The General Administration of Customs ("GAC") has recently issued the Announcement [2018] No.181 which provides clarity on matters concerning the implementation of the enterprise coordinator management and will take effect from January 1, 2019.
The announcement states that, enterprise coordinators, elected by the customs directly affiliated to the GAC, are customs officers specifically responsible for coordinating matters related to customs business between the customs and enterprises, and these coordinators' services target senior customs authorized enterprises. Enterprise coordinators will deliver seven types of services, including "responding to inquiries about customs policies, laws and regulations". Meanwhile, the announcement expressly states that, each enterprise shall designate its senior manager that oversees the customs-related affairs, as the liaison to take charge of communication with the customs. Where it is necessary for enterprise coordinators to perform work on the spot at enterprises, there should be two coordinators for this purpose; in case of any withdrawal circumstance specified under relevant provisions, the accreditor concerned shall raise a request to quit from the work. Furthermore, the announcement notes that, the customs will disqualify an enterprise coordinator if he or she falls under any of seven given circumstances, such as "having committed unlawful acts or acts in serious violation of the discipline".