A Comprehensive Guide to the Entire Process of Export Inspection, Certification and Goods Inspection and Factory Audit

Foreign trade refers to the exchange of goods, services and technologies between countries (regions). To ensure the quality of exported products and prevent inferior goods from being mixed in, inspection, certification and inspection and verification of factories are of vital importance. This article systematically introduces China's import and export inspection and certification system, quality licensing for exported products, as well as the inspection procedures for food and other products. 
I. Current Situation and Problems of Import and Export Inspection and Certification System in China
Import and export commodity inspection is an important part of China's trade control. As trade volume increases, its role becomes increasingly prominent. However, the following problems still exist: 
(1) Incomplete laws and regulations
Standard formulation is lagging behind and lacks operability 
Weaknesses in basic standards 
(2) Implementation was not carried out properly
The public at large had a poor understanding of the standards 
Small and medium-sized enterprises have a weak sense of standards. 
(3) Inconsistent institutional setup with international standards
Ambiguous division of responsibilities 
Separation of internal and external inspection services 
After joining the WTO, various systems have been continuously improved, but their scientificity and standardization still need to be enhanced. In response to new situations, efforts should be made to improve the systems, emergency measures, and information systems. 
II. Basic Knowledge of Foreign Trade Export Inspection and Certification
1. Import Product Inspection (Import Inspection)
The "List of Imported and Exported Goods Subject to Inspection by Inspection Authorities" stipulates that goods that must be inspected must be inspected by the inspection and certification authorities or their designated institutions. The consignee must register at the arrival station; goods requiring quarantine must be inspected as per regulations. Goods that fail the inspection are prohibited from import and export. Inspection items include: quality, safety, quantity, weight, hygiene, etc. 
2. Import Product Quality License (Import Certification)
The country has established a list to ensure the safety, hygiene and environmental protection of imported goods. Products included in the list must obtain a safety and quality license certificate after passing the inspection and certification process. 
3. Quality License for Exported Goods (Export Certification)
A quality licensing system is implemented for important export commodities. It is approved by the inspection and certification institutions as well as the relevant authorities. Currently, 76 types of commodities are subject to export quality licensing certification; those without the certificate are not allowed to be exported. 
4. Pre-shipment Inspection of Imported Waste Materials (Pre-shipment Inspection)
For the waste materials (such as waste paper, waste metals, waste plastics, waste wood products, waste textiles, etc.) that are permitted for import, pre-shipment inspection must be carried out to prevent the transfer of hazardous waste. The materials can only be loaded onto ships after passing the inspection. 
III. Inspection and Certification of Exported Food and Inspection Process
1. Acceptance of Inspection (Submission of Samples)
Review the registration certificate of the export food production enterprise, trade contract, letter of credit, weight detail list, factory inspection certificate, etc. 
When exporting health food products, a "Health Food Approval Certificate" must be provided. 
Dehydrated vegetables and honey products must provide the base registration materials. 
2. Basis for Inspection
Importing country (region) standards 
Bilateral/Multilateral Agreement 
National Food Hygiene Standards 
The standard designated by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the country 
3. Inspection contents (inspection items)
Quantity, weight, packaging, specifications, labels, markings, shipping marks 
Safety and Hygiene Inspection 
Specific component testing 
4. On-site inspection and sampling
Verify whether the product name, batch number, quantity, outer packaging, and shipping marks are consistent with the documents. 
Check the production date, shelf life, cleanliness and hygiene of the storage site, pest and rodent prevention measures, and for any contamination. 
Packaging inspection: Is it complete and free from damage or leakage? Are the packaging container performance and safety hygiene certificates valid? Are the packaging materials non-toxic and clean? 
Label inspection: Whether it complies with the label standards of the importing country. 
Sensory inspection: tissue condition, color, odor, taste, foreign matter, layering, clumping, moldiness, etc. 
5. Laboratory testing (certification inspection)
The laboratory completes the testing within the specified period and issues the "Inspection and Quarantine Result Report". 
6. Re-inspection
If the applicant has any objections to the test results, they can apply for a re-inspection. The procedures shall be carried out in accordance with the "Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law" and the "Re-inspection Measures". 
7. Result Evaluation and Handling
Passing Criteria: All items comply with the requirements. 
Non-conformity determination: Any one item is non-conforming. 
On-site non-conformity situations: 
Decay, spoilage, mold, infestation with insects, presence of foreign substances, toxic and harmful contamination 
Using raw materials from severely contaminated nuclear areas 
Returned due to poor hygiene quality 
Containing prohibited additives/fortifiers 
No production/best-before date or expired 
The packaging is severely damaged and leaking. 
The goods do not match the inspection documents. 
The country prohibits export. 
Other items do not meet food hygiene standards. 
Non-conformance handling: 
Imported food: Return, destruction, reuse or reprocessing. 
Exported food: Those related to safety and hygiene shall not be exported; those not related can be re-inspected and re-approved after processing and sorting, or released with the customer's confirmation letter. 
With the development of economy and technology, the inspection, certification and inspection of export goods have become increasingly important. Enterprises should actively cooperate with factory audits to obtain quality licensing certifications, ensure that exported goods meet the standards of target markets, and avoid trade risks. For more professional content, please continue to follow this column.