CHINA - NEW REGULATIONS ON “MEASURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF ENTRY-EXIT INSPECTION AND QUARANTINE PROCEDURES” LAUNCHED

On 16 October 16 2017, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China issued the “Measures for the Administration of Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Procedures”, have been adopted and will take effect from 1 November 2017.

The “Measures for the Administration of Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Procedures” issued by the original State Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine (No. 386, 1999 of State Administration for Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine) shall be repealed at the same time.

Regulatory changes

According to the cargo risk level and the enterprise credit level, the new regulations reset the corresponding onsite and laboratory inspection and quarantine proportions of imported commodities, and stipulated the time limit of the port inspection and quarantine procedures.

The inspection of imported cakes & biscuits and wine products is adjusted from 100% (onsite inspection) to a minimum of 3% (sampling inspection). The inspection of imported sugar, tea, beverages and condiments is reduced to a minimum of 5% (sampling inspection). Imported cosmetics is lowered to a minimum of 10% (sampling inspection), and imported meat, dairy products and bee products as well as another 10 major pr3oducts are downed to a minimum of 30% (sampling inspection).

For the commodities that are inspected and need to quarantined or there is evidence to indicate that there exists an increased level of risk – where the consignee & consignor or the inspection personnel award the goods an inspection and quarantine credit at or below C level - the proportion of random inspection can be increased after risk assessment up to 100%. For the commodities whose quality safety level is steady after consecutive random inspection or the level of risk is reduced, and the consignee & consignor or the inspection personnel award the goods with an inspection and quarantine credit of A level or above, the proportion of random inspection can be reduced after risk assessment to the lowest proportion.

The new regulations point out that it is required to strive to improve work efficiency and shorten the time limit of procedures under the premise of standard operation and ensuring the working quality, and forewarn the time limit of procedures of bureaus directly under the jurisdiction by real time and bring into performance appraisal.

The introduction of these new measures means that the imported food and cosmetics enterprises will be able to enjoy more convenient measures to further reduce the corporate customs clearance time, and promote trade facilitation under the circumstances of improving their credit ratings continuously.