In response to an emergency notice issued by the Chinese mission to the European Union on February 1st, the European Commission has announced stricter inspections of wood packaging used for stone products exported from China. Starting April 1st, this measure will significantly increase the sampling rate—up to 90%—for goods entering the EU, creating major challenges for Chinese stone exporters.
Liu Yang, from the Fujian Stone and Products Export Base Chamber of Commerce, described the new policy as a “roadblock†for Chinese stone exports to Europe. He emphasized that raising the sampling rate not only increases customs clearance time but also adds to operational costs, which is particularly burdensome for an industry already struggling with declining European demand due to the ongoing debt crisis.
Fujian Province, home to over 500 stone trading companies, more than 10 export ports, and numerous building materials markets, is China’s largest stone production and export hub. However, the region has been hit hard by the economic downturn in Europe. Liu Yang noted that order declines have become the norm, with some companies even facing shortages during peak seasons.
Recently, he heard from a local company that had to shift 50% of its production to the domestic market to survive. “We haven’t shipped to Europe for a long time,†said Wang Sheng, general manager of Weisheng Stone Co., Ltd. in Yunfu City, Guangdong. He explained that high inspection standards and weak European demand have made it difficult to maintain export volumes.
The increased sampling efforts are seen as a further blow to an already fragile market. According to Liu Yang, while Fujian’s stone industry is mature, its main competitive edge has always been cost-effectiveness. With rising material and labor costs, this advantage is being eroded. Shen Yulu from the China Stone Industry Association added that longer customs delays and reduced efficiency are making the situation even worse.
Merchants are now discussing strategies to cope with the new rules, but no clear solutions have emerged yet. Wang Sheng expressed confusion about what else could be checked, as his company already follows all European packaging requirements. Liu Yang also questioned whether this move is specifically targeting Chinese exporters, given that no similar measures have been reported for other countries.
He speculated that the EU may be trying to protect its own high-end stone brands, like those from Italy, by limiting the competitiveness of Chinese products in a weak consumer market. The new regulations, he argued, are not just a technical adjustment—they’re a strategic move that could have lasting consequences for the industry.
Disposable Cuvettes,Cuvette For Uv Spectroscopy,Plastic Cuvette Spectrophotometer,Cuvette Uv Spectrophotometer
Taizhou TOPAID Medical Device Co,,ltd , https://www.topaidgen.com