China Roundup: Food Labeling Changes, New VAT Queries and Auto Parts Inspections

China recently announced the repeal of labeling submission requirements for pre-packaged food, and added new functionalities to its online customs systems to facilitate value-added tax refunds. It also set new standards for electronically submitted documents, as well as new inspection procedures for auto parts at the Port of Shanghai. The following is an update on recent customs and trade-related actions by China:

Food labeling. China is scrapping a requirement to file food labels prior to the first importation of any pre-packaged food items, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said in a May 20 alert. The repeal takes effect Oct. 1. Labels will now be subject to customs inspections to check compliance with relevant laws and regulations, the China customs notice said, according to HKTDC. Importers selected for on-site inspection or laboratory testing should provide China customs with “the appropriate certificate of conformity, the original label affixed to the pre-packaged food (together with a Chinese translation of its contents), a sample Chinese label and other supporting documents as may be required,” HKTDC said.

VAT queries. Importers and exporters may now use online queries for export declaration and import value added tax data to “more conveniently handle export tax rebate and import VAT deduction procedures in a timely manner,” KPMG said in its monthly China customs policy update. The queries are available on the “Internet + Customs” and China International Trade Single Window systems, using the “Let Me Check” and “Query Statistics” functions, respectively. The capabilities have been in place since April 10.

Scanned customs documents. New standards for scanned customs declarations took effect May 1, KPMG said. The new standards replace rules issued in 2014. The changes “standardise and facilitate [the] all-in-one customs declaration for enterprises around the country,” KPMG said.

AD/CVD. China’s Ministry of Commerce initiated new antidumping duty investigations on methionine from Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. It also continued an antidumping duty order on electrolytic capacitor paper from Japan.

Shanghai auto parts inspections. Shanghai Customs “optimised product inspection procedures for imported automobile components and parts that are subject to statutory inspection and entry verification,” KPMG said. For imported auto parts and components subject to CCC certification, the CCC certification or exemption certificate may now be provided during the statutory inspection and entry verification process, and “generally no sampling inspection” will be required, it said. Products that have passed the conformity assessment are then allowed to be sold and used, KPMG said.

Port closures. The ports of Suibin Gang and Huchan Gang are closed as of April 3, KPMG said. The closures were announced in January. Both ports are located in the province of Heilongjiang.