Is the import of coatings a complex and risky business? This guide can save you 100,000 yuan!

"Mr. Zhang, this batch of your coatings has been detained by the customs again. The test report does not meet the national standard requirements." The reply from the customs broker on the other end of the phone made Mr. Zhang instantly have a headache. In recent years, with the tightening of environmental protection regulations, the import declaration of coatings has become a "pain point" for many enterprises. Today, we are going to uncover the core processes and pit - avoiding guides of coating import declaration agents.

1. Why is the import declaration of coatings so complicated?

Unlike ordinary goods, coatings, due to the of their chemical composition, are subject to triple supervision by the customs, environmental protection, and quality inspection departments. Take a European brand represented by Zhongshitong as an example. The following need to be submitted simultaneously:

• MSDS (Safety Data Sheet for Chemical Products)
• Chinese label filing (needs to be processed 30 days in advance)
• Dangerous characteristic classification and identification report
• VOC content test certificate (must comply with GB 24409 - 2020)

Ms. Li once failed to report the composition of the curing agent, resulting in the return of a whole container of goods and a loss of over 200,000 yuan.

2. The 4 core services of professional agents

Choosing a compliant agency can save 40% of the customs clearance time:

• Pre - classification service: Accurately match the HS code (for example, 3208.10 is solvent - based coatings)
• Document pre - review: Avoid "low - level mistakes" such as missing items in the test report and translation errors
• Customs affairs plan: Develop different customs clearance routes for dangerous/non - dangerous goods
• Tax optimization: Use free trade agreements to reduce or exempt tariffs (for example, coatings from ASEAN can enjoy a tax rate of 0 - 5%)

3. Response strategies under the new regulations in 2024

The latest technical requirements for low - VOC content coating products by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will be implemented in June. It is recommended that:

• Prepare a Chinese label in line with GHS standards in advance (it needs to include a hazard pictogram)
• Water - based coatings need to provide a certificate of no APEO
• Powder coatings should pay attention to customs classification disputes (it may be classified into 32.07 or 39.04)

The case of an art coating importer whose batch was destroyed due to failure to update the test standard is worthy of vigilance.

4. Is your coating really suitable for import?

When the following situations occur, it is recommended to re - evaluate the import plan:

• The value of a single batch of goods is less than 50,000 yuan (the comprehensive cost may be higher than domestic products)
• Special colors need to be customized (some pigments are subject to the control of the Catalogue of Chemicals Subject to Strict Import and Export Control in China)
• Emergency replenishment is needed (normal customs clearance takes 7 - 15 working days)

The import declaration of coatings is like a precise surgery, and every link needs to be professionally controlled. Have you ever encountered problems such as rejected test reports or non - compliant labels? Welcome to share your experiences in the comment section. We will select 3 readers to provide free customs consultation!