Ningbo Free Trade Zone Customs Promotes Smart Clearance: Information Moves More in the Smart Customs Declaration Hall

 

 

Recently, Hua Zirui, a customs agent of Ningbo Free Trade Zone Zhan Hong Supply Chain Co., Ltd., accessed the WeChat applet "Intelligent E-StationI" to submit a request for the "Entry Goods Inspection and Quarantine Certificate." Within just 30 minutes, she received a notification confirming approval: "Your application has been approved. Please collect it from the intelligent storage locker using your retrieval code within 7 days."

In June, Ningbo Free Trade Zone Customs, under the Ningbo Customs District, launched an intelligent upgrade of a service center that centralizes corporate transactions, creating the region's first smart customs declaration hall, focusing on efficient operations and enhanced service facilitation.

"Our company is more than 20 minutes drive from the customs service hall. In the past, we had to go to the site at least 2 times for the certificate, one for application and one for receiving. Now the application can be submitted online. After the application is approved, you can also arrange your own time to get it at the nearest smart cabinet. It's much more convenient." Hua Zirui said.

According to reports, the jurisdiction of Ningbo Free Trade Zone Customs spans four distinct areas, characterized by multiple points of contact and widespread coverage. Many companies find their production facilities located over 10 kilometers from the service center, presenting a significant inconvenience for routine travel. In response, the Smart Customs Declaration Hall has established three primary areas: an intelligent access area, a self-service printing area, and a direct interaction area. Alongside, a WeChat applet called "Intelligent E-Station" has been launched to enable enterprises to seamlessly complete regular customs procedures such as "business inquiries, online bookings, document or inspection sample access, and self-service printing" conveniently close by.

In order to enable more enterprises to enjoy the convenience of smart customs clearance, Ningbo Free Trade Zone Customs has sorted out the application process of the Smart Customs Declaration Hall, produced a brochure entitled "Description of Enterprise Operation Process", and adopted a combination of "online + offline" methods to guide enterprises in its jurisdiction to familiarize themselves with the functions and daily applications of the Smart Customs Declaration Hall; Establish a daily problem clearing mechanism, unblock the information channel of "business site - background management - technical development", and effectively manage the emergency response to system failures during the pilot project. "We no longer need face-to-face handover on site for supplementing paper declaration materials and taking and delivering samples during on-site inspection. The distance is shortened, the time is flexible, and the procedures are simplified". said Ge Qianxia, a staff member of Yongyou Customs Declaration Co., Ltd. in Ningbo Free Trade Zone.

By November, the Smart Customs Declaration Hall had facilitated operations for over 1,700 users. Moving forward, Ningbo Free Trade Zone Customs intends to refine and broaden the application of the Smart Customs Declaration Hall project, taking into account feedback from enterprises, aiming to further streamline customs clearance processes. (Deng Qide, He Hanyu, and Chen Bing)

 

 

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Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.