China Cosmetics Market Entry Walkthrough: CIQ Inspections and Custom Clearance

After getting approval from CFDA, companies can begin to export cosmetics to China. Before goods reach their destination port and undergo inspection by Chinese Customs, they shall appoint an agent in China to file a record with the provincial Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (CIQ) at the destination port, submitting the certificate/license granted by CFDA simultaneously. When goods arrive, activities such as on-site examination of labels and packaging, sampling inspection and testing will be conducted by CIQ. Qualified products will obtain a CIQ certificate. Customs clearance is also a mandatory requirement.

CIQ inspection

1. Appoint an importer/distributor

To file a record with CIQ, companies shall find and appoint a qualified Chinese importer or distributor which has the qualification of importing and cover the business scope of cosmetics.

2. Authentication and Filing

Another precondition for filing is that both parties shall sign a formal letter of authorization and have the letter authenticated by a Chinese officially recognized authentication agency. Then they can apply for filing and submit the documents requested:

	Required Document
Importer	Business license (original and copy)
	Warehouse business license (copy with seal of company)
	Cosmetic product license from CFDA (original and copy with seal of company)
	Authenticated letter of authorization
	Filing application form with seal of company
Products	Colorful original label (JPEG)
	Chinese translation label( JPEG)
	Products inventory
	Products formula
	Products filing application form

Duration: Authentication needs 5 working days and filing needs 3 working days

Cost:

Item	Fee(RMB)
Company filing (First time )	2000
Authentication	Based on authentication agency
Product filing	500per product

3. CIQ Inspection

When goods arrive custom companies shall arrange bill exchanging, unloading and storage in warehouse. After that CIQ will conduct onsite inspection and review paper and electronic documents of products. Paper documents are provided onsite while electronic documents can be provided before the onsite inspection. After the review qualified goods will obtain a clearance sheet which is a must for custom clearance.

	Required documents
Paper documents	Product formula (template provided)
	Product approval license
	Imported cosmetics company responsibility letter(template provided)
	Translation label and Chinese label proofs
	Inspection list(Template provided)
Electronic documents	Products inventory

Duration: 2 working days

Cost:

Item	Fee(rmb)
Exchange fee for CIP	100
Unloading and Storage	Depend on cargo amount
CIQ inspection	300

4. Customs Clearance

Companies shall pay for duties/taxes and submitted the following documents for clearing customs:

a. Clearance sheet

b. Billing of lading (origin)

c. Trading contract

d. Invoice

e. Packing list

f. Certificate of origin(copies)

Goods need to be transferred to CIQ supervision area for a second onsite inspection after completing the customs clearance.

Duration: 2 working days

Cost: 500rmb for custom clearance +tax+500 rmb for transportation.

Item	Fee(rmb)
Custom clearance	500
Tax	Based on the different product
Transportation	500

5. CIQ Second On-site Inspection

For this round of inspection CIQ mainly focus on labels and packaging check, random sampling inspection and hygienic testing according to Administrative Measures on Inspection and Quarantine of Import and Export Cosmetics. All products require the attachment of Chinese labels prior to inspection. Firstly imported products require labels to have been filed and recorded prior to inspection.

Duration: 2 weeks

Cost:

Item	Fee(rmb)
CIQ Inspection	500
Inspection site fee	200
Label filing (firstly imported products)	500 per product
Label check (firstly imported products)	500 per product
Storage	Depend on time and amount
Testing	500

6. Obtain a certificate from CIQ

Completing the second inspection, CIQ will grant a certificate to companies and a formal filing number for the specific batch of products. Companies can then ship their products to supermarket, shopping mall, chain store, etc.

The total duration for the customs clearance and CIQ filing and inspections is about 1 month. But this is only applicable for products imported for the first time. On the second occasion, the duration will decrease to 20 days as authentication and filing (step 2) will no longer be necessary.