Key Takeaways
As the Labor Day holiday ends and work resumes, a number of new laws and regulations related to import and export have officially come into effect in May. Frominspection and quarantine declaration rules to dangerous goods safety supervision, frommedical device export channels to comprehensive bonded zone upgrades– every change directly affects whether your goods can be cleared smoothly. This article systematically outlines the core policy changes for May, provides practical guidance, and helps your export business transition smoothly and stay compliant.
01 Introduction: Policies “Clustering” into Effect – Compliance Is the First Lesson Back to Work
As the Labor Day holiday ends and work resumes, while you focus on production and operations, we have been closely monitoring the regulatory landscape –multiple new customs and import/export regulations have officially taken effect since May 1, and some system updates have also been implemented on the first working day after the holiday (May 6).
These policy changes directly affectyour clearance timeliness, compliance costs, and whether your goods can be released smoothly. The compliance details are complex and interconnected – a single misstep could lead to declaration cancellations, cargo detention, or even administrative penalties.
As your professional logistics and customs brokerage partner, we have promptly identified the most critical policy changes and practical points for you to ensure your export goods move more smoothly, securely, and compliantly.
02 Core Change 1: New “Small Volume, Small Batch” Tag Added to Export Inspection & Quarantine Declarations
Policy Snapshot
Pursuant to requirements from the Customs General Administration’s business departments, the international trade “Single Window” updated its territorial inspection and quarantine system on May 6, 2026.
A new “Small Volume, Small Batch” checkbox has been added to the “Special Business Indicators” field in outbound inspection and quarantine applications. The corresponding message specification adjustments took effect on May 7.
Practical Guidance
Who can benefit?
Primarilysmall enterprises with low-value exports and high frequency, orsmall-volume shipments.
How to declare?
When filing an outbound inspection and quarantine application through the “Single Window”, check“Small Volume, Small Batch”in the “Special Business Indicators” field.
What are the benefits?
Goods flagged as “Small Volume, Small Batch” may receive amore convenient inspection green channel, reducing the frequency of batch-by-batch inspections and improving clearance efficiency.
Our Recommendation
When entrusting us with your customs declaration,please proactively inform us whether your goods qualify as “Small Volume, Small Batch”(e.g., value, quantity, etc.), so that our customs brokers can accurately check the box and help youmaximize the policy benefits.
03 Core Change 2: Multiple Laws and Regulations Now in Effect – Compliance Red Lines to Watch
Since May 1, 2026, several laws and regulations relevant to import/export have taken effect, covering dangerous goods, maritime law, biosafety, medical devices, and more.。
| New Regulation | Core Impact | Effective Date | Risk Reminder |
| Dangerous Chemicals Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China | Comprehensive upgrade of import/export hazardous chemicals supervision, full-chain strict control | May 1 | Non-compliant packaging or incomplete documents will be strictly investigated; new hazardous properties must be announced immediately |
| Newly Revised Maritime Law of the People’s Republic of China | Clarifies shipper’s documentation liability; electronic documents have legal effect | May 1 | Shipper must compensate carrier for losses caused by documentation issues |
| List of Key Controlled Invasive Species at Ports | First release; 4 categories, 21 invasive species under key port control | May 1 | Unauthorized introduction subject to fines up to RMB 250,000 |
| Administrative Provisions on Medical Device Export Sales Certificates | For the first time, allows export of unregistered products, broadening overseas market access | May 1 | Requires product traceability and compliance with importing country requirements |
Compliance Red Lines
1. Dangerous Chemicals: Ensure proper packaging, compliant labels (including Chinese), and complete Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Customs will legally inspect import/export hazardous chemicals and their packaging.
2. Invasive Species: Do not illegally conceal any insects, mollusks, live fish (“exotic pets”), or specimens. Once caught, you face heavy fines or even criminal liability.
3. Medical Devices: Although the new regulation eases the export channel for unregistered products, it requires that manufacturers comply with quality management standards and ensure product traceability. A compliance declaration is required at the time of declaration.
04 Core Change 3: Comprehensive Bonded Zones Upgraded – Major Benefits for Enterprises Within the Zones
Policy Snapshot
The General Office of the State Council forwarded the General Administration of Customs’ “Several Measures to Promote Capacity Expansion and Quality Enhancement of Comprehensive Bonded Zones”, announced and implemented on May 6, 2026. These measures are significant in scope and scale, representing a major policy upgrade for CBZs in recent years.
Key Benefits (Applicable to enterprises within CBZs)
● Expanded Bonded Maintenance Scope: Domestically manufactured export products are allowed to enter CBZs for maintenance and then re-export, without being subject to the maintenance product catalog.
● Greater Cross-Border E-commerce Flexibility:Allows cross-border e-commerce export goods to return to CBZs and be stored, sorted, and consolidated with goods already in the zone for re-export.
● Benefits for Enterprises Outside the Zone: Eligible biopharmaceutical R&D enterprises registered outside the zone may be granted a trial zone code, allowing them to import R&D materialswithout submitting license documentsand account for consumption based on actual usage.
Our Recommendation
If you are one of our clients operating within a CBZ, please contact us immediately. We will assist you inre-evaluating your business processesto fully utilize policies such as bonded maintenance and cross-border e-commerce returns toreduce operational costs.
05 Noteworthy Facilitation Benefits: Faster Clearance, Lower Costs
Beyond the above risk points and new regulations, a number ofpractical trade facilitation benefitsare also being implemented in May. We recommend you pay close attention:
Benefit 1: Africa Zero-Tariff and Origin Service Upgrade
Effective May 1, 2026, China has implemented a zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. The China Customs Rules of Origin Service Platform has added a“Zero-Tariff Implementation for African Countries with Diplomatic Relations” portal, providing integrated services for tariff rate inquiries and rules inquiries. Clients engaged in China-Africa trade should pay close attention to ensurecompliant utilization of preferences.
Benefit 2: Expanded Scope for Export LCL “Inspect First, Load Later”
The new policy expands the pilot scope of the “Inspect First, Load Later” supervision model for export Less-than-Container-Load (LCL) cargo. This model allows goods to enter the supervised area as bulk cargo, be inspected, and then loaded into containers. The advantage: goods are inspected within the supervised area and directly loaded into containers, effectively solving traditional problems such as difficult destuffing, hard-to-find cargo, and slow reloading.
Benefit 3: “One Inspection, Multi-Port Mutual Recognition” for Lithium Battery-Containing Goods
For export dangerous goods containing lithium batteries (e.g., new energy vehicles), maritime authorities are promoting a “one inspection, multi-port mutual recognition” model. If already inspected at the place of departure, the loading port will原则上 not re-inspect the container, significantly reducing clearance time and logistics costs for the “New Three” exports (EVs, lithium batteries, solar cells).
06 Our Commitment: Your Partner in Compliance Navigation
Facing this complex and rapidly changing regulatory environment, the entire operations team ofJudphoneProfessional Customs Brokeragehas promptly completed internal training and system synchronization。
We will deliver on the following for you:
1. Proactive Alerts:When receiving your customs declaration entrustment, we will proactively alert you to the latest compliance requirements for hazardous chemicals, goods requiring licenses, and inspection-required goods.
2. Accurate Declarations:We possess precise knowledge of completing newly added declaration elements such as “Small Volume, Small Batch,” ensuring no incorrect or omitted entries.
3. Policy Empowerment:We help CBZ and cross-border e-commerce clients fully understand new policies, turning “paper benefits” into “real” cost savings.
Final Reminder:
Among thousands of policies, compliance is the top priority. In the early stages of new law implementation, customs enforcement tends to be stricter. Before shipping your goods, please be sure to communicate thoroughly with us regarding product attributes and required documents.
Post time: May-07-2026