What Obligations Shall a Consignee/Consignor Undertake when the Customs Inspect Its Goods?
The principal obligations of a consignee/consignor are listed as follows:
1. When the Customs inspect goods, the consignee/consignor of the imported/exported goods or the representative thereof shall be present in principle, and move, unpack and repack the goods as required by the Customs.
2. When the Customs inspect the goods, the consignee/consignor of the imported/exported goods or the representative thereof shall be present, provide the documents necessary for the inspection over the goods and answer questions raised by the Customs.
3. When the Customs check the inbound/outbound means of transport (including those domestic means of transport carrying the goods under supervision of the Customs), the person in charge of the means of transport or the relevant responsible person shall be present, open the cabin, room or vehicle door at the request of the Customs, and show the Customs the places that may be used for hiding the smuggled goods and articles or move the goods and articles in case of the suspected smuggling, if any.
What Are the Regulations on the Inspection over the Goods Subject to Overdue Declaration or Unknown Owner?
The inspection authorities of the Customs may, at their discretion, inspect the goods whose declaration delays or whose owner is unknown, in the presence of local managers of such inbound/outbound goods who are advised of the inspection, and endorse comments and signature on the inspection record.
What Are the Regulations on the Inspection Made by the Customs on Goods?
The goods under inspection with unclear or unidentifiable nature or category during the inspection may not be handled without authorization; instead, they shall be reported timely and delivered to the laboratory center of the Customs or the inspection body entrusted for identification.
The accompanying consignee/consignor of the imported/exported goods and the representative thereof shall get the Sample List from the Customs, and work with the customs officers to seal the sample goods and sign for confirmation.
What Goods Are Subject to Commodity Inspection?
According to the Law of the People's Republic of China on Imported and Exported Commodities Inspection, for the imported and export goods covered by the List of the Imported and Exported Commodities Subject to Compulsory Inspection Enforced by the Commodity Inspection Authorities, an application must be filed to the commodity inspection authority for commodity inspection, and the Customs will accept the same according to the clearance form issued by the commodity inspection authorities.
What Are the Requirements for the Place for the Goods Inspection by the Customs?
The Customs shall inspect the goods in the customs-supervision zones, such as the port, station, airport, international channel, international mail exchange bureau and other places recognized by the Customs.
When Can the Imported/Exported Goods Be Exempted from the Customs Inspection?
In accordance with the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, the imported/exported goods may be exempted from inspection if a relevant application filed by the consignee/consignor is approved by the General Administration of Customs of China.
What Goods May be Subject to Prior Inspection?
The imported or exported fresh goods, hazardous articles, perishable or easy-deteriorating goods, and other goods and articles requiring urgent inspection and release for special reasons may be subject to priority inspection by the Customs, upon an application filed by the consignee/consignor of the imported/exported goods or the owner of the inbound/outbound articles or the representative thereof.
Can Enterprise Apply for Earlier or Later Inspection?
Under special circumstances, the consignee/consignor of the imported/exported goods and its representatives may apply to the Customs for earlier or later inspection.