The 5 Big Scandals in Handling Import and Export Certificates for Others

Mr. Zhang recently encountered a vexing matter: The company urgently purchased a batch of equipment from overseas, but was informed by the customs that it lacked an automatic import license. He found an agency on the Internet that claimed to "issue the certificate within 3 days on an urgent basis". After paying double the fee, what he got was a fake certificate and a fine of 50,000 yuan. The market of handling import and export certificates for others is a mixed bag. How to distinguish the genuine from the fake? And how should enterprises handle it efficiently and compliantly? This article will provide you with an in-depth analysis.

1. If These Certificates Are Not Handled, Goods May Be Detained

According to the data of the General Administration of Customs, in the first quarter of 2023, the cases of goods detention due to incomplete documents increased by 17% year-on-year. The commonly required certificates to be handled include:

• Import and Export Licenses: Involving special commodities such as endangered species and ozone-depleting substances
• Inspection and Quarantine Certificates: Essential for high-risk categories such as food and cosmetics
• Certificate of Origin: The key voucher for enjoying tariff preferences

Ms. Li's lesson is worth being vigilant about: The whole container of honey exported by her company was destroyed at the destination port due to the lack of a phytosanitary certificate.

2. The Three Common Tricks of Handling Agencies

By analyzing more than 200 enterprise complaint cases, we have summarized the following risk points:

• False Promises: "100% Guaranteed to Pass" and "Urgent Channel" are actually forging official seals
• Double Charging: Additional fees are charged under the pretexts such as "Supplementary Material Fees" and "Urgent Service Fees"
• Fake Certificates: Imitating the electronic seals of regulatory departments, and the QR code verification page is a counterfeit

A cross-border e-commerce enterprise was once listed on the customs' list of untrustworthy enterprises for as long as 2 years due to using a forged CCC certification.

3. The Four Golden Rules for Safe Handling

The import and export experts of Zhongshitong suggest:

• Give priority to service providers cooperated by banks or recommended by industry associations
• Require to check the customs registration number of the handling agency
• Query the handling progress in real time through the official website of the regulatory department
• Refuse any hints of illegal operations such as "backdoor dealing" and "special approval"

In actual operation, it usually takes 5 to 7 working days for a regular agency to handle an export license, and the fee is transparent, ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 yuan.

4. Handling by Yourself Is Not That Difficult Actually

For basic certificates, enterprises can log in to the "Single Window for International Trade" to apply online:

• Register an enterprise account (requiring materials such as business license and legal person's ID card)
• Fill in the application form for import and export goods licenses
• Upload attachments such as product test reports
• Pay the application fee electronically

Mr. Wang's company handled the Certificate of Origin through this system, and it only took 2 working days from submission to issuance, with zero cost throughout the process.

Which Handling Method Will You Choose?

Share your experiences in the comment section: Have you ever fallen into the trap of handling by others? Or have you discovered the secret of efficient handling? For small and medium-sized enterprises, establishing a long-term and stable compliant partner may be more cost-effective than finding a handling agency on a temporary basis each time. After all, in import and export trade, certificates are not only passes but also endorsements of enterprise reputation.