Customs clearance and shipping urgent medical equipment from China

The British Embassy, Beijing, is aware that many companies are having difficulties clearing Chinese customs and shipping urgent medical equipment purchased in China. The CBI has produced a checklist of necessary customs clearances that companies need to secure during equipment procurement.

If a company has a very small volume to ship, in the first instance please note that a number of agents including DHL are still operating in China.

If that route does not prove fruitful and if the small package is urgent, the Embassy can try to include it onto flights being chartered for centrally procured equipment for the NHS and DHSC. This will depend on available space and an understanding that HMG-procured equipment will take priority on these flights. In this case, please contact: Jamie Smallman [email protected] and Harry Gilbert [email protected].

If companies are trying to ship equipment in large volumes, the Embassy recommends that they charter a flight. DHL is still working and other carriers, including Cathy Pacific, have also offered cargo routes. Please see the quick guide for more information.