Special Licenses and Permits that You May Need
Import/Export License
An import & export license is a certification granted by the relevant state authorities to international traders, authorizing them to engage in the importation or exportation of goods and services. Within the import and export license framework, businesses involved in the import and export of goods are required to obtain a license before finalizing contracts or initiating ordering procedures. Importantly, without such a license, neither import nor export activities are permitted. Key details encompassed within the import and export license comprise product specifics such as name, specifications, and quantity, as well as information about the importing and exporting countries, term of the license, total value of the transaction, chosen transportation method, trade procedures, payment methods, and other pertinent details. This comprehensive documentation ensures regulatory compliance, facilitates the orderly conduct of international trade, and acts as a crucial safeguard for the involved parties.
Hongda has extensive experience in applying for import and export certificates. We can complete the application process for you within 1-2 weeks, ensuring the smooth progress of your import and export-related operations.
Medical Devices Operation License
Businesses engaged in the production, sale, utilization, or maintenance of medical devices must acquire a Medical Devices Operation License. This license is stratified into three categories, each tailored to different types of medical devices and their specific application requirements. For a more comprehensive understanding of these categories and their associated application conditions, feel free to click here for further details.
Drug/Pharmaceuticals Operation License
Drug/pharmaceuticals Business License is the compulsory license that you need to obtain before starting your drug and pharmaceuticals related operation, regulated under the National Medical Products Administration. It may take up to 36-72 months to apply for the licenses for importing and selling drugs, or 3-6 months for selling cosmetics. Due to the long period of application, please contact Hongda in advance if you want to engage in such operations!
Food operation License/Food Production License
For public safety and supervision purposes, the Chinese government requires any person or institution who wishes to engage in the food industry to apply for related licenses, such as the Food Production License and Food Operation License, which are the most important in the food industry. Based on the business activities, you may need to apply for both or one of these licenses in order to start your operation legally. If you are a food industry player, you may get more information from our previous blog about ‘the license you may need to start food operation in China’.
Approval for the Formation of Medical Institutions and Practice License of Medical Institution
If your company is involved in healthcare businesses, such as medical institutions, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, or nursing facilities, it is required to obtain relevant health permits before and after obtaining your business license. Before applying for the business license, medical institution representatives need to obtain the ‘approval for the formation of medical institutions’, which will be required when registering your company. Prior to officially running your medical institutions, you will also need to apply for the Practice License of Medical Institution.
Environmental Impact Assessment
With the increasing emphasis on environmental improvement in recent years, the government's environmental requirements for businesses have also been rising, ensuring that economic advancement does not compromise the environment. For production and construction-oriented enterprises applying for a business license, obtaining environmental approval, or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is a prerequisite before proceeding with other business procedures. EIA involves the analysis, prediction, and evaluation of potential environmental impacts resulting from the implementation of planning and construction projects. It proposes strategies and measures to prevent or mitigate adverse environmental effects and establishes methods and systems for ongoing monitoring.
The Hazardous Chemicals Business License
It is required for enterprises engaged in chemical trade or the handling of hazardous chemicals, including refined oil, crude oil, kerosene, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, chemical products, coatings, paints, and resin. Before commencing operations, these companies need to submit to the Safety Supervision Bureau the types or categories of chemicals they intend to handle, along with the corresponding documentation. It serves as evidence that their operating and storage facilities, as well as their structures, comply with national standards. Additionally, it verifies that key personnel, including the unit's principal, managers, safety production management staff, and business personnel, have undergone professional training and possess qualifications that impact their work responsibilities.
Internet Culture Operation Permit
This permit can be further divided into two categories: operational and non-operational. Operational internet cultural activities refer to profit-oriented activities that aim to generate revenue by charging internet users, engaging in e-commerce, advertising, sponsorship, or other means, while providing internet cultural products and services. Non-operational internet cultural activities refer to activities that do not aim for profit and provide internet cultural products and services to internet users. If a company intends to engage in operational internet cultural activities in China, such as the online gaming or live streaming industry, it needs to apply for this permit from the local cultural and tourism department where the company is located. On the other hand, non-operational permits can be registered with the local cultural and tourism department after the establishment of the company.
Telecommunications and Information Service Business Operation License
This license is also known as ICP License, referring to the certificate obtained by the organizer of a general operational website through application to the local authorities. For enterprises engaging in internet-based paid information services, including online sales, online payments, advertising, membership fees, and other business activities, the acquisition of an ICP license is required.
EDI License
The full name of the EDI license is the Value-Added Telecommunications Service Operation License. It is the business license for providing online data processing, transactions, and transaction processing to users through public communication networks or the internet. If your website's business involves e-commerce, such as having transaction information on the website or directly obtaining product prices through the website, or if your website requires third-party payments, then you need to apply for an EDI license.
ODI Licenses/ODI Filing
ODI refers to the three main procedures that Chinese enterprises or entities need to go through when making investments outside the mainland of China (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). These procedures include obtaining approval from the commerce department for overseas investment activities, approval or filing by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) for overseas investment projects, and foreign exchange registration with banks. For enterprises involving state-owned assets, approval from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) is also required. ODI filing and approval are categorized based on factors such as the investment amount, industry, and country. Generally, record filing is applicable to non-significant investment amounts or non-sensitive investments. For sensitive industries, regions, or investments exceeding a certain amount, approval from the NDRC and the commerce department is required. To find out more about what Hongda can help you with your ODI program, you can get more information through Hongda’s ODI related website: www.globalodi.com!
QFLP License
QFLP refers to the program where overseas investors, after obtaining qualifications through approval processes and complying with foreign exchange fund supervision, convert overseas capital into Chinese yuan for investment in domestic equity investment enterprises. As limited partners of VC and PE funds established within China, overseas institutional investors need to submit this application. Upon approval through the qualification review and foreign exchange fund supervision processes, they can convert overseas capital into Chinese yuan for investment in the Chinese equity market. Currently in the pilot stage, about 20 cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hainan, are eligible for QFLP application. For information on approved cities and additional application procedures, you can contact the Hongda team.
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