Since August 1, 2018, Chinese authorities have accepted electronic documents (eDocs) at the time of customs declaration, no longer requiring paper documents as a strict prerequisite for authorization.
London-based e-commerce platform provider essDOCS said the news comes from the recent Spanish President Pedro Sánchez’s announcement of the General Administration of Customs of China.
In addition, the company clarified that China Customs said the decision is intended "further promote the ease of foreign trade and improve the efficiency of customs clearance at ports".
On the other hand, the Chinese Agency mentions that "if the documents issued by the competent authorities or agencies at home and abroad use Internet access for verification, Only the document number or a scanned upload is required«.
The announcement adds that certain requirements must be met for eDocs to be legally accepted, so "If network verification has not been implemented and cannot be consulted online, a scanned copy is required.«.
Until recently, Chinese customs required a paper output of relevant trade documentation originating from online platforms (such as Bills of Lading, Commercial Invoices, Packing Lists, Certificates or Origin, etc.).
With the recent move in place, essDOCS anticipates a significant acceleration in the acceptance of eDocs in China and for users involved in operations within and outside the Asian nation.
Source: essDOCs
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
