Border checks for Shenzhen import or export companies' goods will vary according to their credit grades, the Shenzhen Enter-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau has said.

The bureau launched a credit grading system on Thursday, rating more than 10,000 import and export enterprises from A to D.

Firms with excellent credit records have got grade A, those with basic credit B and the ones that lack credit C. Enterprises suffering from a serious lack of credit have been graded D and "blacklisted".

Qu Haifeng, the vice-director of the inspection and quarantine bureau, said: "Such a grading system not only encourages firms with good records, but also reinforces the inspection and quarantine work done on discreditable ones. This is important because the quality of Chinese products is facing severe pressure in the international market."

Grade A comprises 69 companies, most of which are big and influential and include Huawei Technologies Co and Konka Group Co.

Fifteen firms have been rated D and blacklisted. All the firms are small and privately owned and spread over sectors like manufacturing, electronics, garments, toys and plastic and paper products. They include Sanheng Lighting Technology (Shenzhen) Co and Shenzhen CY-New Electronics Co.

They were blacklisted for making fake products, using others' quality certification or being pulled up by State quality inspection departments, Qu said. They can be deprived of some Customs services like advanced or collective declaration. And the bureau will have a stricter Customs clearance procedure for them in place.

The bureau will, however, reward the grade A firms by working out an easier and quicker Customs clearance procedure for them.

Trucks or ships carrying goods from or to the blacklisted firms will have to open all their containers to go through inspection and quarantine.

"Appraisals will be done once a year," Qu said, and in the interim blacklisted firms will have the chance to straighten their act and improve their rating.

(China Daily September 8, 2007)