China Measures on Cotton Import Inspection

Article 20 Where any of the circumstances below occurs regarding the cotton of the same contract, invoice and specification from a registered external supplier, the inspection-quarantine agency shall assess and adjust the quality and credit standing of the registered supplier:

(1) The number of cotton bales that are degraded by two grades and more exceeds 20% of the total number of bales;

(2) The number of cotton bales that are degraded in length by 1/16 inch (approximately 1.58 millimeters) and more exceeds 20% of the total number of bales;

(3) The number of cotton bales that are not compliant in Micronaire value exceeds 60% of the total number of bales;

(4) The weight shortage of the delivery exceeds 3% and is not timely compensated;

(5) The number of cotton bales that are stained by oil or water, mildewed, or hardened exceeds 5% of the total number of bales;

(6) The package is damaged enough to affect transport and handling of the goods, and the number of the damaged bales exceeds 20% of the total number of bales;

(7) The goods are blended with different fiber, linter, cotton waste, or harmful sundries, thus cause severe loss or damage to Chinese businesses.

Article 21 Where the import cotton assume any circumstances listed in Article 20 above, the inspection-quarantine agency shall notify the consignee of the inspection outcomes, and the consignee also shall timely notify the external supplier of the outcomes.

Without permitted by the inspection-quarantine agency, the consignee shall not sell or use the import cotton in question.

Article 22 The local first-tier inspection-quarantine agency shall review the inspections and preliminarily assess the quality and credit grades of an external supplier, and notify in writing the external supplier of the assessment outcome and reasons.

Article 23 Where having objection to the preliminary assessment, the external supplier shall, within 15 workdays from receipt of the notification, offer its written defense to the local first-tier inspection-quarantine agency.

Through re-examination thereof, the original assessment that has any error shall be corrected.

Without any objection or timely defense from the external supplier, the local first-tier inspection-quarantine agency shall timely provide its final assessment to the external supplier.

Article 24 The AQSIQ shall, based on the final assessment outcomes, timely adjust the quality and credit grades of the external supplier.

Article 25 Where any relevant administrative review or litigation occurs, the assessment shall be suspended until completion of the review or litigation.

Article 26 The AQSIQ shall adjust the quality and credit grades of the registered external suppliers as per the manners below:

(1) Where the Grade-A suppliers assume any circumstances listed in Article 20 above, their grade shall be lowered from A to B;

(2) Where the Grade-B suppliers assume any circumstances listed in Article 20 above, their grade shall be lowered from B to C; where assuming none of those circumstances, they may be upgraded from B to A;

(3) Where assuming none of the circumstances listed in Article 20 above, the registered Grade-C suppliers may be upgraded to B.


Chapter 4 Import Inspection

Article 27 The cotton importers or consignees shall declare for inspection to local inspection-quarantine agencies.

Article 28 The local inspection-quarantine agencies shall, based on the quality and credit grades of the external suppliers, inspect the importing cotton as per the manners below:
Regarding the cotton from the Grade-A suppliers: inspection by sampling at the import destination;

Regarding the cotton from the Grade-B suppliers: stricter inspection by double sampling quantity at the import destination;

Regarding the cotton from the Grade-C suppliers: stricter inspection by double sampling quantity at the port of entry