Case-by-case: ① Missing certificate type (e.g., missing COC, missing SC) — if the goods have not yet been released, inspection at the destination port or retroactive certificate issuance can usually be applied for, but the cost is high, the lead time is long, and some countries do not accept retroactive issuance; ② Certificate information mismatch (product name, model, quantity inconsistent with documents) — most cases can be resolved by correcting the certificate, requiring a revised document issued by the original issuing authority; ③ Product substantively non-compliant — only return, destruction, or re-export are possible. The earlier the intervention, the lower the cost; the 7 days after the goods arrive at the port is the golden handling period.
Prevention costs are far lower than remediation costs: demurrage for one shipment is typically several hundred to over a thousand yuan per day, and return shipping costs often reach 30%–100% of the goods value. This is also the fundamental reason why "certification before shipment" cannot be omitted.