The customs department announced a package yesterday to help maintain a clear flow of inbound and outbound passengers and materials in the run-up to and during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, that is, till October 17, 2008.

 

The e-Port system will ensure on-line examination and approval for Olympic goods, greatly improving the clearance efficiency, vice-minister of the General Administration of Customs Gong Zheng said.

 

He said that the Chinese customs would start an "on-line" service to simplify the paying of duties, taxes, and related fees.

 

Dedicated facilities, windows and desks, passages, and working teams will be assigned to the customs department across the country.

 

For instance, special windows or desks will be set up to process declaration documents, tax exemptions, discounts and cargo supervision formalities related to Olympic goods.

 

To ensure that import of Olympic materials are cleared straight away, "we will provide 24-hour non-stop services to clear emergency Olympic materials", Gong said.

 

The consigners, consignees or brokers for Olympic-related imports can approach the customs and declare the goods in advance based on the information they have from bills of lading, waybills, cargo inventories or verified manifests.

 

The goods will be released without any unnecessary formality after they reach the country if they match the information supplied in advance.

 

Olympic materials temporarily admitted can be re-exported within a year of their entry.

 

Under extraordinary circumstances, the time allowed for temporary admission can, with the consent of the customs, be extended, but the materials have to be re-exported before March 2009.

 

Olympic and government officials holding diplomatic or courteous visas will be cleared through the "Diplomatic and Courteous Channel" and be exempted from customs checks.

 

Strict measures will be taken to intensify Olympic IPR protection in import and export, Gong said. "For example, we will step up our efforts to prevent the entry and exit of goods violating IPR laws."

 

(China Daily February 1, 2007)