China GAC Cancels 5 Cosmetic Certification Documents Pertaining to Customs Inspection and Quarantine

In a move to simplify the administrative procedures and expedite customs clearance, on Dec. 2^nd, China General Administration of Customs (GAC) announced the cancellation of 84 certification materials which were previously mandatory requirements for product import/export inspection and quarantine ^[1]. As of the date of promulgation, 60 certifications no longer require verification, 21 items will be verified online and 3 items will be verified by the enterprises themselves.

The cancelled certifications relevant to the cosmetics sector are as follows:

Implications for imported cosmetic stakeholders

1. Chinese customs will no longer require enterprises to hand in the above 5 certification materials at the ports.

2. The cancellation of these documents is the latest step in China Customs’ “simplified administration reform and paperless customs clearance” campaign.

According to the State Council’ notice issued in October last year ^[2], China has developed a public information system where comprehensive electronic data shared by departments like GAC, NMPA, MOA, MOC including information of license, certificate, accreditation inspection and quarantine, customs check, credit rating etc.

Prior to these reforms, enterprises needed to submit paper certificates to the customs to import cosmetics. After the reform, NMPA will transmit the electronic data of these certificates to the customs clearance database in real time. Using online data sharing, the customs can verify the documents submitted by enterprises during customs declaration.

3. Significantly, this action aims to optimize and expedite the procedures involved in cosmetic assessment, verification and release during customs inspection at Chinese ports. It does not entail any reduction in regulatory compliance obligations associated with cosmetic import registration or filing. Enterprises still have to apply for and obtain pre-market approval from NMPA.