Import Used Agricultural Machinery Precautions

Hello everyone. In recent years, we’ve helped clients import used agricultural machinery from European and American markets, and we’ve found that the import regulation for used goods is indeed much stricter than for new ones, with a more complex process. Today, I’ll spend a few minutes walking you through the core pain points and customs clearance logic for importing used agricultural machinery, so you can avoid pitfalls and take fewer detours.

The key takeaway is this: importing used agricultural machinery follows a strict customs “three-step” rule.

Step 1: Check the “Prohibited Import Catalog” first. This is a hard red line! The basis is the Joint Announcement No. 106 of 2018 by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs. Items like used tractors and used engines — if the corresponding product falls within this catalog, it is absolutely prohibited from import. All subsequent steps become irrelevant — just drop the idea. This is the first and most critical checkpoint.

Step 2: If not prohibited, check the “Inspection and Supervision Measures List.” The basis is Customs Announcement No. 145 of 2014. This list categorizes used mechanical and electrical products into three types. The most critical category for us is: those requiring “pre-shipment inspection.” For example, used harvesters, forage harvesters, cotton pickers, threshers, rice transplanters, and so on all fall into this category. These machines must be inspected before the goods are shipped from abroad, and an inspection certificate must be obtained. Without this certificate, subsequent import procedures are impossible. If the product is not on this list, it typically only needs to undergo standard port and destination inspections.

Step 3: If both steps above are cleared, check the “Import License Catalog” last. The basis is the latest Joint Announcement No. 88 of 2025 by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs. Items like used combine harvesters, rice transplanters, various harvesters, cotton pickers, forage harvesters, threshers, and so on are all in this catalog. This means that before customs clearance, you must apply to the Ministry of Commerce and obtain an “Import License” — otherwise, you won’t be able to clear customs.

Here’s the critical sequence: you must first confirm the goods “can be imported,” then proceed with “pre-shipment inspection,” and finally use the inspection certificate to apply for the “import license.”

So what exactly does pre-shipment inspection cover? There are three main areas:

• Consistency inspection: Checks whether the machine’s nameplate information (model, manufacturer, production date, etc.) matches your submitted documents, strictly preventing “goods not matching description” or contraband being smuggled in.
• Safety inspection: Checks whether safety warning labels are complete, whether operating instructions are available in Chinese, whether the machine has any oil or water leaks, and whether it runs normally during a test operation.
• Environmental and hygiene inspection: Checks whether the machine is clean — free of soil and weeds — and whether emissions and noise levels at the factory meet our national standards.

As for the documents needed for import customs clearance, here’s the complete list: commercial invoice, packing list, purchase contract, foreign exchange payment voucher, the product’s original factory invoice or materials proving its original value (for valuation reference), pre-shipment inspection report, import license, inspection fee invoice issued by the inspection agency, and a detailed used goods price statement.

Alright, that covers the core customs clearance logic for importing used agricultural machinery. If you encounter more specific issues in practice, feel free to leave a comment and discuss.

I’m Lao Tao in international logistics. See you next time.