How Deep Are the Waters of Daily Chemical Imports? These Pitfalls Are Worth Millions!

When Ms. Zhang first attempted to import a batch of niche shampoos from overseas, she never expected to be stuck at customs for two full weeks—missing key additives in the ingredient translation, lacking production batch numbers on Chinese labels, and even non-compliant packaging materials with environmental standards. This might be the "first tuition fee" many daily chemical import newcomers pay.

Unlike ordinary goods, daily chemical imports must overcome three major hurdles: regulatory compliance, testing & certification, and Chinese labeling. Take a European organic brand represented by Zhongshitong as an example—completing China's non-special use cosmetics filing alone requires 12 documents, including notarized overseas manufacturer qualifications and product safety assessment reports.

• Regulatory barriers: Cosmetic Hygiene Standards, Detergent Industry Standards, etc.
• Testing requirements: Microbial tests, heavy metal detection, toxicology studies
• Labeling pitfalls: Must include 9 elements like ingredient lists, country of origin, and expiration date

Ms. Li's import agency reduced clearance time by 40% through pre-classification declarations. Key strategies include:

• Applying for commodity code pre-rulings with customs in advance
• Using blockchain for cross-border mutual recognition of test reports
• Building a standardized Chinese label database

Notably, the newly implemented Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Registration System since 2023 requires importers to provide more detailed ingredient traceability proofs, which has caused recent delays in daily chemical clearances.

For new brands testing the market, we recommend the "bonded warehouse + cross-border e-commerce" hybrid model:

• First batch imported via bonded inventory (exempt from initial filing)
• Switch to general trade imports after selling 3000 units
• Simultaneously apply for non-special use filing to expand sales channels

As an industry veteran put it: "Daily chemical imports aren't simple logistics—they're a competition in systemic compliance capabilities." Have you encountered unexpected customs challenges? Share your experiences in the comments.