On August 27, 2025, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China released Announcement No. 178 [2025], establishing a new framework for the adoption of inspection results for imported wood-based panels. This regulatory update implements the provisions of theLaw of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection and the Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of the Adoption of Inspection Results of Imported and Exported Commodities(hereinafter referred to as the Measures for Administration of the Adoption), integrating findings from a recent risk assessment on the quality and safety of imported wood-based panels.Here, we break down the key requirements from the announcement for your reference.
I. Imported Wood-Based Panels Subject to the Adoption Process
Importers or their agents importing wood-based panels included in the List of HS Codes for Imported Wood-Based Panels Subject to Adoption may now commission accredited inspection institutions to perform the requisite inspections. Customs shall admit the inspection results issued by these bodies in accordance with the stipulated Measures for Administration of the Adoption.
II. Mandatory Inspection Item, Applicable Technical Specification and Test Method
Accredited inspection institutions must conduct inspectionson imported wood-based panels in accordance with the document titledInspection Items, Applicable Technical Specifications, and Test Methods for Imported Wood-Based Panel Inspection and Acceptance.
Note: Technical specifications, if updated, shall be implemented as per the latest version in effect.
III. Required Content of the Test Report
Accredited inspection institutions, when commissioned by importers or their agents, are responsible for testing imported wood-based panels and issuing the corresponding test reports. These reports must fulfill all requirements stipulated in Article 13 of the Measures for Administration of the Adoptionand be supplemented with clear photographs of the inspected product and its labeling. The product labels must display key information including the product name, specification model, batch number, and production date.
IV. Requirements for Accreditation as an Inspection Institution
(I) Eligibility Criteria
Inspection institutions applying for admission to the Catalogue of Institutions whose Results Are to Be Adopted for Inspection of imported wood-based panel (hereinafter referred to as "applicant bodies") shall, prior to admission,comply not only with the requirements of Clauses 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 of Article 7 of theMeasures for Administration of the Adoption,but also with the following criteria:
Domestic inspectioninstitutions registered within the People's Republic of China must hold either a China Inspection Body and Laboratory Mandatory Approval (CMA) or ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation administered by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS). Their scopes of accreditation must explicitly cover all stipulated inspection items, applicable technical specifications, and test methods.
International inspection institutions registered outside the People’s Republic of China shall beaccredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard by a signatory accreditation body of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC-MRA). Similarly, their scopes of accreditation must include all the required inspection items, applicable technical specifications, and test methods.
(II) Application and Submission Process
Applicant bodies must submit all required materials as specified in theAdministration of the Customs for Catalogue of Institutions whose Results Are to Be Adopted for Inspection of Imported and Exported Commodities.
The specific application path is as follows: China International Trade Single Window (https://www.singlewindow.cn) - Business Application - Port Authority Declarations - Inspection and Quarantine - Adoption of Inspection for Imported and Exported Commodities.
V. A Guide for Importers: Key Declaration Steps
When declaring shipments that require the adoption of inspection results, importers or their agents must complete the following steps in the digital declaration system: first, select "Clearance Based on Adopted Test Results" in the "Goods Attributes" field. For the corresponding product item, enter the "Admitted Inspection Body Code/Test Report Number" into the field of "Product Qualifications". Finally, upload the Declaration of Conformity for Quality and Safetywithin the "Annexed Documents" sectionand the Customs shall implement adoption in accordance with theMeasures for Administration of the Adoption.
VI. Effective Date
These measures shall come into effect on August 27, 2025, the date the announcement is published.
