General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 82 of 2018

In order to further deepen the reform of "distribution suits", improve the level of trade facilitation, and promote the steady growth of foreign trade, in accordance with the "PRC Foreign Trade Law", "Administrative Licensing Law of the People's Republic of China", "Regulations on the Administration of Import and Export of Goods of the People's Republic of China" The Measures for the Administration of Imported Products, the Measures for the Administration of Automatic Import Licenses for Goods, and other laws, administrative regulations and rules, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs decided to implement paperless operations for the application for import licenses and customs clearance. The relevant matters are announced as follows:

1. Since October 15, 2018, the import licenses and customs clearance operations for papers subject to automatic import license management and goods subject to import license management (except for ozone-depleting substances) have been implemented nationwide. .

2. If the importing unit applies for the import of the above-mentioned goods, it may choose to have paper or paperless operation. The importing unit that chooses the paperless operation mode shall apply to the Ministry of Commerce or the agency entrusted by the Ministry of Commerce for an electronic certificate of the People's Republic of China Automatic Import License (hereinafter referred to as the Automatic Import License) or the Import License of the People's Republic of China. (hereinafter referred to as the import license) e-Cert, and customs clearance procedures for customs clearance and customs clearance.

3. Importing units that go through customs clearance and customs clearance procedures in a paperless manner for customs clearance operations may be exempted from submitting automatic import licenses or import license paper certificates. If it is necessary to verify the automatic import license or import license paper certificate for management needs or other circumstances, the importing unit shall submit a paper certificate or submit the customs clearance and inspection procedures to the customs in a paper-based operation.

4. The Customs shall verify the automatic import license or the import license electronic certificate by means of online verification of the import license, and no longer endorse the paper. The automatic import license or the import license issuing authority shall postpone, change or write off the operation according to the use status of the import license and the customs clearance data.

5. The specific procedures for the implementation of paperless operations on the above goods shall be issued in accordance with the announcement of the Ministry of Commerce No. 82 of 2016, the General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 25 of 2014 and the Office of the Ministry of Commerce regarding the issuance of the electronic certificate for the import and export license of goods. Execution of the relevant provisions of the Notice of Use (Trial) (Commercial Letter [2015] No. 494).

6. This announcement is interpreted by the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs. In the event that any relevant provisions in the past are inconsistent with this announcement, this announcement shall prevail.