Second Opinion Reviews

Second Opinion Reviews provide an independent, written assessments for China import and compliance decisions — based strictly on publicly available rules.

This service is suitable when you already have a plan but want to validate regulatory feasibility before execution.

1. What a Second Opinion Review is

A Second Opinion Review is a written, independent assessment of an existing plan, structure, or compliance position related to importing into China.

It is designed for situations where:

• You already have a plan or recommendation
• Execution is about to begin — or has already begun
• Key risks remain unclear, disputed, or underestimated

Each review focuses on decision soundness and structural risk, not execution or implementation.

2. What a Second Opinion Review is NOT

Second Opinion Reviews are not:

• Execution or implementation services
• Legal advice or regulatory approval
• Filing, declaration, or clearance services
• Outcome guarantees or optimization schemes

All reviews are conducted solely under publicly available laws, regulations, and policy logic.

3. How Second Opinion Reviews work

All Second Opinion Reviews are conducted:

• In writing
• Asynchronously
• Based on materials you provide

There are no live calls or real-time discussions.

Each review results in a written assessment, designed to support decision-making rather than execution.

4. What happens after you submit a Second Opinion request

Once you submit a Second Opinion request, the process follows a structured and transparent path.

Review process:

• Your submission is reviewed based strictly on publicly available regulations and policy logic
• No unpublished enforcement practices or informal channels are relied upon
• All analysis is conducted independently and in writing

What you will receive:

You will receive a written Second Opinion Review covering:

• Structural feasibility observations
• Key compliance and regulatory risk areas
• Assumptions that may require reassessment
• Situations where caution, delay, or redesign is recommended
• Alignment (or misalignment) with stated policy intent

This review is designed to support decision-making, not execution.

Timing:

• Typical turnaround is based on complexity and information completeness, no rush fee
• Time-sensitive requests should clearly indicate urgency at submission
• No outcome or approval timelines are guaranteed
• No expedited or rush services are offered.

Important boundaries:

• This review does not include execution, filing, registration, or platform onboarding
• This review does not provide clearance guarantees or policy assurances
• This review does not replace legal, regulatory, or authority-level decisions

The purpose of a Second Opinion is to help you decide whether and how to proceed, before committing further resources.

5. When a Second Opinion Review may be appropriate

A Second Opinion Review may be useful when:

• The cost of a wrong decision is high
• Execution is imminent but uncertainty remains
• Existing opinions conflict or lack clarity
• Regulatory exposure affects commercial viability

6. Available Second Opinion Reviews

Each review addresses a different decision category. If you are unsure which review fits your situation, start with the one closest to your primary decision uncertainty.

6.1 Import Tax & Duty Second Opinion Review

For tax exposure, duty classification, exemption eligibility, and structural cost risk

This review helps clarify:

• Applicable tariff classification and duty exposure
• Whether preferential treatment or exemptions may apply
• Structural vs. operational tax risks
• Whether current assumptions about tax cost are valid

6.2 CBEC (Cross-Border E-commerce) Second Opinion Review

For evaluating CBEC (9610 / 1210) feasibility and compliance limits

This review helps clarify:

• Whether CBEC is structurally suitable for your product
• Hidden compliance risks under CBEC at scale
• When CBEC becomes a liability rather than an advantage
• Whether a transition to general trade is realistically required

6.3 Food Import Second Opinion Review

For food product import feasibility and regulatory risk

This review helps clarify:

• Whether the product category is importable under current rules
• Key compliance barriers (registration, standards, labeling)
• Structural risks that cannot be solved operationally
• Whether the China market entry is realistically viable

6.4 Infant Formula & Dairy Products Second Opinion Review

For infant formula and dairy market entry feasibility

This review helps clarify:

• Whether the product falls within restricted or highly regulated categories
• Registration and approval risk at a structural level
• Market entry feasibility vs. regulatory barriers
• Whether alternative entry paths exist

6.5 Cosmetics Market Entry Second Opinion Review

For cosmetics import and market entry compliance decisions

This review helps clarify:

• Product classification and regulatory pathway
• Whether general trade or CBEC is viable
• Registration, testing, and compliance risk exposure
• Common structural misconceptions in cosmetics entry planning

6.6 Pet Food Import Second Opinion Review

For pet food import feasibility and regulatory risk

This review helps clarify:

• Whether the product category is import-eligible
• Core regulatory constraints affecting pet food
• Structural risks related to approvals and compliance
• Whether market entry assumptions are realistic

6.7 Medical Device Import Second Opinion Review

For medical device import classification and compliance feasibility

This review helps clarify:

• Device classification and regulatory pathway
• Whether import approval is realistically achievable
• Structural compliance risks vs. operational challenges
• Whether the China market is viable for your device category

Not sure which review fits your situation?

If your uncertainty does not clearly fall into one category — or involves multiple overlapping compliance issues — a private consultation may be more appropriate.

👉 BOOK A PRIVATE CONSULTATION

7. Scope and limitation note

Second Opinion Reviews are optional.

You may use the playbooks independently without requesting any review.

These reviews are offered only when decision complexity exceeds what can be reliably resolved through general guidance.