Inspection and Quarantine

Inspection and Quarantine is a mandatory inspection and treatment measure implemented in international trade on imported and exported goods, means of transport, packaging, etc., to safeguard human health, animal and plant safety, and the environment. It is usually carried out by customs or specialized agencies (such as the General Administration of Customs of China), covering commodity inspection (such as quality and specifications) and sanitary quarantine (such as pests, diseases, and infectious diseases). Applicable scenarios include: imported food, animal and plant products, cosmetics, etc. require inspection declaration; exported dangerous goods and wooden packaging require fumigation. Precautions: Failure to pass inspection and quarantine may result in return shipment or destruction; enterprises need to obtain relevant certificates in advance (such as the Inspection and Quarantine Certificate for Inbound Goods). Difference from "commodity inspection": the latter focuses on quality compliance, while inspection and quarantine emphasizes safety and hygiene. Foreign trade practitioners should pay attention to regulatory updates to avoid losses caused by incomplete documents or non-compliance with standards.