The General Administration of Customs ("GAC") has recently issued the Announcement on Matters Concerning Launching the Pilot Program for Implementing the Transport International Router (TIR) Convention (the "Announcement"), with effect from May 1, 2018.
The Announcement states that, to press ahead the implementation of the Convention on International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets ("TIR Convention"), the GAC has decided to launch the TIR transport pilot program. Further, the Announcement expressly states that, transport vehicles under TIR shall obtain certificates of approval and be hung with the TIR marks. During the TIR transport, the validity date of a certificate of approval issued to a transport vehicle under TIR shall have not expired. According to the Announcement, certain ports in China, including the Helgas port, Irkeshtam port, Erenhot highway port, Manzhouli highway port, and Suifenhe port, will be subject to the TIR transport pilot program. Moreover, the Announcement provides that, a TIR carnet holder shall, prior to the TIR transport, report electronic TIR carnet data to the customs authority through the TIR Electronic Pre-Declaration System, and fill in the TIR carnet pursuant to requirements stated in the TIR Carnet Holder's Manual, after receiving the feedback from the customs authority.