For goods via "waterway transshipment", domestic carriers or their agents shall uniformly file the transit goods declaration forms with customs at the port of entry or the departure point. These goods are processed in batches, which has significantly enhanced the efficiency of inter-port feeder logistics and facilitated the microcirculation of foreign trade logistics. The relevant policies are introduced as follows:
I. What conditions make goods via "waterway transshipment" eligible for transit procedures?
For multimodal transported goods as well as import and export goods requiring transfer transport within the country under a full through bill of lading, consignors or consignees may apply to customs for multimodal transport procedures, which will be processed under the intermodal transfer transit mode.
II. How can enterprises ensure that the goods comply with the requirements for entire transportation?
Enterprises may submit documents such as through bills of lading, intermodal waybills, transportation contracts, booking confirmation details, transport delegation information, consignment notes, and other materials proving entire transportation to ensure that goods comply with through transportation conditions.
III. How should the transit method be declared for goods under waterway transshipment during customs transit?
For eligible "waterway transshipment" goods, during customs transit procedures, the "customs transit method" field in the transit form should be completed as "intermodal transshipment" (code 33).
IV. Should customs seals be affixed to "waterway transshipment" goods during customs transit procedures?
For transit goods carried by inner feeder vessels or railways with undamaged commercial seals, customs may waive the requirement for affixing customs seals. Customs at the point of entry or departure must define a certain inspection percentage and verify the integrity of the commercial seals using the ship’s manifest or railway waybill. Additionally, customs at the destination or exit point shall inspect the commercial seals and process customs formalities based on records from computerized transit declarations and the ship’s manifest or railway waybill.
V. Can ships carrying "waterway transshipment" transit container cargo also carry domestic trade container cargo?
Ships carrying customs-supervised goods can carry both domestic and foreign trade containerized goods. "Domestic trade container goods" refers to containerized goods for domestic trade that are not subject to customs supervision. "Foreign trade container goods" refers to import and export containerized goods that have undergone customs transit clearance procedures.
VI. What requirements must ships fulfill to carry both domestic and foreign trade containers on the same vessel?
Where a shipping company intends to carry out the transportation of containers for domestic and foreign trade on the same vessels, it shall, in reference to applicable requirements of the customs on the supervision over means of transport carrying goods under customs supervision, go through the procedures for vessel registration with the customs directly under the jurisdiction of competent authority.
The containers transported on the same vessel must adhere to the standards stipulated in the Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China for the Supervision of Containers and Containerized Freight Carriages Used for Loading Customs-Supervised Goods (promulgated under GACC Order No. 110 and amended under GACC Order Nos. 198 and 240).
VII. How should port enterprises appropriately store and manage domestic trade containers transported on the same vessel?
When storing domestic and foreign trade container goods, port enterprises should designate separate areas, stack them distinctly, avoid mixing, and ensure they have clear identification labels.
VIII. If transit goods remain undeclared past the due date, is it necessary to pay a late declaration fee? What customs regulations govern the declaration time for such goods?
Transit goods must complete transit procedures with the customs at the place of entry within 14 days from the declaration of entry by the transportation means. Subsequently, upon arriving at the destination customs within the period specified by customs, the goods must complete declaration procedures at the destination customs within 14 days. Overdue declaration fees will be charged per the stipulated regulations.
IX. If the transit goods pass through one or more transit points during the transit transportation, how should the enterprise handle the transit procedures?
If imported transit goods pass through one or more transit points during transit transportation, the customs shall require the enterprise to declare and handle the transit procedures on a case-by-case basis. If export transit goods pass through one or more transit points during transit transportation, the customs shall handle the transit procedures on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the "secondary transit" model.
X. After the transit declaration data is released, if the means of transport for the transit goods changes, can the enterprise apply for a modification of the transit declaration data?
After the transit declaration data is released, if the means of transport carrying the transit goods changes and the enterprise applies for a modification of the transit declaration data, the customs at the place of entry (or point of departure) will approve the modification upon verification.
XI. If export transit goods require reloading onto outbound transportation means upon arrival at the exit point, how should the enterprise proceed with the procedures for modifying the transit document?
When export transit goods arrive at the customs-supervised workplace at the exit point and require fully or partially reloading onto outbound transportation means, if the enterprise applies to amend the name of the outbound transportation means, flight (voyage) number, bill of lading number, and other data elements in the export transit declaration at the exit point, the exit customs may modify the information based on the enterprise's application after confirming the accuracy of the transit document.
XII. How should enterprises process changes to the electronic data of the second-leg transit manifest?
The electronic data management of the second-leg transit manifest is handled by the customs at the designated entry point after the dispatch customs releases the import transit form.
After imported transit cargo reaches the customs-regulated facility at the destination, in case of cargo shortages or damage, or discrepancies in the actual quantity or weight are confirmed upon inspection, which meet the criteria for manifest amendments, the destination customs can revise the relevant electronic data information upon verification of the situation.
(Yang Pengzheng)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.
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