How to choose a professional and reliable export inspection agent?

Key factors to consider when selecting an inspection agent:

• Certification of Qualification: Verify if they hold Customs AEO certification and ISO/IEC 17020 inspection body accreditation
• Regional coverage: Whether the agents service network covers your sourcing locations and destination ports
• Industry Experience: Experience with similar product inspections (e.g., EMC testing experience for electronic products)
• The response speed.: Ability to provide on-site inspection services within 48 hours for urgent orders

What are the key steps in a standard inspection process?

A professional inspection process typically consists of three stages:

• The preliminary preparation phase
  • Confirming inspection standards (AQL sampling plan, test item checklist)
  • Verifying technical documents (BOM list, process flow chart)
• On-site operation phase
  • Checking cargo quantity and outer packaging integrity
  • Key performance testing (e.g., waterproof rating IP68 verification)
  • Random sampling destructive testing (for high-risk products)
• Report issuance phase
  • Visual defect documentation (must include GPS location and timestamp)
  • Non-conforming product classification statistics (Critical/Major/Minor defect grading)

What unexpected issues commonly arise during inspections?

According to the latest 2025 industry statistics, high-frequency issues include:

• Goods not matching samples(38% occurrence rate)
  • Solution: Immediately initiate a tripartite meeting (factory, buyer, agent)
• Incompatible testing equipment(22% occurrence rate)
  • Solution: Confirm testing equipment calibration certificates in advance (must comply with CNAS standards)
• Temporary policy changes(e.g., EUs newly implemented EPR packaging law in 2025)

How are emerging technologies impacting inspection services?

Two major technological trends emerging in the 2025 inspection industry:

• Popularization of smart inspection equipment
  • AR glasses for real-time inspection video transmission
  • IoT sensors for automatic temperature/humidity data recording
• Blockchain certification applications
  • Real-time blockchain storage of inspection reports to prevent tampering
  • Smart contracts automatically triggering re-inspection processes

How to avoid legal risks in inspection reports?

Three legal points requiring special attention:

• The report must specify the legal validity of inspection standards (such as ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 sampling standard)
• Retain original testing data for at least 3 years (according to the 2025 international trade dispute retroactive period)
• Cross-border electronic reports must comply with EU eIDAS electronic authentication specifications

How to reasonably control inspection costs?

Three effective methods for cost optimization:

• Adopt tiered pricing model (e.g. base fee for under 500 pieces + tiered unit price for excess quantity)
• Bundle service discounts (inspection + loading supervision + certification package)
• Utilize regional subsidy policies (e.g. 2025 Yangtze River Delta foreign trade service subsidy catalog)