Ningbo Customs has made an effort to build a tight network in port inspection and quarantine to ensure the smooth running of the economy and society. 

As an important city involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, Ningbo is using its geographical advantage as a port city to strengthen connections to Central and Eastern Europe.

The permanent exhibition hall for products from the Central and Eastern European countries at the Ningbo Imported And Exported Commodity Center has become the "first choice" for the countries looking to export commodities to China. A large number of local specialties appear here, such as biscuits from Slovakia, honey from Hungary, crystal from Bohemia and so on.

With the deepening of economic globalization, personnel, economic and trade exchanges are becoming frequent. Therefore, ecological risks pose new challenges to national security, an official from Ningbo Customs said. In addition to introducing efficient and convenient measures in customs procedures, Ningbo Customs has also stepped up its efforts in port supervision, the official said. 

To prevent animal and plant diseases entering the country, Ningbo Customs carried out classification entry management on the exhibits at the permanent exhibition hall for products from the Central and Eastern European countries based on different risk levels. Exhibits are divided into three categories - entry with approval, limited entry and prohibited entry. 

At the same time, they have enhanced the prevention measures for key animal and plant diseases during the on-site inspection and quarantine.

Ningbo Customs said they strictly inspect wooden packaging and carry out quarantine treatment on unqualified wooden packages. They also set up quarantines for pork products from areas affected by the African swine fever virus. They destroyed products from epidemic areas and unidentified pork products. This prevents the introduction of animal and plant diseases.

With successful China-CEEC investment and trade expos between 2015-18, a growing number of imported foods from countries in Central and Eastern Europe have come to Ningbo. This has become a supervision focus, Ningbo Customs said.

In response, Ningbo Customs took the initiative to promote the reform of the working mechanism of food access to China. With the authorization of the General Administration of Customs, Ningbo Customs assessed and researched foods from 10 countries and regions in Central and Eastern Europe - Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Austria and Ukraine. 

Ningbo Customs has also participated in a lot of foods assessment work for the General Administration of Customs in recent years. For example, Estonian aquatic products, Romanian honey, Czech malt, Latvian honey, Slovenian honey, Argentine peas, Slovak mutton, Swedish honey and Armenian bee products. As of April 2019, a total of 116 kinds of food under seven categories from 13 Central and Eastern European countries had passed risk assessment and are allowed as exported foods to China.