The EU will increase the inspection of China's stone products exported to Europe

Liu Yang's complaints are not without reason. According to recent reports from the EU, starting April 1, 2013, stricter inspections of wood packaging for Chinese stone products exported to Europe will be implemented, with a sampling rate as high as 90%. This increase in scrutiny means longer customs clearance times and higher costs, which is a major blow to stone exporters already struggling due to the European debt crisis. **EU orders have reached a freezing point**, and many companies are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their business. Fujian Province has become the largest stone production and export base in China, with over 500 trading companies, more than 10 stone export ports, and over 10 building materials markets. However, this industry, heavily reliant on European exports, is now facing a severe export dilemma. "The drop in European orders has become the norm," said Liu Yang. "Some companies even face order shortages during peak season." He also mentioned that a local stone exporter recently complained to the Chamber of Commerce about the ongoing decline in European market demand, driven by weak consumer spending and reduced demand for non-essential home decoration items like stone. Previously, most of the company’s orders were destined for Europe, but now, to survive, they’ve had to shift half their production to the domestic market. “We haven’t shipped anything to Europe for months,” said Wang Sheng, general manager of Yunfu Weisheng Stone Co., Ltd. He added that the European market has strict inspection standards for both the stone and its wooden packaging, making it hard to expand. The debt crisis has further weakened demand, and after the crisis, exports to Europe have nearly stalled. **The intensified sampling inspection is worsening the situation.** Liu Yang emphasized that the impact is huge and could be devastating. Although Fujian’s stone industry is well-established, its main competitive edge remains cost-effectiveness. Increasing the sampling rate undermines this advantage, especially when raw material and labor costs are rising and exports are in a sensitive recession phase. Shen Yulu from the International Cooperation Department of the China Stone Industry Association noted that the increased sampling rate directly affects customs clearance time and efficiency, leading to hidden cost increases. This makes an already tough export situation even worse. Liu Yang mentioned that merchants are discussing ways to cope with the new rules, but no effective solutions have been found yet. Wang Sheng admitted that wooden packaging is standard for stone exports, and companies are following European regulations strictly. “I don’t know what else they want to check?” he asked. Liu Yang also pointed out that the Chamber of Commerce hasn’t received any similar news from other countries regarding increased sampling of stone packaging in the EU. He speculated that this might be targeting Chinese stone exports specifically, as cheaper and more market-friendly Chinese products could threaten European brands during a period of weak demand. Whether this is intentional or not, he said, is hard to judge.

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