GAC Announces "Entry First and Inspection Next" Policy for Inbound Animal and Plant Products Entering Comprehensive Bonded Areas

The General Administration of Customs ("GAC") has recently issued the Announcement [2019] No.36 to clarify matters concerning the "entry first and inspection next" policy for inspection items for inbound animal and plant products entering comprehensive bonded areas. This announcement has taken effect immediately from the date of issuance.

The announcement reads that: 1. animal and plant products refer to the animal and plant products (excluding food) that are carried from overseas into comprehensive bonded areas, and then transported to other domestic regions outside the bonded areas or processed before being transported to other domestic regions outside the bonded areas or to regions outside the territory of China, and these products are subject to inspection and quarantine tests in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. 2. Inspection items, those inspected for the hygienic safety purpose, include pesticide (veterinary drug) residue, environmental pollutants, biotoxin and heavy metal contained in animal and plant products. 3. The "entry first and inspection next" regulatory mode will be performed under the following principle, after animal and plant products have gone through quarantine procedures for animals and plants at the ports of entry, the customs will allow them to be transported first into the supervised warehouses in comprehensive bonded areas, then randomly draw samples to test them for relevant inspection items and make an overall assessment, and deal with the products subsequently according to the test results.



(Source: http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/302266/302269/2318912/index.html)

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