A groundbreaking reform in the China (Jiangsu) Pilot Free Trade Zone Suzhou Area (Suzhou FTZ) is slashing the processing time for a key customs clearance procedure. Eligible enterprises can apply for China Compulsory Certification (CCC) exemption in order to facilitate cross-border trade.
SIP Market Supervision Bureau has become the only district-level authority in China empowered to review applications for exemptions from the CCC, a mandatory certification mark for certain products sold in China.
The delegation of power has allowed the benefit of the CCC exemption policy to expand from qualified enterprises in the FTZ to those in the entire SIP.
A “white list” system has been established, and enterprises on this list can now secure instant customs clearance through self-promise and declaration based on good credit. Concurrently, third-party qualification service and a smart supervision platform have been employed to ensure effective supervision.
The effect of this reform is significant. The average processing time for CCC exemption has been reduced from five days to just 0.9 days. By August 2025, the bureau had handled 6,503 applications and issued 6,429 approvals, benefiting 298 companies in sectors like information technology and intelligent manufacturing.
October 2, 2025
