The General Administration of Customs ("GAC") has recently issued the Announcement [2018] No.191 to clarify matters concerning further optimizing administration of the registration of customs declaration entities. This announcement will enter into force as of February 1, 2019.
The announcement provides clarity on matters in three aspects. The first is about the customs declaration business carried out by consignees of imported goods and consignors of exported goods, as well as by their branches. A branch legally established by a consignee of imported goods or by a consignor of exported goods may file a record to register it as the branch of such consignee or consignor, and the record-filing formalities shall be handled by the consignee or consignor by submitting the Registration Form of Details of the Customs Declaration Entity to the customs at the locality of such branch. The consignee of imported goods, or the consignor of exported goods, as well as its branches filed under record with the customs, may carry out the customs declaration business for imports or exports across the country. The second is about the customs declaration business carried out by customs declaration entities, as well as by their branches. Customs declaration entities, together with their branches filed under record with the customs, may engage in the customs declaration business nationwide. The third is about the temporary registration. An applicant may provide the customs with the Registration Form of Details of the Customs Declaration Entity and supporting documentation for non-trade activities to handle the temporary registration.