Comparison of regulatory changes in the import and export of cosmetics and foods

In order to thoroughly implement the State Council’s tax and fee reduction policy, implement the "six stability" and "six guarantees" tasks, continue to optimize the port business environment, and reduce the burden on enterprises, the General Administration of Customs has announcement (Announcement No. 99 of 2020) to adjust some of the supervision requirements for import and export goods.

Let’s take a look at below comparison of regulatory changes in the import and export of cosmetics and foods.

Cosmetic

Imported cosmetics shall declare that they have obtained the sanitary license approval for imported cosmetics approved by the relevant national competent authorities when handling customs declaration procedures and are exempt from submitting the approval certificate.

Cosmetics for which the country has not implemented sanitary licenses or filings, the regulatory requirements for the provision of safety assessment materials for substances that may have safety risks issued by institutions with relevant qualifications are cancelled, and product safety commitments are required.

Cancel the regulatory requirements for the filing management of export cosmetics manufacturers.

Vegetable production supplied to Hong Kong and Macao

Cancel the regulatory requirements for the processing enterprises to submit water quality inspection reports for the production and processing water to the local customs for vegetable production supplied to Hong Kong and Macao.

Cancel the regulatory requirements for enterprises to submit the certification documents of raw materials for Hong Kong and Macao vegetable processing, the shipping list, and the factory qualification certificate during customs declaration.

Meat

Cancel the self-inspection requirements of export production enterprises on raw and auxiliary materials used in the processing of meat and aquatic products.

Aquatic products

Cancel the self-inspection requirements of export production enterprises on raw and auxiliary materials used in the processing of meat and aquatic products.

Cancel the regulatory requirement that the feed fed to export aquatic product farms comes from feed processing factories that have been filed by the customs.

Cancel the regulatory requirements for the consignee or its agent to submit the certificate of origin of imported aquatic products to the customs at the port of import.

Export feed and feed additive

Export feed and feed additive manufacturers who do not have registration requirements in the importing country or region are exempt from customs registration.

Registration of export fruit orchards and packaging plants

Cancel the regulatory requirements for the registration of outbound fruit orchards and packaging plants to submit to the local customs the inspection records of fruit toxic and hazardous substances.

The announcement involves 7 “cancelation” and 1 “exemption” for foods and cosmetics, and these important reforms on regulations and requirements of these products are continuous actions to” streamline the government, delegate power, and improve government services.” After the relevant content is adjusted, the main responsibilities of relevant enterprises will be further tightened, effectively reducing institutional transaction costs, and providing opportunities for supporting enterprises to open up trade markets.