The General Administration of Customs ("GAC") recently released its No.74 Announcement to clarify the requirements for the administration of the prior declaration of imported and exported goods.
According to the Announcement, consignees, consigners of imported and exported goods, and designated customs declaration enterprises shall firstly obtain the data of the bill of lading (way) or cargo manifest (shipping bill) if they make a prior declaration. Specifically, any prior declaration of imported goods shall be filed at the Customs after the shipping of the inbound means of transport that is carrying the goods and before the arrival of the goods at the customs supervision area, and any prior declaration of exported goods shall be filed with the Customs within three days before the arrival of the goods at the customs supervision area.
The Announcement requires that the licence for the import or export of goods be effective on the date on which the Customs accepts the declaration. If any national policy for trade control is adjusted after the prior declaration of the goods and before the actual import and export, the policy for trade control effective on the date on which the actual import or export takes place shall apply.