Setting Sail Faster: China Streamlines Ship Sanitation Certification with New Online Portal

By Wan Qian

The Ship Sanitation Certificate, comprising the Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate (SSCEC) and the Ship Sanitation Control Certificate (SSCC), is mandatory for ships in international traffic. Covering key areas such as infection prevention and control (IPC), food and water safety, vector control, environmental sanitation, and medical equipment repair and maintenance, the certificate fully confirms that a ship meets the required sanitation standards and is capable of preventing the cross-border spread of public health risks.

A Ship Sanitation Control Certificate (SSCC) is issued to vessels where specific public health risks are identified. These include the presence of persons with quarantinable diseases, evidence of rodent or other vector infestation above accepted thresholds, signs of chemical, biological, or radioactive contamination, or any other verified public health threat that, in the judgment of Customs authorities, necessitates sanitation control measures. Ships that do not present such conditions are exempted from sanitation control measures and will receive a Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate (SSCEC) instead. Any non-compliances identified during the inspection, along with recommendations for corrective action, will be recorded on the certificate or conveyed to the vessel’s representatives.

The issuance and management of Ship Sanitation Certificates are governed by a robust legal framework. Central to this are the International Health Regulations (2005), issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with the associated Handbook for inspection of ships and issuance of ship sanitation certificates and the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China as well as its implementing regulations. This framework ensures that every certificate is issued with the necessary authority and in full compliance with established procedures.

To further ease the process for vessel representatives and expedite port clearance, a digital Ship Sanitation Certificate system for inbound and outbound vessels was rolled out nationwide on July 15, 2025. Through a dedicated module for health certificates on the China International Trade Single Window, applicants, including vessel representatives and their agents, can now apply online, eliminating the need for in-person document submission. This marks a significant step toward a completely streamlined and paperless process.

When applying for or while holding a Ship Sanitation Certificate, vessel representatives should be aware of several key requirements. The certificate must be issued by a senior port health officer of Customs authority and is valid for a maximum of six months. Applications for renewal should be submitted at least 30 days before expiry, unless Customs requires a vessel inspection for supervisory reasons. If port conditions prevent an inspection or required control measures, and no evidence of infection or contamination is found, the applicant, including the vessel representative or its agent, may request an extension of the Ship Sanitation Certificate online via the Vessel Transport Subsystem of the China International Trade Single Window. Upon approval, Customs will stamp the original Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate (SSCEC) with an extension, thereby extending its validity by one month.

Digitalizing Ship Sanitation Certificates is a key step in modernizing Customs' health and quarantine operations. It also represents a major milestone in advancing the national Digital Development Strategy and driving reforms to streamline administration and delegate power, improve regulation and upgrade services. Going forward, the Smart Customs initiative will be further advanced by refining system functions, expanding its use cases, and boosting clearance efficiency for inbound and outbound vessels. In doing so, it aims to reinforce the public health defenses at the border while ensuring smoother passage for international vessels through more efficient, standardized, and user-friendly services, ultimately supporting the high-level opening up of ports and the high-quality growth of foreign trade.