Ningbo Customs Implements 36 Measures to Support High-Level Opening-Up and Build a Highly Open and Robust Province

 

 

 

To implement the provincial and municipal directives on promoting high-level opening-up and building a highly open and robust province, and to advance the customs support for local deepening reform and expansion of opening-up, Ningbo Customs has introduced 36 detailed support measures. 

 

 

 

 

01. Continuously optimize inspection and supervision measures for bulk resource commodities such as imported mineral products, crude oil, and liquefied gas; implement convenient measures including "release before inspection", "conducting weight identification and quality inspection upon enterprise request", "reducing the proportion of sampling for inspection", and "adopting third-party test results"; actively promote the application and replication of the "Smart Customs" scenario for imported iron ore, and enhance the service level of the storage, transportation, and processing industry for bulk commodities.

02. Support enterprises in using bonded warehouses to expand the import and export scale of oil and gas products, encourage the establishment of new bonded storage tanks for liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, and support underground cavern projects in applying for bonded warehouses. Support eligible enterprises to conveniently apply for adjustments in the attributes of bonded warehouses, export supervision warehouses, and domestic trade warehouses in accordance with administrative licensing procedures.

03. Create a "Green Channel" for imported cold-chain food. Dynamically adjust the scope of quarantine approval management for imported cold-chain food, optimize the quarantine approval process, and reduce quarantine approval time. Fully implement electronic information verification of hygiene certificates for imported meat to enhance the efficiency of documentreview. Relocate some laboratory functions to Ningbo Meishan International Cold Chain to reduce sample delivery and testing time.

 

 

 

 

04. Facilitate investment and trade in bulk resources, focusing on national storage and transportation base projects for non-ferrous and ferrous minerals, optimize the layout of port laboratories, and carry out transformation projects for import and export bulk resource laboratories.

05. Based on regular bonded LNG refueling, support and cooperate with ports to expand the refueling services to include other green and clean energies like methanol, liquid ammonia, and liquid hydrogen, and support the enhancement of competitiveness in bonded fuel refueling. Support enterprises within the pilot free trade zone to carry out blending and mixing of high and low sulfur fuel oil for ship supply purposes using bonded logistics.

06. Research and explore the management model of "ship supply before customs declaration" for bonded goods specifically designated for international navigation vessels in bonded warehouses, and actively seek to pilot such business from the General Administration of Customs.

07. Enhance the monitoring of customs declaration form inspection efficiency for "market procurement" trade mode, prioritize machine inspections when appropriate, and effectively improve inspection efficiency. Actively promote the convenient turnover of goods in transit between the procurement source in the market and the port.

08. Promote the bonded maintenance project for automotive transmissions and collaborate with local governments to pursue a pilot project for bonded re-manufacturing of automotive transmissions. Support the bonded research and development activities for new energy vehicle chips. Allow eligible imported exhibits to be transferred into the Comprehensive Bonded Zone for bonded warehousing. Support enterprises in conducting bonded exhibition across customs districts.

09. Support pilot programs for bonded maintenance outside the Comprehensive Bonded Zones and Free Trade Pilot Zones. Considering the bonded maintenance industry plans and enterprise demands in our province, support local governments and enterprises in applying for bonded maintenance pilot programs to relevant national ministries and conduct customs supervision in accordance with the implementation plans for pilot programs approved by the national ministries.

10. Support the performance evaluation of the development of Comprehensive Bonded Zones, strengthen coordination with local competent departments, conduct training on interpreting evaluation methods, and guide local competent departments in submitting evaluation materials.

11. Actively support the holding of the China-CEEC Expo. Optimize regulatory efficiency by developing and releasing customs clearance guidelines for exhibition, provide comprehensive services throughout the process, including pre-exhibition filing, in-exhibition supervision, and post-exhibition verification, set up a customs service counter at the exhibition site and establish a "green channel" for customs clearance of exhibition materials, enabling rapid release of exhibited goods. Support the return of inbound CEE exhibits to special supervision zones and their sale under a cross-border e-commerce bonded model, in compliance with cross-border e-commerce regulatory requirements, to assist in the expansion and enhancement of the China-CEEC Expo, thereby promoting high-level opening up. Actively endeavor to host the China-CEEC Dialogue on Customs, Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation or related international conferences to support the diplomacy of a major power.

12. Actively expand the import and export of high-quality agricultural food products, and further enhance the operation of the China-CEEC SPS Liaison Enquiry Point. Utilize the expertise of the access assessment team to   fully perform food access evaluation for exports from CEEC to China, as assigned by the General Administration, and actively promote the import of high-quality food.

13. Coordinate with local port offices and port groups to constantly advance the reform of "direct pick-up alongside ship" for imported goods and "direct loading upon arrival" for exported goods, and expand the pilot program from full coverage of container terminals to bulk and general cargo terminals. Support enterprises in flexibly choosing different modes of transport for multimodal transportation, further leveraging the advantages of multimodal transport and improving the overall operational efficiency of customs services in the multimodal transport domain. Actively support the enhancement and capacity expansion of consolidation services, flexibly integrate customs transit functions based on adjustments to shipping routes, allowing the sharing of Ningbo export consolidation warehouse resources across the Ningbo Zhoushan Port area, and further consolidate the effectiveness of the promotion of "inspection before shipment".

14. Actively participate in the brand-building of "Zhejiang e-Port Connect", promote full coverage of water-air-road-rail multimodal transportation, assist the port in improving its collection and distribution network, and enhance the agglomeration effect for goods in the central region.

15. Actively engage in the development of IT projects for the "Four Ports" linkage, promote information exchange, and help enhance port efficiency. Integrate research and development achievements, promote the application of advanced technological research, and support the digital transformation of physical ports. Promote data lifecycle management, enhance data security and accessibility, and activate the potential of data elements.

 

 

 

 

16. Actively promote the import of high-quality agricultural products. Implement a strategy to diversify grain imports, expand grain imports from non-traditional source countries, and strengthen regulatory enforcement for inbound grain. Serve the national seed industry revitalization strategy by leveraging the advantages of Ningbo Port, which has complete facilities for the supervision of imported seedlings and Podocarpus macrophyllus as a designated monitoring area and for incoming live animals as a designated quarantine site, and actively introduce high-quality genetic resources from abroad, such as breeding cattle and salmon eggs. Improve the efficiency of customs clearance for high-quality agricultural products, achieve instant approval upon declaration for imported fresh agricultural products such as edible aquatic animals and fruits, and continue to implement convenient measures including appointment-based inspection and conditional release, thereby attaining "inspection upon arrival and immediate release".

17. Actively promote the use of inspection control models, such as vacuum packaging, for eligible imported critical components, and facilitate the transfer of goods to their destinations for inspection. For the import of critical components that cannot be inspected within customs control areas due to vulnerability to natural factors including temperature, static electricity, and dust, and those not yet incorporated into vacuum packaging and other high-tech goods inspection models, guide enterprises to apply for inspection outside the control area, and fully utilize the advantages of "non-intrusive and rapid release" of machine inspection for goods suitable for such inspection method.

18. Facilitate communication channels between customs and enterprises, enhance research on the foreign trade landscape, and understand the development status and actual needs of key industries and enterprises within the customs area to formulate targeted facilitation policies. Establish a "dual-loop" working mechanism that features coordinated internal processes and strong external responses to support enterprise development, aiming to enhance the quality of foreign trade and stabilize its growth.

19. Enhance statistical analysis and monitoring, conduct research on enterprises to gain an in-depth understanding of bottlenecks and chokepoints in the import of critical components for advanced equipment, and improve the integrated analysis of foreign trade data and enterprise operational conditions.

20. Support the leading integrated circuit enterprises in customs areas to conduct business using the group supervision model for processing trade, fully leveraging the advantages of group operations to enhance the operational efficiency of bonded materials and equipment among member enterprises. Ensure the implementation of tax policies on imported integrated circuits and other goods, promote the application of a tax-exempt import system for the open sharing of scientific research instruments and equipment, and enhance the efficiency of shared use of research equipment.  

21. For qualified integrated circuit manufacturers, measures such as simplified inspection procedures and prioritized port inspection for imported second-hand equipment are implemented to improve the enterprises' production capacity. Based on controllable quality and safety risks, apply to the General Administration for a more flexible and suitable conformity assessment model. For enterprises in the customs area engaged in integrated circuits, pilot the use of an inspection and supervision model that combines “guarantee of conformity + conformity assessment” for the import of critical components provided along with complete equipment and for maintenance.

22. Leverage the role of the technology and trade research & evaluation base to strengthen the analysis and assessment offoreign technology and trade measures as well as information warning, reinforce notification and evaluation mechanisms, and focus on special trade issues to improve the international competitiveness of products with regional advantages.

 

 

 

 

23. Maximize the forward-looking and guiding role of statistical data in the development of foreign trade by enhancing the analysis and evaluation of policies towards the United States and interpreting foreign trade data, keep tracking and analysis, periodically perform investigation on leading enterprises exporting to the United States, and foster the synergy of "data + investigation" to provide recommendations and guidance for the high-quality development of local foreign trade.

24. Actively support the construction of a "front warehouse + overseas warehouse" system for exportsto expand existing capacities, leverage the coupling effects of "one station & two warehouses", and continue implementing the "inspection before shipping" model based on the current model. Encourage interested companies to participate in the cross-border return pilot program for retail exports to broaden the return channels for cross-border e-commerce exports. Expand and improve logistics models including "cross-border e-commerce + sea-rail intermodal transport", "cross-border e-commerce + express shipping" and "cross-border e-commerce + air-land intermodal transport", support the development of dedicated logistics routes like air cargo charters and expand "truck flight" operations between Ningbo Airport and other airports. Continue to effectively implement the "7×24" customs clearance guarantee for Ningbo Airport and expand the "simplified declaration" model for cross-border e-commerce retail exports.

 

 

 

 

25. Support cross-border e-commerce enterprises in storing and distributing goods with various attributes, such as bonded and non-bonded, within the special supervision zones to conduct cross-border e-commerce special area export business. Support cross-border e-commerce enterprises in carrying out bundled sales, return central warehouses, bonded warehouses combined with live streaming, and other businesses within special supervision zones to expand the advantages of cross-border e-commerce imports.

26. Promote the application of electronic payment for retail import taxes in cross-border e-commerce, electronic guarantees, and customs duty guarantee insurance to support the healthy development of new business models.

27. Provide professional technical services to support the information construction of the Comprehensive Bonded Zone and the China (Ningbo) Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone, thereby facilitating the high-quality development of cross-border e-commerce.

28. Accelerate the development of risk detection methods for new hazardous substances in cross-border e-commerce products to improve detection efficiency.

29. Utilize multiple channels to promote customs credit management policies, select enterprises categorized as "specialized, exquisite, unique, and new" for focused cultivation. In customs with conditions, advance new models of group and chain-based cultivation to enable simultaneous nurturing, certification, and benefit sharing among enterprises within the group or along the industrial chain, ensuring a steady increase in the number of high-level certified enterprises. Promote the implementation of benefit measures for high-level certified enterprises by customs, guide enterprises in effectively utilizing customs policies that favor enterprises, and track and evaluate the effectiveness of facilitation measures to enhance the sense of gain among high-level certified enterprises.

30. Strengthen research on the development trends and countermeasures related to low-carbon and "carbon tariff" trade and technology measures, and understand the impact of foreign trade and technology measures, the response of enterprises, and their demands, while supporting enterprises in going global.

31. Work overtime for customs clearance during holidays, constantly implement the "zero clearing" mechanism, and stabilize the customs clearance expectations of import and export enterprises.

 

 

 

 

32. Actively carry out policy promotion, expand the scope of benefit-sharing for monitoring and inspection models of advanced technology such as vacuum packaging, and allow non-high-tech enterprises to participate in the pilot program upon recommendation from government science and technology administrative departments at the provincial level (including municipalities specifically designated in the state plan) or local governments at the prefecture level and above. Additionally, permit high-tech enterprises that have been occasionally (and not due to willful misconduct or controllable reasons) found in violation of customs regulations to participate in the benefit-sharing program. Actively participate in pilot programs for risk management business scenarios based on supply chains in the Yangtze River Delta region. For enterprises assessed as belonging to low-risk supply chains, recommend the application of low customs monitoring ratios to the General Administration to support the development of New Quality Productive Forces at local levels.

33. Actively engage in data exchange with port authorities, port management departments, and related enterprises to further enhance port operational efficiency.

34. Continue to advance efforts in freight reduction for the return transportation of the China-Europe Railway Express and inland waterway transportation, thereby helping to reduce business operating costs. Promote the application of the "China Customs Preferential Origin Service Platform" to assist enterprises in enhancing their utilization of free trade agreements, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Promote product classification pre-ruling and extension services to enhance enterprises' predictability in import and export trade activities.

35. Support the involvement of third-party financial institutions in providing guarantees for processing trade-related customs affairs. Advance the reform of the risk guarantee model for processing trade, allowing enterprises to use payment guarantees issued by banks and non-bank third-party financial institutions to handle processing trade-related customs matters.

36. Support airlines with demand in developing international through flights and other services, promote the construction of "smart travel inspection", and leverage technological equipment for advanced machine inspections and intelligent image check to optimize customs operation processes. Achieve "smart and embedded" regulation for travel inspections, continuously advance the "one-time inspection" for outbound checked baggage, facilitate a senseless customs clearance experience for passengers, and enhance the overall experience of entering and exiting the country.

 

 

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Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Alayongguan. The Alayongguan version shall prevail.