I. Quarantine for Incoming Animals: These "Restricted Zones" Must Not Be Violated.

As an experienced foreign trade professional, I must remind everyone:Animal quarantine is one of the most strictly regulated areas by customs.According to the "Law on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine," the following four categories of items are strictly prohibited from entry and are included in the "blacklist":

• Animal and plant pathogens: Including bacterial strains, virus strains, etc., unless for special research purposes
• Products from epidemic areas: Related items from countries and regions with animal and plant disease outbreaks
• Animal carcasses: Not allowed for import regardless of purpose
• Soil: This often-overlooked "invisible no-go zone"

I recall a 2018 case where a company attempted to import a batch of ornamental plants containing soil, resulting in the entire shipment being destroyed on-site with significant losses. Therefore,understanding the list of prohibited inbound items in advance(published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) is a prerequisite for conducting business.

II. Quarantine Approval "Clearance Guide": A Three-Step Strategy

Based on 20 years of practical experience, Ive summarizedthe golden three-step method for quarantine approval:

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility for Entry

Just like needing membership to enter an upscale restaurant, importing animal products first requires confirming:

• Whether the exporting country and production facility are on the customs-approved access list
• Whether they meet bilateral quarantine agreement requirements
• Whether they have valid animal health certificates

Last year, a client wanted to import beef from a certain country. Although the country was on the approved list, the specific factory wasnt authorized, resulting in two wasted months of preparation time.

Step 2: Prepare the "Travel Permit"

The materials required for different products vary significantly, with common "pitfalls" including:

• Live animals: Must provide isolation facility certificates (except for edible aquatic animals)
• Transit animals: Need complete transit route maps and destination country permits
• High-risk products: Grade I risk feed requires production facility qualification certificates

Its recommended to check the latest document list on the customs system in advance. Our team typically preparesa materials checklistfor item-by-item verification.

Step 3: Master the Timeline

Customs commitment letterComplete the review within 20 working daysto complete approval (can be extended by 10 days for special cases), but note:

• Peak season approvals may be delayed - recommend allowing a 30-day buffer
• Time for document corrections isnt counted in approval timelines
• Electronic applications can be submitted 24/7, but reviews only occur on workdays

III. Special Case Handling: The "Green Channel" for Scientific Research Supplies

For prohibited items for research purposes (like pathogens), customs providesspecial approval channels, but requires:

• Detailed explanation of quantity, purpose, and prevention measures
• Project approval documents from competent authorities
• Commitment to strict follow-up supervision

Last year when assisting a research institute with importing experimental bacterial strains, the process from document preparation to final approval took nearly two months.Research approvals are stricter than commercial approvals, so planning ahead is essential.

IV. Practical Advice: A Veteran Traders Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls

Drawing from years of practical experience, here are someshortcuts to avoid detours:

• When using the "Internet + Customs" platform,register before form-fillingto prevent data loss
• Scanned copies must beclear and completeBlurry documents are the main reason for rejection
• Closely monitor the General Administration of Customs websiteThe access list may be updated monthly
• For complex cases, it is recommended to consult the 12360 hotline in advance or seek professional agents

Remember, in the field of animal quarantine,Compliance is always more important than speed. A single violation may result in a company being placed on the "blacklist," affecting all subsequent import and export operations.

V. Future Trends: New Opportunities in Digital Quarantine

With the advancement of customs "smart supervision," quarantine approval has also exhibited new characteristics:

• Full electronic processing,Zero legworkHandled
• Pilot "pre-approval" system for some products.
• Blockchain technology applied to traceability management

It is recommended that enterprises adapt to digital transformation as early as possible. Our company specifically trained teams to use the new system last year, improving approval efficiency by 40%.

Finally, heres an industry maxim:"Quarantine is no trivial matter; details determine success or failure."With thorough preparation, your import business can be as vigorous as a healthy animal that has passed quarantine!