INTERIM MEASURES CONCERNING STRENGTHENING ADMINISTRATION OF IM-PORTS BY AIR
INTERIM MEASURES CONCERNING STRENGTHENING ADMINISTRATION OF IM-PORTS BY AIR
Important Notice:
This English document is coming from the "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
Whole Document
INTERIM MEASURES CONCERNING STRENGTHENING ADMINISTRATION OF IM-
PORTS BY AIR
(Approved and promulgated by the State Council on August 25, 1987)
With the development of China's foreign trade and economic and
technological exchanges with foreign countries, the amount of imports by
air has increased rapidly and the task of transporting goods from airports
has become increasingly arduous. The following interim measures are
formulated in order to speed up the flow of goods at airports to prevent
goods from being kept too long in storage:
1. When entrusting the foreign trade companies and the industrial trade
companies which are empowered to import the relevant commodities to do the
ordering, the units importing goods through air transport must
conscientiously fill out import orders according to the instructions of
the entrusted units. The full name of the units and the detailed addresses
must be written in the column for the consignee, with the names and
telephone numbers of the persons in charge clearly indicated.
2. When it is necessary to claim damages and demand resupply of goods from
the seller because of lack or loss of imported goods caused by the seller,
the company which did the ordering shall be responsible for the work
involved. If, in special cases, the job must be done by the users
themselves, it is necessary to ask the seller to indicate clearly on the
way bill the number of the contract and the consignee (if foreign trade
transport companies or other agent transport departments are entrusted to
do the job, the names of these companies or departments shall be
indicated) and notify the company which did the ordering of the goods of
the results.
3. Foreign trade companies and industrial trade companies should accept
entrustment for ordering goods within the approved scope of business for
handling imported commodities. They must not accept entrustment from
those user units which have not obtained import licences for the goods.
These companies should examine and verify import orders and write the
marks, codes and symbols in strict accordance with the relevant
stipulations. The relevant personnel should be professionally familiar
with the structure of the marks and arrange the codes strictly according
to their order. No such mistakes as reversion, addition and subtraction
may be allowed.
Newly-established foreign trade companies and industrial trade companies
shall apply to the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade (or
its Transport Bureau) for marks and codes within one month of approval for
the establishment. Those companies which have not applied must go through
the formalities within one month of promulgation of these Measures. No
units may be allowed to devise their own codes or borrow the codes of
other units. The Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade (or its
Transport Bureau) shall conduct regular check-ups of the marks and codes
used by various companies.
4. When signing contracts of imports by air with foreign businessmen and
companies, foreign trade companies and industrial trade companies should
try to fix FOB prices (prices calculated on the basis that the seller
deliver the goods to the planes designated by the buyer) in the clauses so
that our civil aviation planes and the agencies for air transport of our
foreign trade transport companies or other agent transport companies
stationed in foreign countries will be used as much as possible. When
signing contracts with foreign businessmen and companies, foreign trade
companies and industrial trade companies should take into full
consideration the factors of Customs clearance and transport in China.
When the sellers are requested to write way-bills, bills and receipts,
they must provide consistent marks, codes and the numbers of the
contracts, with enough copies. It is also necessary to ask the sellers to
make eye-catching full-size marks and symbols on the outside packing of
the goods.
5. After signing contracts, foreign trade companies and industrial trade
companies shall promptly send copies of the contracts, the licences and
other relevant materials to foreign trade transport companies or other
agent transport companies as certificates for taking over the goods,
Customs clearance and transport.
6. After imported goods arrive at airports by air, transport departments
of the civil aviation administration shall promptly complete the
formalities for handing over the goods to the relevant foreign trade
transport companies and other agent transport companies, with every lot of
goods carefully checked. In case of any lack or damage of the goods or of
loss of the whole lot of goods, transport departments of the civil
aviation administration shall sign and issue certificates.
7. After receiving the goods entrusted for Customs clearance, foreign
trade transport companies or other agent transport companies should go
through the formalities within the time limit prescribed by the Customs.
With respect to the goods which have been entrusted for Customs clearance
but are not armed with adequate number of documents and those goods which
have not been entrusted but belong to the category for which agent
transport companies have the duty to notify the relevant units, these
companies should send three notices or letters of inquiry to the units
ordering the goods or the consignee within the limited Customs clearance
period. Upon the arrival of the goods, a notice of arrival or a letter of
inquiry shall be sent; if the goods are not cleared through the Customs
within a month, a notice of pressing for Customs clearance or a letter of
inquiry shall be sent; if the goods are not cleared through the Customs
within two months, another notice of pressing for Customs clearance or a
third letter of inquiry shall be sent. All the notices and letters shall
be sent by registered mail. With respect to the goods which should be
directly handed over to the consignee by transport departments of the
civil aviation administrations, the departments shall send three notices
of pressing for Customs clearance within two months of the arrival of the
goods.
8. In order to find out the real situation to facilitate the Customs
clearance, in case that goods imported by air are not cleared through the
Customs two months after the day when the means of transport were declared
for entry, transport departments of the civil aviation administration,
foreign trade transport companies or other agent transport departments may
send separate applications to the Customs for opening the packing of the
goods. The opening of the packing shall be conducted under the supervision
of the Customs, which shall sign and issue the relevant certificates.
9. Under no excuses may consignees refuse to go through the formalities
concerning Customs clearance and refuse to take delivery of their goods.
When there are good reasons, they should promptly explain to the Customs,
transport departments of the civil aviation administrations, foreign trade
transport companies or other agent transport departments, and complete the
job within three months. During this period, the consignees may declare to
the Customs that they abandon the relevant advertisement material,
samples, presents and those documents of claims for damages which have
exceeded the prescribed period of validity. The goods imported through
contracts and those documents of claims for damages which have not
exceeded the prescribed period of validity may not be abandoned in
principle. When there are good reasons for the abandonment, approval must
be obtained from the competent department.
10. The Customs should simplify the formalities and speed up the
examination and clearance of imported goods in the spirit of providing
good service but with strict examination. The imported goods with
documents of approval issued by the
State shall be cleared according to the relevant regulations.
The goods for which damages have been claimed shall be examined and
cleared in accordance with the Stipulations Concerning Imposition of or
Exemption from duties on Imported and Exported Goods Compensated at No
Costs formulated by the General Administration of Customs. If it is
difficult for the consignees to produce the certificates of claims for the
examination on the spot, the Customs may clear the goods first after the
consignees provide necessary guarantee and promise to go through the
formalities within the time limit. With respect to the samples and
presents which do not belong to the category of imported goods restricted
by the State but are not supported by receipts, upon the application of
the consignees, the Customs may open the packing for examination, offer an
appraised price and clear the goods with or without taxes according to the
regulations.
11. If consignees fail to declare to the Customs within three months of
the declaration for entry by the means of transport, their imported goods
shall be transferred to the Customs for sale by the transport departments
of the civil aviation administration, foreign trade transport companies or
other agent transport department. The goods should be sold in the
principle of economy and making the best use of everything. Instruments
and machinery equipment should be sold as far as possible to the relevant
units. The money from the sale of such goods, after the deduction of the
expenses for transport, loading and unloading and storage as well as the
duties, shall be returned by the Customs to the consignees upon their
applications within one year of selling. The money shall be turned over to
the State treasury if no one applies for it.
12. Units importing goods, foreign trade companies, industrial trade
companies, foreign trade transport companies and other agent transport
departments as well as the Customs at the airports must all strictly
implement these Measures and should, in accordance with these Measures,
establish and amplify their
rules and regulations and clarify post responsibilities.
13. The commissions (or offices) in charge of port affairs in various
regions shall, in accordance with the Interim Provisions for the Scope of
Competence of Local Administrative Organs for Port Affairs issued by the
General Office of the State Council, organize various relevant units at
the ports to jointly check the implementation of these Measures and solve
contradictions promptly through coordinated efforts.
In case that goods have gone bad, documents claiming for damages have
exceeded the prescribed period, or owners of the goods cannot be found
because of clogged airports caused by violations of these Measures,
investigations shall be carried out to pursue the economic and
administrative liabilities of the responsible units or persons.
14. The Leading Group for Port Affairs of the State Council shall, in
conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, the
General Administration of Customs, the Civil Aviation Administration of
China and other relevant departments, conduct regular checkups and
promptly review and solve existing problems.
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