Since the outbreak of the new coronavirus in late 2019, public health has been severely affected worldwide. But now that the global health emergency has ended, our country has also incorporated prevention and control of the outbreak into normal management. This shift not only means that social and economic activities will gradually return to normal, but also means that various policies and measures related to prevention and control of the outbreak need to be adjusted accordingly. The most direct and most important of which is the production and export policy of anti-vaccine materials. In order to adapt to this new situation, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Market Regulation and the National Drug Administration jointly issued a series of new export quality control measures.

Adjusted quality control measures for exports of pesticide materials: more flexible and autonomous

From the date of the new announcement, 18 August 2023, a series of previously implemented anti-vaccine export quality regulations will be abolished or adjusted. Specifically, the Ministry of Commerce will stop confirming the list of enterprises producing anti-vaccine materials that obtained foreign standard certification or registered, and the General Administration of Market Regulation will also stop providing non-medical mask quality products and enterprise lists for domestic market inspection. More importantly, customs will no longer use these lists as a basis for export verification of related products. This series of adjustments means that exporting enterprises will enjoy greater flexibility and autonomy, but also means that they need to pay more attention to the quality and compliance of their products to maintain the international reputation of Chinese products.

Impact on export companies: greater autonomy and greater responsibility

The new export quality regulatory measures undoubtedly bring a higher degree of autonomy to export companies. They no longer need to apply for entry into the “List of Medical Equipment Manufacturing Enterprises to obtain Foreign Standard Certification or Registration” or “List of Non-Medical Mask Manufacturing Enterprises to obtain Foreign Standard Certification or Registration” and no longer need to provide “Exporter and Importer Joint Declaration” or “Export Medical Equipment Declaration” in customs reporting. This undoubtedly reduces the administrative costs and time costs of exporting enterprises. However, higher autonomy also means greater responsibility. In the absence of official lists and certifications, exporting enterprises need to stricter control of product quality to ensure that it complies with relevant standards and regulations of the country or region of receipt

Maintaining the international reputation of Chinese products: quality is key

The new export quality regulation measures clearly pointed out that Chinas export enterprises must ensure product quality safety, meet relevant standards requirements, consciously maintain the international reputation of Chinese products. This is a very important information, it means that in the new situation of end of global health emergency and domestic outbreak prevention and control normalization, Chinas export enterprises must not only face changes in domestic and foreign market needs, but also face the international public opinion and public concern about the quality and safety of Chinese products. Therefore, export enterprises need to attach great importance to product quality, not only to meet domestic relevant standards and regulations, but also to ensure that they can reach or exceed the quality requirements of the target market, to maintain and enhance the reputation of Chinese products in the international market.