China trialling faster fruit clearance system

A new import inspection model help is being trialled in China which aims to reduce the clearance time as much as possible.

According to the Chinese Customs authority, while 3–5 days has generally been required for clearance, under the Customs-CIQ 3-Singles model, 24 hours will be enough.

In a press release, it said Qingdao Dongfang Dingxin International Farm and Sideline Products Trading Center is the first designated port of entry for fruits in Shangdong Province where the Customs-CIQ 3-Singles model has been trialled.

The model’s name means “single declaration, single inspection and single release”, it said. This is based on cooperation between Dagang Customs House (affiliated to Qingdao Customs District) and Qingdao Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau at the Qingdao Dongfang Dingxin International Farm and Sideline Products Trading Center in Jimo, a county-level city in Shangdong Province. “It combines the linear and separate operation systems of two different departments and turns them into one synchronized and ‘parallel’ clearance procedure.”

The photo is from the day of China’s Lantern Festival in March, a busy day at the trading centre. “A Qingdao company in the center imported a consignment of fresh dragon fruit with a street value of RMB 240,000 from Vietnam and cleared the goods quickly. Thanks to the great reduction of the clearance time, the fruits were ready for sale in 24 hours after their arrival,” Chinese Customs said.

Its data shows that last year China imported about 3.3 million tons of fresh fruit, up nearly 23% on 2013.

source: http://english.customs.gov.cn/Statics/220ba2bf-eb10-4f4c-90b6-e313edf398a4.html