I. What exactly is chromium ore?
Chromium, known as Chromium in English with the chemical symbol Cr, is classified as a metal element belonging to Group VIB in the periodic table. Chromium is a silvery-white metal, known for its extreme hardness and brittleness. It is resistant to corrosion and classified as a chemically inactive metal. Stable against oxygen and humidity at room temperature, chromium finds extensive application in metallurgy, chemical production, cast iron, refractory materials, and advanced precision technologies. Chromium in its free state does not exist naturally. Chromium-bearing ores are primarily composed of chromite.
Chromium is a brittle metal and unsuitable for use as a standalone material. However, it can be alloyed with metals like iron, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and copper to manufacture advanced engineering materials. These materials, including stainless steel, acid-resistant steel, heat-resistant steel, ball bearing steel, spring steel, and tool steel, offer features such as heat resistance, thermal strength, wear resistance, and other specialized properties.
II. What are the relevant laws and regulations regarding the import of chromium ore?
The key national laws and regulations governing chromium ore imports primarily include the Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection and Regulations for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection.
III. What documentation is required for customs declaration when importing chromium ore?
1. Chinese and English sales contracts, packing lists, invoices, and waybills that validate transactions with foreign entities;
2. If the contract involves secondary settlement, a formula pricing filing form should be included;
3. Reports on product quality and weight, issued by an independent third-party inspection agency, at the time of chromium ore shipment; and
4. A detailed explanation of batch shipments, pricing methods, and other aspects.
IV. What precautions should be taken when declaring chromium ore?
1. Ingredient Content Elements refer to the composition and quantities of various substances present in the commodity.
2. Source (origin country and mining area) Elements refer to the name of the country of origin and the mining area for the mineral products. The declaration should specify the "country of origin name" and "mining area name".
3. Appearance Elements refer to the physical appearance of the product, primarily focusing on its color and shape. Both "color" and "shape" should be specified in the report.
4. Pricing Method (such as formula pricing or spot price) Elements refer to whether pricing is determined through spot pricing or formula-based methods. Due to the prevalence of secondary pricing, formula pricing is commonly adopted. It's particularly important to specify whether the settlement price has been finalized.
V. What are the customs policies and guidelines concerning on-site inspections of imported chromium ore?
In recent years, GACC has been making continuous efforts to enhance the business environment at ports and promote trade facilitation. For imported chromium products, policies such as "release before inspection" and "weight verification upon enterprise request" have been introduced successively.
1. How is the "release before inspection" supervision method implemented?
According to the Announcement of GACC on Adjusting the Supervision Methods for Certain Imported Mineral Products (GACC Announcement No. 134 [2018] ), imported mineral products can be removed from customs supervision sites once they meet the requirements of on-site inspections and quarantine checks. After removal, laboratory testing is conducted, and certificates are issued accordingly. On-site inspections and quarantine procedures include radioactivity detection, quarantine of foreign inclusions, quantity and weight verification, appearance inspection, and sample collection and preparation.
Imported chromium ore falls under the category of mineral products regulated by the "release before inspection" supervision method mentioned above. "Release" refers to allowing imported mineral products to be removed from customs supervision sites once they pass on-site inspection and quarantine procedures, including radioactivity detection, quarantine of foreign inclusions, quantity and weight verification, appearance inspection, and sample collection and preparation. "Post-inspection" means these products undergo laboratory testing and certificate issuance after being taken away.
If customs officials detect excessive radioactivity, the presence of suspected or mixed solid waste, discrepancies between goods and documentation, or contamination by foreign materials during on-site inspection and quarantine, the "release before inspection" supervision method will not be applicable.
2. How is the "weight verification upon enterprise request" supervision method implemented?
In line with the Announcement of GACC on Adjusting the Supervision Methods for Weight Appraisal of Imported Bulk Commodities (GACC Announcement No. 159 [2019]), customs authorities now conduct weight appraisals for bulk commodities based on enterprise applications. For consignees or agents who require a weight certificate issued by customs for importing bulk commodities, they should opt for the one-time full declaration mode during customs declaration and submit their request by selecting the "weight certificate" option. The customs will conduct weight appraisals and issue weight certificates upon an enterprise's application. However, if the consignee or agent of imported bulk commodities does not require a weight certificate, the customs will no longer carry out the weight appraisal process.
(Meng Hui)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.
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