Stupid Mistake? Importing from China

[MikeyLondon]

Hi Everyone
I'd be most grateful if someone could give me a little guidance.
I'm in the process of manufacturing pool cues with a company in China to import to The UK.
The first order is 1000 units so it's not a small order
;-( I've already paid deposits etc etc and production is in process.
I've just found out about EU regulations and am pretty sure that I'll need to comply with some law. I'm guessing that even though the item is "finished", I still need to prove that the wood for the cues is coming from sustainable sources etc?
I'm not convinced that the company that I'm working with will be able to show me anything if I do.
This is my first attempt to import anything from anywhere and I've clearly dived straight in without thinking everything through.
If you were in my position which I'm sure you wouldn't be because you're probably a little more organised than me assuming they cannot show anything that I may need for EU compliance would you:
- write off the deposit as a loss, tell them to stop production and start again?
- see it through, import the products and get them tested (if this is an option)?
- send the items to a non EU country and try and sell them there?
I've already tested samples and assuming the finished product is the same, they are well made and there is clearly no health risk or danger so in terms of safety, Im confident that if I took the final option, I wouldn't feel there was any risk to anyone otherwise I'd burn them immediately, financial loss or no loss
I'd be most grateful if anyone could given me their five cents/pence
God Bless
Mikey

 

[fisicx]

Get in contact With Ron @MY OFFICE IN CHINA. He's a member here and will be able to help you out.

 

[MikeyLondon]

Thank You Fisicx - Will do my friend

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

You should also check the safety regulations for importing wood products which may be at risk of introducing wood-borne pests and diseases into the UK:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCPH001.pdf/$FILE/FCPH001.pdf

Your cues may fall under table 2 which are not subject to control, but the type of wood is important.

Regarding your specific point, from what I can see, there's a requirement to prove that the wood has been sourced legally - not necessarily that it has to be from sustainable sources.

I suspect that illegal would be defined as logging without a license, or logging in legally protected forests. Either way, you may need your supplier to provide evidence of where the wood was sourced from, along with any relevant licenses and documentation.

But all is not lost. If your Chinese manufacturer is established and reputable, this is highly unlikely to be the first time they've made products for import to the UK, EU, US or any other countries with strict enforcement. Chances are they've ran into this issue well before you, and may have sorted everything out to continue supplying without any issues.

 

[GraemeL]

My biggest worry would be that the production products did not match the quality/size//labelling/packaging of the sample. Essential you have the products checked before they leave China. Lesson one, two and three - always use an agent for an order of any size or importance.
G

 

[MOIC]

I agree with all the above posts.

Contact the factory first, as I'm sure they will be able to provide the documents you need.

Feel free to contact if you need any help.

Mikey, I've replied to your PM.

 

[MikeyLondon]

Dear Scott, Graeme and MyOfficeInChina, Thank you soooo much for your feedback. Scott you're a true gentleman for giving me such a detailed insight, I really do appreciate it and I'll be in contact with you regarding your products/services. MyOfficeInChina, I'll reply to your PM Shorly. Thank You so much guys

 

[MOIC]

Feel free to contact anytime for any advice or assistance.

 

[aManHasNoName]

Thanks, for these links, might also be in contact over the next few months

 

[Freightbrain Int'l Ltd]

Hi, we are new to UKBF - But we are not new to shipping and importing, if I can be of any help please let me know.

 

[Ian CRA]

Post Brexit why are you complying with EU regulations ? If you wait until article 50 then there will be so much confusion, who's going to check what ?

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

Post Brexit why are you complying with EU regulations ? If you wait until article 50 then there will be so much confusion, who's going to check what ?

Border control. They will continue doing what they're doing until the day they have a very specific set of instructions to say otherwise.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Post Brexit why are you complying with EU regulations ?

Because we are in the EU and will be for over 2 years....! Invoking article 50 will do nothing to border controls, imports etc. Indeed, when we are out, nothing will probably change for a while...

 

[Rose Departure]

Hi, Mikey,

If the factory professional on such products, they will also have professional way to handle such problem. Although they got the deposit already, they should much prefer get back the full ballance. Even you write off your deposit as a loss, also not easy for them to sell the products, they will also have a loss for the production. So the factory and you with totally same benifit, trust they will help you to solve the problem from their heart...

 

[Rose Departure]

Sourcing in China, need a agent to solve problems, in fact to solve the conflicts between you and the factories: you wanna higher quality, but factories will less profit for the higher quality over costing, thus higher quality might not that easy to direct in the production by the factories themselves; you wanna faster shipment like before the CNY, but factory fully busy and they care much about their top clients, thus faster shipment as your schedule might not be cared that much by the factories but instead of trying best to delay your goods for sure their top client's faster shipment....Agent is the one who will and can protect your benifit when your benifit conflict with the factories' benifit...

When you wanna benifit which might conflict with the factory, come to your agent. When your benifit exactly same as the factory like need some certificates not refer cost, come to the factory either OK.

 

[cathreen7879]

As we all know that the laws made for the benefits of country people so some laws creates problem but some give more liberty than the other countries laws so keep focusing on business these are just hurdle. We all know that our goals are much bigger than the hurdle.

 

[HBC]

Just reading all the comments, I have been involved in importing into the EU from Cyprus (which back then was not yet in the EU), and I find this very interesting. Grateful to everyone for their info, still learning. Mikey, if it's any consolation I would probably not have thought of that rule either....

 

[Jolie Wang]

Hi, Mikey,

If the factory professional on such products, they will also have professional way to handle such problem. Although they got the deposit already, they should much prefer get back the full ballance. Even you write off your deposit as a loss, also not easy for them to sell the products, they will also have a loss for the production. So the factory and you with totally same benifit, trust they will help you to solve the problem from their heart...

I agree with that. Doing business with each other, it means the suppliers and buyers are standing together tightly. So if have any problems, it needs both of them to find a way to solve.