Shanghai Customs of the People’s Republic of China recently published Announcement Order No 5 of Customs, 2020, in order to optimize the inspection process of imported clothing in the customs area. This announcement will implement the work arrangement of the General Administration of Customs to stabilize foreign trade and foreign investment, promote the stability and quality of foreign trade, optimize the business environment at Shanghai Port and promote trade facilitation, according to the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementation regulations. Relevant matters are hereby announced as follows:

1) To carry out safety risk assessment of imported clothing, Shanghai Customs conducts risk assessment according to the inspection and risk monitoring of imported clothing products, combined with the credit rating of customs enterprises, and dynamically adjusts the mode of conformity assessment procedures adopted by imported clothing according to the assessment results.

2) When imported clothing is sampled for inspection, the importing enterprise may apply to customs to carry out the safety risk assessment of imported clothing, and submit relevant documents according to the following conditions:

1. For those with test reports issued by third-party testing agencies or enterprises' own test reports, enterprises may submit the Declaration of Conformity of Imported Clothing (hereinafter "Declaration of Conformity") (Annex 1), test reports and relevant accompanying materials to the on-site customs.
2. For imported clothing that is not sold in the domestic market, such as for the enterprise's own use, sample display, R & D testing, competition activities and new product release, etc., the enterprise may submit the Introduction on Special Conditions of Imported Clothing (hereinafter "Special Introduction") (see Annex 2) and relevant accompanying materials to the on-site customs.

3) When enterprise submits the third-party test report or the enterprise's own test report, it shall meet the following requirements:

1. The third-party test report shall meet the following requirements:
   1. The testing institution has obtained the qualification of import and export commodity inspection and authentication institution, and has been recognized by China National Accreditation Committee for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) and China Metrology Certification (CMA), and the relevant qualifications and certification cover all items involved in the inspection of imported clothing.
   2. List the testing standards, testing methods and specific testing values. The testing items shall include all applicable items under GB 18401 and GB 31701.
   3. The testing report includes contents that can confirm the consistency between the report and the actual imported goods.
   4. The report from overseas inspection and appraisal agencies shall be separately determined by Shanghai Customs.
2. Enterprise own test report shall meet the following requirements:
   1. List the testing standards, testing methods and specific testing values. The testing items shall include all applicable items under GB 18401 and GB 31701.
   2. Attach an introduction to its own laboratory and an explanation of being able to issue objective test results independently of the affiliated enterprise.
   3. Relevant testing qualifications, such as the description of ILAC-MRA contracted accreditation agencies, etc.
   4. The testing report includes the contents that can confirm the consistency between the report and the actual imported goods.

4) Shanghai Customs conducts a safety risk assessment of imported clothing according to regulations.

For imported clothing that is qualified through risk assessment, customs shall complete the conformity assessment procedures in accordance with relevant work requirements.

In case of any of the following circumstances, the risk assessment is unqualified, and the conformity assessment procedure of sampling inspection is adopted for this batch of imported clothing:

1. The enterprise fails to submit a declaration of conformity or special instruction.
2. The declaration of conformity, special instruction and relevant test reports submitted by the enterprise do not meet the requirements.
3. Selected for the sampling inspection due to the control instruction initiated by the General Administration of Customs for unqualified warning notification or other reasons.
4. Others do not apply to conformity assessment, conformity assurance and other conformity assessment procedures.

5) If the safety risk assessment of imported clothing is completed and the assessment result is qualified, the importing enterprise can apply to the on-site customs for retrieving the sampled samples with the "Sampling Certificate" issued by the customs.

6) If you have any questions, you can contact Shanghai Customs for consultation.

7) This announcement shall be implemented as of the date of publication.

For more information, please contact:

lanna.niu@intertek.com
Tel: +86 21 5339 5616

ellie.zheng@intertek.com
Tel: +86 21 5339 7524

xingyu.li@intertek.com
Tel: +1 503 351 9612

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