On August 10, 2011, apparel imports inspection data for the first half of 2011 was issued by Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine and showed that 55.8% of imported apparel from Shanghai port was not qualified. These unqualified products were mainly imported from Korea, Bangladesh, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and other countries. The items that failed inspection did not meet standards for appearance and care label.
Since January 1, 2011, 301 HS codes of apparel have been added into the Statutory Inspection Import Catalog. Shanghai port imported 11,369 apparel batches (worth about $220 million) during the first half of the year. Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine conducted inspection and quarantine for 5,625 batches, with a sampling rate of 49.5%. The unqualified products exceeded 3,100 batches, accounting for 55.8% of the total batches. Out of the unqualified batches, over 2,800 batches, or 49.2%, failed on labeling and appearance, and 390 batches failed on internal quality, accounting for 6.7%. The items that failed inspection did not meet standards for PH value, colorfastness, carcinogenic aromatic amines and formaldehyde, emphasizing the need to quality check imported apparel brands.
120 batches of unqualified apparel imports destroyed
In view of this high reject rate of apparel imports, Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine has full control for many airports or ports such as Shanghai airport, Wusong, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone and Yangshan. With a focus on enhancing the management and supervision of security and environmental protection, the unqualified products are returned or destroyed once discovered. It is estimated that Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine destroyed tens of thousands pieces of unqualified mid-market and high-end apparel, from the 79 batches products seized so far this year. Through the end of June, Shanghai port destroyed 118 batches of unqualified products and returned 80 batches.
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