In practice, through CBEC, imported goods are cleared by customs without the need for premarket access product filing, registration or certification – which are instead mandatory through general trade for most product categories. For instance, animal cruel-free cosmetic products can be exported to China through CBEC without going through a lengthy and strict exemption process.

Still, certain categories of goods – including infant formula or food supplements – may still be subject to pre-registration, record filing, licensing or registration for first-time imports; others, such as cosmetics or products which can fall under the definition of medical devices, will still need to fully abide by Chinese laws and regulations in terms of efficiency claims. It must be noted that local customs authorities in different cities may have different interpretations and apply different requirements and procedures for clearance.