food products, mechanical and electronic products, ore, chemical products, and medical products, etc. Compared to the 2022 catalogue, perchloroethylene (PCE[1]) was newly added to the catalogue.
See China's 2023 Automatic import licensing catalogue at: http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zcfb/zcblgg/202212/20221203376699.shtml
- Catalogue of goods subject to import licensing administration
Similarly, the 2023 import licensing catalogue has also been updated, covering a total of 14 categories of import goods in chemical equipment, machines, ships, etc.
See China’s 2023 import licensing catalogue at: http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zwgk/gkzcfb/202212/20221203376708.shtml
Source: Center for WTO and International Trade
[1] PCE is used as a raw material for refrigerants. Around 30 percent of China’s PCE are imported
