On March 30, Qingdao Customs finished clearing 360-ton feed additives imported by Evonik (China) from Belgium, which marked the launch of China-EU “Secure and Smart Trade Line Pilot Program” (SSTL) in Qingdao City.

China-EU SSTL, as the world-first model to implement WCO “Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade”, is designed to help China-EU Customs and enterprises cooperation in controlling containers and containerized goods to make secure, convenient and smart transportation chains for international trade.

Qingdao was listed in the pilot program last year. Now Qingdao Customs has been cooperating with EU Customs to select pilot enterprises, sort out Qingdao-EU trade lines and traded goods, and guide enterprises in customs declarations.

Under the SSTL program, an enterprise can get multiple conveniences such as China-EU Customs mutual recognition and the priority in clearance. A Chinese participant firm must have stable trade business and partners in the EU and should be Customs-certified “authorized economic operator (AEO)”; if its EU partner is an AEO, its qualification can also be ordinary certified enterprise; it can apply to China Customs for the participation based on recognition by both China and EU Customs.