Government News
Shanghai unveils new customs clearance rules to support debut economy 2025-05-19
Shanghai has issued new policies to accelerate the customs inspection process for imported products launching in China, further supporting its debut economy.
The new rules aim to inject fresh vitality into the local consumer market through institutional innovation, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and Shanghai Customs jointly announced on May 16. They target products debuting in China and firms opening their first stores in the country.
The innovative clearance mechanism has a "zero-damage, zero-wait" inspection process. For example, exhibits not intended for domestic sales and small batches of under 20 units will go through streamlined procedures of "qualification guarantee with rapid release."
The measures will be applied to apparel, toys, tableware, and electronics, including global product debuts from international brands, goods of a premium brand's first store in China, and limited-edition first releases, said Pan Xiaoyi, director of Shanghai Customs' department of commodity inspection.
Bulk imports of debut products exceeding 20 units can also skip redundant testing if supported by certified lab reports, Pan pointed out.
In addition, a pioneering "white list" mechanism in Shanghai further reduces the inspection time for approved brands, Pan noted. Twenty consumer brands from the Chinese headquarters of 14 multinational companies have applied for inclusion in the list, covering over 20,000 global and regional first-release new products, Pan added.
After implementing the new measures, clearance efficiency per shipment will likely improve by more than 80 percent, Pan pointed out, adding that products with longer testing cycles, such as tableware, could see their customs clearance time reduced by around two weeks.
China is one of the largest consumer markets globally for Jellycat, Kong Ying, sales operations director of the luxury soft and whimsical plush toys maker, told Yicai. Shanghai's new policy will help accelerate the launch of the company's new products in the country, significantly cut operational costs, and provide a strong rationale for the branch to apply for more China-first projects with its London HQ, she noted.
The faster entry of products into the Chinese market plays a crucial role in enhancing corporate market responsiveness and customer satisfaction, said Qiu Jun, chief financial officer for the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong of Finnish consumer goods maker Fiskars.
Source: Yicai Global
Application Status
| 04-16 | 21315227 | Processing |
| 03-12 | 21315226 | Processing |
| 09-26 | 21315225 | Processing |
Inquiry Status
| 02-29 | 02131558 | Received |
| 03-06 | 02131557 | Received |
| 11-14 | 02131556 | Received |
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