Complete Guide to Importing Refrigeration Equipment: Avoid These 6 Pitfalls to Save 30% Time Costs

Refrigeration equipmentImport ClearanceThe six key stages

According to the latest General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 78 of 2025, industrial refrigerationEquipment ImportsRequired to CompleteFull - process Compliance Management. A case where an electromechanical import company faced a 40-day customs delay due to incorrect commodity classification warns us: mastering the following process nodes can save 20-30% time costs.

Stage 1: Triple Verification of Qualification Documents

Starting from 2025, the Import Catalog of Electromechanical Products has added new environmental requirements for refrigerants. Companies need to prepare:

• Agency export agreement (original)
  • Original manufacturers refrigerant GWP value test report
  • Pressure vessel ASME certification (applicable to refrigeration units)
• Special documents:
  • Proof of frozen equipment storage capacity at the import port
  • Cold chain transport temperature monitoring system registration number

Stage 2: The Technical Game of Commodity Classification

A case where a company declared refrigeration units under 8418.69, resulting in 7% additional tariffs, but successfully reclassified under 8418.59 after providing new evidence shows:

• Key judgment factors:
  • Relationship between compressor power and refrigeration capacity conversion
  • Whether it includes a temperature control system module
  • Unit integration level (complete unit/parts)

Phase 3: Data Support for Customs Valuation

For common royalty fee issues regarding refrigeration equipment, it is recommended to prepare:

• Price composition documentation:
  • Technical patent fee allocation calculation sheet
  • Payment certificates for overseas installation and commissioning fees
• Comparable price database:
  • Transaction records of similar equipment from the same brand in the past three years
  • Procurement price list of main components

Phase 4: Technical Barriers in Inspection and Quarantine

New energy efficiency regulations for refrigeration equipment to be implemented in 2025 require:

• Mandatory testing items:
  • Measured COP value not less than 95% of nominal value
  • Annual refrigerant leakage rate <0.5%
• Key documents for verification:
  • Material certificates for evaporator/condenser
  • Refrigerant charge quantity declaration document

Phase 5: Strategies for Local Inspection

Recommended preparations for common inspection issues:

• On-site verification toolkit:
  • Multilingual operation manual (including Chinese translation)
  • Equipment parameter instant verification system
• Emergency response plan:
  • Backup power connection device
  • Emergency liquid drainage and recovery equipment

Post-clearance continuous supervision requirements

According to the 2025 amendment to the Special Equipment Safety Law:

• Key follow-up management points:
  • Monthly energy efficiency data reporting in the first year of operation
  • Mandatory re-inspection of pressure vessels every three years
• Risk early-warning mechanism:
  • Establishment of core component replacement traceability system
  • Configuration of remote monitoring data interface

A case study from a cold chain logistics company demonstrates that adopting a pre-classification + segmented transportation solution can reduce customs clearance time to 12 working days, proving that professional agency services can lower compliance costs by 40%. It is recommended that enterprises initiate customs clearance scheme verification during equipment procurement to avoid fundamental conflicts between technical parameters and customs requirements.