Full Process of Pet Import Agency Customs Clearance, Customs Compliance Requirements and Key Points for Common Risk Prevention

I have handled nearly 100 pet import agency businesses.Last year,a case managed by Supervisor Lan involved importing British Shorthair cats from Thailand.The owner found a small agency by themselves and didn’t apply for entry quarantine approval in advance.The cargo was detained directly at Shanghai Waigang Port upon arrival,and finally had to be returned,resulting in a loss of tens of thousands of yuan in freight and the value of the pets themselves.Pets fall into the category of entry live animal supervision,and compliance requirements are much higher than ordinary goods.Any mistake in any link may cause irreparable losses.

Import License Application

The first step in pet import is to confirm whether the breed and exporting country are in the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Access List" published by the General Administration of Customs.The customs just updated the list at the end of 2025,adding specific ornamental pet categories from 3 countries.We will synchronize the latest list information in real time and help customers verify their access qualification immediately before accepting the business.

After confirming access,it is necessary to apply for the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Approval Form" in advance.The approval form needs to specify the pet’s breed,quantity,purpose,entry port,and quarantine isolation facility information.Many customers fill in the wrong quarantine facility qualification when applying by themselves,leading to approval failure and delaying entry time.

Pre-inspection by Commodity Inspection

Pre-inspection by commodity inspection is the core link to reduce customs clearance time for pet imports.Operating at Shanghai Port,we can pre-audit the full set of documents provided by customers 7-10 days in advance to check the consistency of all information and the actual goods.

I previously handled a case where Mr.Mei imported Border Collies from Europe.The pet chip number on the quarantine certificate issued by the overseas supplier was wrong by one digit.We found the problem immediately during pre-inspection,asked the supplier to reissue the certificate,and replaced the documents in advance.Upon arrival,there was no delay in customs clearance due to document issues,nor was there any demurrage fee incurred.

For pets exported from RCEP member countries,we also check the format and seal of the certificate of origin in advance to ensure compliance with RCEP origin rules,helping customers enjoy preferential tariffs under the agreement.In 2026,RCEP tariff reductions will be further implemented,and a compliant certificate of origin can save up to 30% of import tariffs.

Animal & Plant Quarantine

Animal & plant quarantine for pet imports is the core of supervision.All entry pets need on-site quarantine to check chip information,vaccination records,and quarantine certificates.Only after passing can they enter the quarantine isolation link.The isolation time varies for pets of different purposes,and the requirements for breeding pets and ornamental pets are different.

Here we compare the core differences between self-handling and agency import:

Customs Valuation

In 2026,the customs will launch a new big data comparison model for the valuation of live animals.The import prices of pets of the same breed and from the same source country will form a fixed price range.If the declared price deviates by more than 10% from the range,the system will automatically trigger inspection.

Previously,Mr.Huo wanted to underdeclare the value to save tariffs when importing from the US.We clearly informed him of the new valuation rules: underdeclaration will not only lead to tax assessment and supplementary tax payment but also add late fees and affect the owner’s customs credit rating.Finally,Mr.Huo declared according to the actual transaction price,passed customs clearance smoothly,and did not trigger inspection.

We will help customers check the accurate classification of HS codes in advance.Live pets are classified under HS code 0106.The tariff rates vary for categories of different purposes,with the maximum rate difference between breeding and ornamental pets reaching 10%.Accurate classification can not only avoid classification violations but also help customers enjoy the corresponding tax rate and avoid overpaying taxes.

There are several clear compliance red lines for pet imports; touching any of them will cause major losses:

• Arriving at the port without obtaining the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Approval Form" will result in the customs returning the cargo or conducting sanitary disposal,and all losses shall be borne by the owner
• Underdeclaring value to evade taxes: the customs valuation department will directly assess the price according to the system comparison,add late fees,and affect the customs credit rating
• Overseas exporters not in the customs access list: pets cannot enter the country,and illegal customs clearance through other channels is prohibited
• Some non-professional agencies will hide hidden fees such as document exchange fees and container detention fees,and raise prices arbitrarily upon arrival,leaving the owner in a dilemma

Zhongshitong is headquartered in Shanghai.Relying on the resource advantages of Shanghai Port,we can grasp the latest changes in supervision rules in the first place.At the same time,we have laid out a national port linkage network.Whether pets enter through Tianjin,Guangzhou,or other ports,we can unify operation standards,synchronize risk control requirements,and solve the connection problems of cross-regional declaration.We have cooperative agency networks in major pet exporting countries around the world,which can verify documents and pet information overseas in advance,control risks from the source,and avoid irreparable losses after arrival.