The Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, or Qingdao FTZ, has recently expanded its "white-list" reform for food-medicine dual-use products to include Nigerian cassia seeds, cutting customs procedures and institutional costs for traders by half.

Previously classified strictly as medicine, cassia seeds may now be declared according to actual end-use after clearing the zone's whitelist. Song Chengyu, general manager of Shandong Yuguang International Trading Co Ltd, said the change allows "more flexible and confident" links to global suppliers.

Since the reform was launched, more than 60 upstream and downstream firms have relocated to the zone, creating an integrated chain that spans imports, food processing and cross-border sales.

This year, authorities removed the former 10-million-yuan ($1.39 million) annual import threshold and let traders register with multiple food operators, directly benefiting small and micro enterprises.

Other innovations rolled out alongside the whitelist include "port-of-departure confirmation" for transshipped cargo, a new offshore trade service model and a self-declaration entry mechanism. Since 2019, the zone has logged 332 pilot achievements, and 97 of the resulting institutional reforms have been adopted across the province or nation.

The first-class business environment created by the Qingdao FTZ lays a solid foundation for high-quality regional development. [Photo/CFP]