Interpretation of the Customs Administration Regulations on the Filing and Management of Customs Declaration Units

Recently, the General Administration of Customs (GACC) issued an interpretation of the "Administrative Provisions of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on the Filing of Customs Declaration Units" (GACC Decree No. 253, hereinafter referred to as the "Administrative Provisions"), which has been in effect since January 1, 2022.

To help stakeholders and the public accurately understand the background, main principles, and key content of this regulatory revision, we have compiled the following interpretation:

I. Background and Objectives

The implementation of the "Administrative Provisions" is a significant step in deepening the "streamlining administration and delegating power" reform. The State Council has abolished the administrative licensing for the "registration of customs declaration enterprises," and the management of import and export goods recipients, senders, and customs declaration enterprises has shifted from "registration management" to "filing management." This revision aims to stimulate market vitality.

II. Key Improvements and Clarifications

1. Streamlined Regulatory Structure

• Title Change: Updated from "Registration Management Provisions" to "Filing Management Provisions."
• Reduced Articles: The number of articles has been significantly reduced from 46 to 16, simplifying the filing, modification, and cancellation processes.
• Focused Scope: Non-core content, such as business operations and credit management, has been removed to focus strictly on filing procedures.

2. Consolidation of Reform Achievements

• Nationwide Practice: Customs declaration units are explicitly permitted to conduct business anywhere within the People's Republic of China.
• Abolishment of Personnel Filing: Filing requirements for individual customs declaration personnel have been removed.
• Consolidation of Qualifications: Former inspection and quarantine registration requirements have been formally abolished, achieving deep integration between customs and quarantine qualifications.

3. Simplified Filing Procedures

• Minimal Documentation: Enterprises now only need to submit the "Customs Declaration Unit Filing Information Form." Physical paper submissions are no longer required.
• Accelerated Processing: The processing time has been drastically reduced from 20 working days to within 3 working days. Results can be checked in real-time on the "China Customs Enterprise Import and Export Credit Information Publicity Platform."
• Dual Status Permitted: A single entity can now hold dual status as both an "import/export goods recipient/sender" and a "customs declaration enterprise" nationwide.
• Extended Validity: Except for temporary filings (valid for 1 year), standard filings are now valid indefinitely, removing the previous requirement for biennial renewals.

This policy adjustment marks a significant milestone in customs support for trade facilitation, greatly lowering market entry barriers and reducing compliance costs for enterprises.