On May 8, the General Administration of Customs issued Announcement No. 57 of 2026, declaring that from June 1, 2026, it will conduct annual random inspections on certain import and export goods not subject to statutory inspection.

         For foreign trade exporters, any export product categories listed in the annex to the announcement will face stricter regulatory scrutiny during port clearance. In light of this, we will highlight some key points based on the announcement content and historical inspection data.

   What are “goods not subject to statutory inspection”?   

         Statutory inspection goods usually refer to those listed in the Customs Catalogue of Import and Export Commodities Subject to Compulsory Inspection, such as certain hazardous chemicals, used mechanical and electrical equipment, and some high-risk consumer goods. These goods must undergo mandatory customs inspection at the import/export stage and fall under the “mandatory inspection” category—commonly known as “goods within the statutory inspection catalogue”.

         The random inspections announced this time are precisely for goods not in the statutory inspection catalogue. In simple terms, such goods do not require mandatory customs inspection during routine clearance; customs generally release them based on facilitation principles. However, according to the Measures for the Administration of Random Inspection of Import and Export Commodities, customs have the authority to select certain goods for temporary, planned random inspections – this is the so-called “random inspection of goods outside the catalogue”.

         Such inspections typically focus on import and export goods related to personal safety, public health, and environmental protection. The scope includes categories with many consumer complaints, high return volumes, frequent quality incidents, or new requirements from domestic or international technical standards.

   Which goods require special attention in this round of inspections?   

         Based on the announcement’s annex, the categories of import and export goods covered by this round of random inspections have expanded compared to previous years, with more detailed classification.

• Imported goods: infant and child products, food contact products, daily ornaments, adult footwear, electronic products, low-voltage electrical apparatus, etc.

• Exported goods: infant and child products and low-voltage electrical apparatus.

• For cross-border sellers engaged in export business, the core categories to focus on are “infant and child products” and “low-voltage electrical apparatus”.

• Infant and child products include feeding utensils such as baby bottles, nipples, and other daily feeding items, as well as children’s toys, infant clothing, shoes and hats, strollers, cribs, student stationery and backpacks, child safety seats, and infant toiletries and skincare products—basically covering common consumer goods for children aged 0–14.

• Low-voltage electrical apparatus is defined as electrical equipment with an AC voltage below 1000V or DC voltage below 1500V. Common products include switches, sockets, circuit breakers, relays and other protective devices, as well as plugs, junction boxes, and other connecting devices. These products are widely used in homes, offices, industrial settings, and other scenarios, making them an important category for cross-border exports.

• Note: The product names mentioned above are for reference only. The specific categories are subject to customs’ actual determination during inspection.

   What does customs inspect? How will it be handled?   

         Many sellers are concerned: if their goods are selected for random inspection, what exactly will be checked? What are the consequences of failing? Are there fees for the inspection itself?

         According to the Measures for the Administration of Random Inspection of Import and Export Commodities, random inspections follow the principle of “scientific organization and implementation.” Customs will carry out inspections according to the unified plan of the General Administration. Once a container is selected for inspection, customs typically focus on the following aspects:

• Verify product name, specification, quantity, weight, package count, and shipping marks to ensure consistency between declared information and actual goods.

• Check for infringement: inspect for counterfeit or shoddy products.

• Verify place of production/destination: confirm product origin information.

• Check HS code classification and price: ensure correct classification and reasonable declared price.

• Inspect vehicle/container condition: ensure transport packaging is intact.

• Sample collection and testing: take samples from the goods for laboratory testing of safety, hygiene, environmental protection, etc.

Check for prohibited items.

• Among these inspection items, the most likely to cause clearance delays and additional costs is the sampling and testing step. Once customs decides that samples need to be sent for testing, the process can take anywhere from three to four days to more than a week.

   What are the consequences of failing the random inspection?   

         If goods are determined to be non-compliant during the random inspection, the outcome depends on the severity of the non-compliance.

         According to the Measures for the Administration of Random Inspection of Import and Export Commodities, customs have the authority to dispose of non‑compliant goods as follows:

If technical correction is possible: The seller may carry out technical treatment under customs supervision. After re-inspection and approval, the goods may be exported normally.

If technical correction is impossible or still fails after correction: The goods shall not be exported.

         This means that for sellers, the most direct loss is not a fine, but the various costs associated with goods being held at port – such as storage fees, container demurrage charges, shipping line re‑booking fees, and possibly missing the delivery deadline under a letter of credit, leading to claims from foreign buyers. Therefore, for sellers engaged in exporting infant and child products and low-voltage electrical apparatus, the safest approach is to proactively check product quality and safety, ensuring that exported goods comply with mandatory standards.

    Are there any fees for the inspection?   

         Customs do not charge any fees for conducting random inspections. According to Article 7 of the Measures for the Administration of Random Inspection of Import and Export Commodities, the costs required for random inspections are included in the annual special business budget.

         However, operations that may be involved during the inspection, such as container moving, unpacking, storage, and lifting, often require terminal assistance. These operations generate fees (commonly called “lift-on/lift-off charges” or “unstuffing fees”) that are not collected by customs but by the terminal operators, who issue official invoices accordingly. During peak seasons, these operations not only incur direct costs but may also further slow down the overall clearance process.

   How should cross-border sellers respond?   

With the implementation date approaching, cross-border sellers should prepare in advance.

Conduct SKU-by-SKU self-inspection:

Check every SKU involved in exports against the product scope list in the announcement’s annex. Focus on verifying the consistency and validity of product nameplate information, certification certificates, and test reports.

Pay special attention to the two core categories:

Infant and child products and low-voltage electrical apparatus. Identify quality risks strictly according to applicable standards. Note that different destination countries may have additional certification requirements (e.g., EU CE, US CPC), which sellers should also include in their self-inspection.

Prepare complete compliance documents:

Ensure that each shipment is accompanied by full compliance documentation, including product test reports, copies of certificates, and proof of origin, ensuring that documents match the goods and are traceable. In practice, it is advisable to keep both electronic and paper backups of relevant documents so they can be provided immediately upon customs request, avoiding prolonged inspection cycles due to missing documentation.

Optimize logistics contingency planning:

When selecting ports and logistics routes, fully consider potential inspection scenarios. It is recommended to leave a buffer of 3–5 days for each export shipment.

Random commodity inspections are part of the General Administration of Customs’ annual planned work. Sellers should not be overly nervous; simply prepare for compliance in advance and cooperate with customs.