The General Administration of Customs ("GAC") has recently issued the Announcement on Matters Concerning Fast Processing of Simple Cases (the "Announcement"), with effect from December 1, 2019.
The Announcement reads that: 1. Seven types of simple cases, including "cases where currencies are carried into or out of the border, in a way that violates the regulatory rules of the customs" and "cases where smuggled goods or articles valued less than CNY50,000 are seized during passenger checks", may be handled under the fast processing procedures; 2. Customs offices shall place the cases on file in time and launch investigations to collect evidence; 3. Where the parties concerned confess to their unlawful acts and accept punishment, in the written documents they prepare or in the inquiry records, which could be confirmed by some other key evidence, such as check or inspection records, the customs may no longer launch investigations to collect other evidence; 4. After the on-site inquiries are completed, the customs shall prepare and issue the notices of administrative punishment in a timely manner, and prepare and issue the official decisions on administrative punishment within five working days after the cases are placed on file; 5. With the written consent of the parties concerned, the customs may serve the legal instruments for administrative punishment by facsimile or email, through mobile communication or by other means whereby it is possible to confirm their receipt.