Unveiling CCIC China Certification & Inspection Group inEquipment ImportsThe key role in

In international trade practice, whether pre-shipment inspection by CCIC is required for equipment imports has always been aimport and exportKey issues of concern for enterprises. Based on the latest "Inspection and Supervision Measures for Imported Used Mechanical and Electrical Products" released in 2025, combined with the author's two decades of practical customs clearance experience, we have systematically outlined the following key decision-making points.

Three typical scenarios where CCIC inspection must be conducted

• Import of used electromechanical equipment
  • Machining centers, injection molding machines, and other production equipment (HS Code Chapters 84-85).
  • Testing instruments (Chapter 90) with a service life exceeding 3 years.
  • Construction machinery related to safety and environmental protection (Chapter 87).
• Specific category brand-new equipment
  • Pressure vessel equipment (Chapter 73)
  • Medical imaging equipment (Chapter 90)
  • New energyProduction equipment (Chapter 85)
• Special requirements of the country of origin
  • Japanese imported equipment requires radiation testing.
  • European and American imported equipment requires CE/UL certification verification.

Key Points for Optimizing Inspection Processes in 2025

In accordance with Announcement No. 45 of the General Administration of Customs, the China Inspection process has undergone three major upgrades:

• The verification time for electronic certificates has been reduced to 2 working days.
• Streamline inspection items by 30% (primarily retaining core safety and environmental protection indicators).
• The scope of third-party inspection agencies' acceptance has been expanded to 15 countries.

Risk Avoidance Strategies in Practical Operations

A company importing second-hand CNC machine tools from Germany in 2024 faced 37 days of port detention due to failure to promptly obtain the China Inspection Certificate. This case highlights three critical control points:

• HS code pre-confirmation: Obtain the advance classification ruling opinion in advance
• Inspection time control: Reserve at least a 45-day inspection period.
• Document Linkage Management: Ensure that the "License Number" column on the customs declaration form accurately states the CIQ number.

The essential difference between the inspection requirements for new and old equipment

• Second - hand equipment: Mandatory implementation of pre-shipment inspection + arrival inspection
• Brand new equipment: Only specific categories require a type test report.
• Key judgment criteria: Has the manufacturing date on the equipment nameplate exceeded 3 years?

Three Major New Changes in Inspection Policies for 2025

• Electronic certificates will fully replace paper documents (effective from July 1, 2025).
• The mutual recognition of inspection results has been expanded to include Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates.
• Environmental standards have been upgraded to meet China VI emission requirements.

Clarification of common misconceptions

• Misconception 1: "Complete machine imports are exempt from inspection" (Reality: Complete sets of equipment still require inspection)
• Misconception 2: "Bonded zone equipment transfer is exempt from inspection" (Reality: Procedures still need to be completed upon exiting the zone).
• Misconception 3: "Non-compliance can be rectified afterward" (Reality: Overseas rectification costs increase by 300%).

By systematically mastering the core rules of CCIC inspection, enterprises can effectively avoid an average of 15% cost loss in imports. When selecting agency services, it is recommended to focus on evaluating the supplier's capability in formulating inspection plans and their historical case database. Particularly for the import of special equipment, differences in professionalism may lead to a threefold or greater disparity in overall customs clearance efficiency.