Recently, the General Administration of Customs ("GAC") has released the Announcement [2017] No.56 to provide clarity on adjustments to the regulation of inward and outward conveyances and manifests for water and air transportation. The Announcement will enter into force on June 1, 2018.
The Announcement provides clarity on the following matters. First, logistic enterprises should declare and transmit electronic data about inward and outward conveyances and manifests to the customs offices, in accordance with the Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China for the Supervision and Administration of Inward and Outward Conveyances and other applicable policies, as well as requirements in this Announcement regarding the time limits to declare and transmit the said electronic data, the requested data items, and the instructions on how to fill in relevant forms. Second, the ground agent enterprises for inward and outward aircrafts should undergo record-filing formalities with the customs, pursuant to the relevant provisions stated in the Order of the General Administration of Customs No. 196 and the Order of the General Administration of Customs [2008] No.101, and complete the Record-filing Form for Ground Agent Enterprises for Inward and Outward Aircrafts. Third, the function of recording transmission timepoints under the administration system for manifests for water and air transportation will be activated to check whether the difference between the time when electronic data about inspected manifests is uploaded into the system and the time when goods are loaded on ships (applicable to water transportation) or when goods arrive at the first destination port in China (applicable to air transportation) falls under the reasonable range stipulated by the customs. Fourth, the "Flight Share Code" Item in the Air Transport Conveyance Data Items to be Filed under the Record is made optional this time.