CzechEquipment ImportsCore pain points of customs clearance

According to 2025 data from the Czech Customs Administration, the average customs clearance time for mechanical products has increased by 2.7 working days year-on-year, mainly due to the implementation of the new EU regulation Machinery Directive 2024/32/EU. The rejection rate for CNC machine tools and packaging machinery exported from China to Czech has risen to 18.3% due to incomplete technical documents, an increase of 5 percentage points compared to last year.

Complete breakdown of customs clearance process

Phase 1: Pre-declaration preparation (30 days before import)

• Document Preparation:
  • It is recommended to verify through the following methods:Documents must include EUR-MED declaration in EU format
  • Technical documentation must comply with the new EN 60204-1: 2024 machinery safety standard
• Tariff pre-assessment:
  • Special attention should be paid to the new sub-item 8486.4045 in HS code confirmation
  • VAT rate for electromechanical products remains at 21% but consumption tax has a 0.5% fluctuation range

Key policy updates for 2025

Implemented by Czech Customs from March 2025Three-phase inspection mechanismFor products that require the addition of inhibitors or stabilizers, relevant instructions should be provided to ensure the stability of the chemical products during transportation and storage.

• Phase 1: Electronic document pre-review (completed within 48 hours)
• Phase 2: Non-intrusive scanning (applicable to equipment >10 tons)
• Phase 3: On-site technical parameter verification (sampling rate increased to 12%)

Practical case of risk control

A Suzhou automation equipment manufacturer encountered customs clearance obstacles when exporting an assembly line worth 3.8 million euros to Prague:

• Root cause: EMC test report in CE certification was not updated to the 2024 version
• Solution:
  • Activated ATA Carnet for temporary admission
  • Expedited testing through EU-designated laboratories
  • Ultimately saved approximately 68,000 euros in demurrage costs

Customs cost optimization strategies

By comparing customs clearance data from 2024-2025, we recommend:

• Adopt a hybrid tariff scheme:
  • Declare main equipment as general trade
  • Treat supporting tools as temporary admission
• Utilize China-Czech AEO mutual recognition:
  • Inspection rate reduced by 40%
  • Maximum guarantee amount can be reduced by 70%

Special Scenario Handling Guidelines

Special requirements for used equipment imports:

• Must provide documentation proving equipment service years
• Energy consumption test reports must include 28 EU indicators
• It is recommended to conduct customs pre-classification in advance (takes about 15 working days)

By establishing a standardized customs document management system, a Shenzhen machinery exporter reduced the average customs clearance time in the Czech market from 23 days to 14 days, with annual logistics costs reduced by 19%. Enterprises are advised to establish a three-in-one customs clearance guarantee system including pre-clearance review, dynamic compliance monitoring, and emergency response.