What are temporary inbound and outbound goods? What goods need to be "temporary" to enter or leave? Is there a time limit for re-shipment? How to close temporary import and export goods?

If you have these questions, follow us to learn about temporary import and export goods.

1. What are temporary inbound and outbound goods?

Answer: Temporary inbound and outbound goods refer to those goods that enter or leave China's customs territory temporarily for specific purposes and should be transported out and into China without changing state, except for depreciation or wear and tear caused by normal use, within the time limit specified by the customs.

2. What are temporary inbound and outbound goods?

Answer: According to the Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China for The Administration of Temporary Inbound and outbound Goods Order No. 233 of the General Administration of Customs), temporary inbound and outbound goods include:

(01) Goods displayed or used at exhibitions, fairs, conferences and similar events.

(02) Articles for performances and competitions used in cultural and sports exchanges.

(03) Equipment and supplies.

(04) Instruments, equipment and articles used in scientific research, teaching and medical activities.

(05) means of transport and special vehicles used in activities listed in items (1) to (4) of this paragraph.

(06) Sample.

(07) Instruments, equipment and supplies used in charitable activities.

(08) Instruments and tools used for installation, debugging, testing and repair of equipment.

(09) Packing materials for cargo.

(10) Self-driving vehicles for tourism and their articles.

(11) Equipment, instruments and supplies used in project construction.

(12) Test products, equipment and vehicles.

(13) other temporary inward and outward goods as stipulated by the General Administration of Customs.

Note: Goods temporarily imported using the ATA Certificate List (hereinafter referred to as the ATA Certificate List) are limited to the goods specified in the international Convention on the Provisional Import of Goods to which China has acceded. The ATA Certificate list is valid for one year and can be reused within the validity period. According to the Notice on Matters Related to The Supervision of Temporary Import and Export Goods (Notice No.13, 2019 of the General Administration of Customs), the import and export period of temporary import and export goods endorsed by the Customs under the ATA document list is the same as the validity period of the document list.

ATA certificate sheet issued by China Chamber of International Commerce

3.Which customs should declare temporary inbound and outbound goods?

A: According to the measures for the administration of the customs of the People's Republic of China inbound and outbound goods temporarily order no. 233 of the General Administration of Customs) regulation, ATA volume of documents of the holder, the ATA temporary inbound and outbound goods under the consignee or consignor (hereinafter referred to as "the holder, the consignee or consignor") can be submitted to the competent customs before declaration "temporary inbound and outbound goods confirm requisition", To apply for examination and confirmation of whether the relevant goods belong to temporary inward and outward goods and go through relevant formalities, the customs may also directly go through relevant formalities of temporary inward and outward goods with the competent customs at the declaration link.

Note: the customs at the competent place refers to the customs at the place where temporary inbound and outbound goods enter and exit. The customs in charge of exhibitions, trade fairs, conferences and similar activities within the territory shall be the customs at the place where the activities are held.

4. How to declare temporary inbound and outbound goods?

A: Enterprises can enter the system and submit declaration materials through the "single window" of China international trade → goods declaration → import/export integrated declaration module. If the customs in charge needs to check or supplement information, they need to submit paper materials. The specific circumstances shall be subject to the examination and approval of the competent customs.

5. What are the requirements for the duration of temporary inbound and outbound goods?

Answer: According to the Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China for the Administration of Temporary Inbound and outbound Goods Order No. 233 of the General Administration of Customs), temporary inbound and outbound goods shall be transported out or into China within 6 months from the date of entry and exit.

If it is necessary to extend the time limit due to special circumstances, the licensee, consignee or consignor shall go through the formalities for extension with the competent customs. The extension shall be no more than three times and each extension shall be no more than six months. At the end of the extension period, the goods shall be transported out of the country or into the country again or import and export formalities shall be handled.

Where temporary inward and outward goods used in key state projects and national scientific research projects and exhibition goods participating in exhibitions with an exhibition period of more than 24 months still need to be extended after the expiration of the extension period prescribed in the preceding paragraph, it shall be approved by the customs directly under the competent locality.

Note: the application for extension shall be handled with the competent customs before the expiration of the specified time limit. The customs at the competent place refers to the customs at the place where temporary inbound and outbound goods enter and leave the territory.

6. How to handle the settlement procedures for temporary inbound and outbound goods?

Answer: The consignee or consignor of temporary inbound and outbound goods shall go through the formalities of closing the case with the competent customs after the goods are transported out of or into China again.

Where temporary inward and outward goods are damaged due to force majeure and cannot be transported out or into the country without changing state, the holder, consignee or consignor shall report to the customs in the competent place without delay and may go through the formalities for their re-transportation out or into the country on the strength of the certification materials issued by the relevant department; If the goods are lost due to force majeure, they may be deemed to have been transported out of or into China after verification by the competent customs.

Where temporary inward and outward goods are damaged or lost due to reasons other than force majeure, the licensee, consignee or consignor shall complete customs formalities in accordance with the relevant provisions on import and export of goods.