Japan Beauty Device Import Clearance Record: How Did a 22-Year-Old Agency Complete Shanghai Airport Customs Clearance in Just 3 Days?

I. From Tokyo to Shanghai: The Customs Clearance Journey of a Batch of Beauty Devices

In September 2022, a batch of radiofrequency beauty devices from Japan landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. As a professional...Import Representation, we provided full escort for this batch valued at $380,000.Medical EquipmentIt has accomplished the "last mile" from the air to the customer's warehouse. This case is particularly worth sharing because it highlights three key challenges in the import of medical devices: complex declaration elements, stringent inspection and quarantine requirements, and high timeliness demands.

When taking over this project, the client was most concerned about two issues: first, whether the Japanese beauty device could be smoothly imported as a medical device, and second, whether customs clearance could be completed before the National Day holiday. Our proposed solution was: conduct pre-shipment inspection in advance, prepare complete medical device filing documents, and select...Air Transportation+機場清關的快速通道。最終實際通關僅用時3個工作日（含查驗），比行業(yè)平均時效縮短40%。

II. The "Clearance Code" for Importing Medical Devices

Many people are unaware that the biggest hurdle in importing beauty devices is not tariffs, but rather medical device registration and filing. According to China's "Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices," radiofrequency beauty devices fall under Class II medical devices and must provide:

• The Free Sale Certificate (Certificate of Free Sale) issued by the Japanese authorities.
• Original medical device registration documents (Japanese + Chinese translation)
• Product technical requirements and test report (must comply with GB standards)
• Chinese instruction manual and label sample

Our team completed two critical actions before the cargo took off: first, coordinating with Japanese suppliers to obtain the pre-shipment inspection report certified by JETRO; second, submitting the import medical device filing application to the Shanghai Medical Products Administration in advance. This "pre-clearance" model was later referred to by clients as the "clearance code," effectively avoiding regulatory detention of goods upon arrival at the port.

III. The "Life-and-Death Speed" of Airport Customs Clearance

At 10:15 AM on Monday, September 26th, the goods landed at Pudong Airport on schedule. Our on-site operations team had already prepared a complete set of electronic declaration materials:

1. Master Air Waybill (MAWB) and House Air Waybill (HAWB)
2. The Proforma Invoice indicates the FOB transaction price.
3. Certified by the Japanese Chamber of CommerceIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:
4. The packing list details the serial number of each instrument.
5. Pre-declared customs declaration form (HS Code 90189090)

At 14:30 that afternoon, after completing the declaration, the customs system randomly selected our shipment for inspection. Here's a professional detail: inspections of medical devices often involve joint checks by drug regulatory authorities. Because we had completed all the necessary filings in advance, we passed the quality and safety inspection the very next day. On the morning of Wednesday, September 28th, after the client successfully paid the 6.5% tariff and 13% VAT, the system showed "released" at 12:08 noon.

IV. Practical Insights from a 15-Year-Old Agency Veteran

The success of this case is by no means accidental; it stems from the three core competencies we have accumulated over 15 years of import agency experience:

It is particularly important to note that since 2023, customs has introduced a new interpretation for the classification of beauty devices. Some instruments with therapeutic functions may now fall under tariff code 9018 instead of 9506, which directly affects tax rates and regulatory requirements. In another recent case we handled, professional classification advice helped a client save 9% in tariff costs.

V. Professional suggestions for importers

Based on this case, here are three suggestions for companies planning to import beauty devices:

1. Qualifications must be pre-approved.: Prepare the medical device filing materials at least 2 months in advance, and pay special attention to the validity period of the JETRO certification for Japanese products.
2. Logistics overall accounting：Although air freight may seem costly, when considering capital occupation and peak season sales, the overall cost could potentially be lower.Maritime Transportation
3. Agent reviews casesWhen selecting an agent, it is essential to verify whether they have successful cases with similar products, especially for medical devices, which have been under strict customs inspection in recent years.Cosmetics & Personal Careand other categories

Recently, we have been assisting a client with Japanese beauty devices.3CApplication for Certification Exemption. If you encounter similar issues during the import process, feel free to reach out for discussion. After all, in...import and exportIn this line of work, sometimes a single correct classification suggestion can be worth the entire agency fee.