China GAC Issues Facilitation Measures for 2020 CIIE

GAC published measures to facilitate CIIE and help overseas exhibitors with customs clearance. Small samples, excluding alcoholic beverages, shown at the exhibition can be exempted from a certain amount of tax. Exhibition-only prepackaged food products are exempted from additional Chinese labels and sampling tests.

On July 14^th, China GAC published Customs Clearance Notice and Facilitation Measures for 2020 China International Import Expo (hereinafter referred to as “2020 CIIE”), which will be held from Nov. 5th to Nov. 10th, 2020.

1. Customs Clearance Notice

Main notes that CIIE food exhibitors should pay attention to are as follows:

1.1 Quarantine

Exhibition products such as animal & animal products, plant & plant products, special products, etc., need GAC quarantine approval before entering China. Exhibitors should apply for GAC approval in advance.
Animal and plant product involved in the GM food labeling category should claim whether it is GM food or not. Product containing GM ingredients should provide GMO Safety Certificate issued by MOARA.
Exhibition products should meet the requirements in the 2020 CIIE Inspection and Quarantine Restriction List and the 2020 CIIE Inspection and Quarantine Prohibition List.

1.2 Product consumption

For exhibition products prepared to be tried, tasted or handed out in the Expo, exhibitors need corresponding certificates, e.g. official certificate from the exhibiting country/region, third-party testing report, etc.
Small samples, excluding alcoholic beverages, could be exempted from a certain amount of tariff, value-added tax and consumption tax according to the actual amount and value.

2. Facilitation Measures

Notable measures published by GAC to help exhibitors in CIIE are as follows:

Organizer of CIIE will provide tax guarantee to reduce pressure for overseas exhibitors.
Administrative approval process of inspection and quarantine for imported animal/plant products, animal/plant origin food will be conducted at Shanghai Customs or customs nearby, and such administrative work shall be finalized within three working days.
For imported aquaculture products, dairy products, and cubilose sold in the exhibition area (whose manufacturers have not obtained GAC registration approval), Shanghai Customs will evaluate corresponding manufacturers, and overseas on-site inspection is not required. A temporary registration certificate will be issued after the enterprises pass the inspection.
Exhibition-only prepackaged food products are exempted from Chinese labels and sampling test; small amount of prepackaged food products for taste and sell in the exhibition are not required to indicate the Chinese labels; sampling tests for small amount of prepackaged food products for taste will be conducted before the exhibition according to food safety risk evaluation results.
Exhibited products included in CBEC positive list (2019) can be sold following bonded warehouse model after CIIE.