Chinese Customs authority increase the frequency and intensity of casual inspection on hazardous chemicals for export, pesticide exporters call for process simplification

Recently, AgroPages learned from pesticide exporters that the casual inspection on hazardous chemicals for export conducted by Chinese Customs authority has substantially escalated, where frequency of inspection is excessively high, while taking a longer time and being over stringent. This leads to delay in Customs declaration of pesticides, which could miss shipping schedule and the season of pesticide application in overseas destination markets, having also resulted in increased costs on the exporters. 

So far, some of the enterprises have submitted feedback to the competent administrations and industry associations, in hopes that the Customs authority will simplify the casual inspection process and reduce the burden on enterprises. 

According to China’s Hazardous Chemicals Control Regulation (State Council Decree No. 591), the Customs authority is responsible for casual inspection on import and export of hazardous chemicals inclusive of packaging. AgroPages learned that starting in August 2021, the Customs authority strengthened casual inspection on hazardous chemicals for export, at a much higher frequency, covering the products and part of liquids listed in the catalogue of hazardous chemicals, especially emulsified oil, emulsion in water and suspension concentrate, which are inspected almost against every shipment. 

At the time of inspection, a sampling and testing process are imposed on pesticide exporters, which are time-consuming and incur additional cost, especially on small package formulations. 

It is understood that a pesticide company’s declaration for export of one same product has gone through 3 times of inspections, which took nearly 3 months to ship. Meanwhile, the resulting laboratory fees, container overdues and ship rescheduling far exceeded the budget. Additionally, as pesticides are seasonal products, due to inspection delay, the arrival at destination markets was also delayed. Coupled with the recent market price changes, products may not be sold out in a timely manner, which lead to commercial risk on both buyers and sellers. 

In addition to the sampling and test burden, the Customs authority has strengthened inspection of product labeling. Customs authority requests a GHS label to be affixed to all packaging inside and outside, with an excessive label content which takes a large space. If the label is affixed directly to the small packaging formulation in a bottle, it will completely block the initial product label, in which case, the product is not allowed for sale in Buyer’s country. 

Since the second half of 2021, the pesticide export has encountered difficulties in logistics,  product availability and product pricing. Now, the Customs inspection procedure has undoubtedly added up to the difficulties in the pesticide export, having caused a heavy burden on pesticide manufacturers. For this reason, some of the agrochemical enterprises have united to ask competent government departments to consider simplify the sampling and test process to save time and reduce cost burden, to regulate operability and effectiveness of casual inspection. For instance, integration of management at the origin of production with the port of export, which will avoid repeated work and waste of resources. An exporter credibility record is suggested to be established to open a green channel for reputed enterprises.