Shanghai's pilot free trade zone yesterday opened a designated entry point for fresh fruits as authorities continue to simplify procedures and cut costs for importers.
The checkpoint in the Yangshan bonded area offers one-stop services by integrating inspection and quarantine procedures and customs clearance.
The time for quarantine and customs clearance is cut from 48 hours to six hours and importers can save costs by 30 percent.
"It's a crucial step in building an international service platform for trading of agriculture products in the Shanghai free trade zone," Sun Jiwei, executive deputy director of the FTZ's administration and head of the Pudong New Area, said at the launch ceremony for the checkpoint yesterday.
Wang Gang, deputy manager of Tongsheng Logistics Park Investment & Development Co, the operator of the checkpoint, said the proposed platform will integrate trading, warehousing, logistics and cold-chain delivery services.
The first batch of 1,176 boxes of apples shipped from New Zealand went through the checkpoint yesterday.
