Shanghai Pudong International Airport successfully cleared a premium batch of fetal bovine serum (FBS) from Gibco, a leading brand under Thermo Fisher Scientific in the cell culture sector on August 26.
This marks the first batch of related products to enter China since the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) issued a notice on April 16 permitting the import of Brazilian bovine blood products.
Fetal bovine serum is essential for high-demand cell cultures, providing crucial nutrients for cell growth and playing a vital role in the development and production of biological drugs, including CGT, antibodies, and vaccines.
Given the limited global supply and the significant impact of sourcing and production processes, Gibco's Brazilian-sourced FBS—Brazil accounts for 23% of global FBS production—offers the market a high-quality, cost-effective alternative.
In response to the GACC's announcement, United Development Center (UDC), a Waigaoqiao Group subsidiary, swiftly engaged with companies to interpret the new policies and address their needs.
UDC provided end-to-end support, from initial product entry and plan development to managing documentation and ensuring compliance throughout the import process, successfully guiding the first batch of Brazilian FBS through customs.
Waigaoqiao has become a hub for key industries like biopharmaceuticals, with a growing concentration of industry players. Recent policy initiatives—such as the "white list" for importing special biomedical items and research materials, and the local production of imported Class III medical devices—combined with the increasing number of "Gibco™ projects," are reinforcing Waigaoqiao’s status as a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation.
