Imports of Office Chairs from China Are Surging! An Explanation of Required Documents and Key Customs Clearance Points

Office Chairs and Import Restrictions

High-pressure gas is typically used in office chairs to adjust the seat height.

Since high-pressure gas is subject to the "High-Pressure Gas Safety Act," you must submit documentation at customs declaring that the product meets the standards set forth in the Act.


This document is the "Certificate of Exemption from Import Regulations for Buffer Devices."

This document is prepared by the importer based on information from the manufacturer and submitted to customs.


In practice, the importer usually prepares the document and submits it to the customs broker.

Definition of High-Pressure Gas

The High-Pressure Gas Safety Act defines high-pressure gas as follows:


(1) Compressed gas that has a pressure of 1 megapascal or more at room temperature, or compressed gas that has a pressure of 1 megapascal or more at a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius (excluding compressed acetylene gas)


(2) Compressed acetylene gas that has a pressure of 0.2 megapascals or more at room temperature and is currently at a pressure of 0.2 megapascals or more, or compressed acetylene gas that has a pressure of 0.2 megapascals or more at a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius


(3) Liquefied gases that have a pressure of 0.2 megapascals or more at room temperature, including those currently at a pressure of 0.2 megapascals or more, or liquefied gases for which the temperature at which the pressure reaches 0.2 megapascals or more is 35 degrees Celsius or lower


④ Liquefied hydrogen cyanide, liquefied methyl bromide, or liquefied ethylene oxide, where the pressure exceeds 0 pascals at a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius (excluding those in (3))



Although the wording is quite technical, the high-pressure gases defined here are almost exclusively propane gas and high-pressure gases contained in special industrial containers.

Are office chairs classified as high-pressure gas?

In the case of office chairs, the pressure is generally low, so they are not considered subject to these regulations (with the exception of special cases).

Therefore, the standard procedure is to submit a “Certificate of Exemption from Import Restrictions on Cushioning Devices” to customs to clear the goods.


Normally, submitting this certificate allows for smooth customs clearance, but if customs officials have any suspicions, they may request additional explanations or the submission of test reports.

Since this is handled on a case-by-case basis, you will need to respond accordingly as required at the time.


The form for the "Certificate of Exemption from Import Restrictions on Shock Absorbers" is as follows.


We will explain how to fill it out based on our past experience.

Summary

As demand for office chairs increases, related import operations are also expanding.

In this context, understanding and preparing the "Certificate of Exemption from Import Regulations for Shock Absorbers" in advance is crucial for ensuring smooth customs clearance.


In particular, products that use gas cylinders are subject to the High-Pressure Gas Safety Act, so it is essential to verify the necessary documents and procedures before importing.

If you are considering importing office chairs, thorough preparation in advance will help prevent unnecessary delays and customs clearance issues.


If you are considering importing office chairs, please entrust the process to HubBuyer.