Goods sold in China via CBEC are considered personal goods. Therefore, CBEC imported goods are cleared by customs without the need for premarket access product filing, registration or certification – which are instead mandatory through general trade for most product categories. Products can also be sold in their original packaging and label (Chinese label is not needed). For instance:
- Health food and food supplements can be exported to China through CBEC, without going to pre-market entry registration with SAMR (which may take two years) and GACC/CIFER registration (which may take several months).
- Animal cruel-free cosmetic products can be exported to China through CBEC without going through a lengthy and strict exemption process.
Still, certain categories of goods – including infant formula– may still be subject to pre-registration, record filing, licensing or registration for first-time imports; others, such as cosmetics or products which can fall under the definition of medical devices, will still need to fully abide by Chinese laws and regulations in terms of efficiency claims. It must be noted that local customs authorities in different cities may have different interpretations and apply different requirements and procedures for clearance.
At the same time, although GACC/CIFER registration is not needed, it is recommended that the exporters still begin the registration process.
