China to Impose New Manifest Requirements for Imports, Exports Beginning Jan. 1

(World Trade Interactive)

Effective January 1, 2009, all goods imported into or exported from China will have to comply with new manifest regulations. According to a December 7 report from the Department of Agriculture, these requirements are contained in the General Administration of Customs’ Decree No. 172, which will replace Decree No. 70 that has been in effect since February 1999. It is too soon to know, the USDA states, if the new decree will significantly impact agricultural trade with China.

According to the report, the general provisions listed in Decree No. 172 focus on standardizing the procedures for customs documents required for goods entering and leaving China, with electronic forms being favored over paper. A total of five documents are required to gain clearance: an application form, samples of bill of lading and shipping order, relevant business stamps, copy of license or certificate of qualifications, and any additional required documents.

The decree also sets minimum requirements for when the documents must be submitted, which vary depending on mode of transportation. For imports, the applicable time periods are 24 hours (ship), 4 hours (plane), 2 hours (train) or 1 hour (vehicle) before arrival at the first port of call. For exports, the specified deadlines are 24 hours (ship, container), 4 hours (plane), 2 hours (ship, non-container, or train) or 1 hour (vehicle) before loading.

The USDA notes that any alterations to the manifest documents must be made before the final submission deadline. The only exceptions are for uncontrollable events, goods being stowed on different vehicles or when the amount of bulk cargo is within prescribed limits.

Go here for an unofficial translation of the decree (PDF).