There are such unspoken rules for imported skincare products to clear customs in Chengdu

At 11 p.m., Ms. Li's mobile phone suddenly lit up - - a customs clearance delay notice. Korean essence worth 200,000 yuan was detained in the warehouse of Shuangliu Airport, and there were only 72 hours left until the 618 promotion. This was already the third time this month that business opportunities were missed due to customs declaration issues. When "ingredient - conscious consumers" become the mainstream of consumption, the imported skincare product track continues to heat up, but the invisible threshold of customs declaration agencies is causing countless Chengdu entrepreneurs to fall into traps...

I. Three "Achilles' heels" of imported skincare products in Chengdu

According to the customs clearance data of Zhongshitong, in 2023, the import volume of skincare products at the Chengdu port increased by 210% year - on - year, but the return rate was as high as 17%. The problems were concentrated in:

• Lack of ingredient certification: A French brand had an entire container of products seized because it failed to provide the CFDA certification for the 377 ingredient
• Non - compliance with new label regulations: The Chinese label of a Japanese sunscreen covered the original factory ingredient list, and it was required to be reworked and re - labeled
• Quarantine accidents: Trace amounts of unfiled preservatives were detected in Korean masks, and the entire batch was destroyed

Mr. Zhang, who represents a Swiss anti - aging brand, once missed the golden sales window because he underestimated the cosmetics filing cycle. "I thought it was as simple as clothing customs declaration, but ended up stumbling on the review of efficacy claims." he said with a bitter smile.

II. The 5 - step bomb - dismantling plan of professional agencies

According to the characteristics of the Chengdu market, compliant customs clearance needs to be broken through in stages:

• Pre - inspection stage: Through HS CODE pre - classification, avoid disputes in the ambiguous area of "skincare products vs. drugs"
• Document preparation: Prepare 12 core materials such as the certificate of origin and non - animal experiment statement 6 weeks in advance
• Risk filing: Establish alternative certification plans for sensitive ingredients such as retinol and niacinamide
• On - site response: Assign full - time coordinators familiar with the inspection key points of Tianfu Customs
• Emergency channel: Open dual channels for cross - border e - commerce stockpiling and general trade to avoid risks

The case of a German organic brand represented by Zhongshitong in 2023 shows that after adopting the hierarchical declaration strategy, the customs clearance time was compressed from 23 days to 9 working days.

III. New variables for customs clearance on the future track

With the implementation of the detailed rules of the Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics, three changes will occur in 2024:

• Separate safety assessment reports need to be submitted for children's skincare products
• The annual transaction limit of cross - border e - commerce may affect the stockpiling strategy
• The Chengdu Free Trade Zone may pilot the "pre - inspection" express channel

"This is no longer an era of going it alone." The person in charge of a cross - border e - commerce company revealed that through the import customs declaration service provider's pre - layout of the bonded warehouse, it achieved 72 - hour express replenishment during last year's Double 11.

Your customs clearance dilemma may only be a question away

When a niche essence misses the internet celebrity live - streaming promotion schedule due to customs declaration delays, what may be lost is not only the payment for goods, but also the opportunity for the brand to open up the western market. We have compiled a guide to avoid pitfalls in the customs clearance of skincare products at the Chengdu port, including the latest customs tariff regulations, ingredient white lists, and case analyses. Leave your most troublesome customs declaration questions in the comment section, and a customized solution will be delivered within 48 hours.