STEP 2 (5-7 working days)

Customs Clearance

Once your import permit has been obtained the Customs Clearance process normally takes 5 -7working days. This process can taker longer around Chinese Pubic Holidays.

The Chinese Customs Department will assess the duty payable on your shipment.  Please find below guidelines to duties payable & restricted items.

Excel Moving will collect payment from you or your employer, make payment on your behalf & obtain an official receipt for you.  Delays in payment may incur additional bonded storage which would be for you/your employers account – therefore you should make arrangements in advance for this expense.

Prohibited & Restricted Items
Included:

? Firearms
? Satellite receiver
? Drugs or Poisons
? Pornographic material
? Politically-sensitive material
? Fresh food
? Endangered and rare animals and their products
? Office supplies and furniture must be for personal use
? Non-original videotapes or videotapes that are not labeled are all subject to screening by the customs office (normally takes up to 14 days).  VCD & DVD are subject to random checks

Import duty

Many household items attract duty of between 10-20% of their value.  Dutiable/restricted items must be clearly marked on the packing inventory along with their value.  These should be loaded last for easy access during the inspection.  If your declared value is lower than the price in China, duty will be based on the market value in China.

Dutiable Items

? Furniture
? Food (From 24th July,2007,shipper is not allowed to bring food stuff in AIR FREIGHT to Shanghai)
? Electrical Appliances / Mechanical items
? Cosmetics
? Alcoholic Beverages
? CD’s / DVD’s
? Books (for air freight, and for returning Chinese)
? Client is not allowed to bring more than 20 pcs of CDs & DVDs & tapes in AIR FREIGHT since 17th Sep, 2007.   In SEA SHIPMENT, the maximum amount of CDs &DVDs can be brought to Shanghai is 300 pcs.
? From 15th June, 2007, client is not allowed to bring over 50 books in AIR FREIGHT to Shanghai, China.
? From 5th Feb, 2008, medicine is NOT recommended to be sent via AIR FREIGHT to Shanghai.

Many household items that do not fall into these categories may be imported duty free at the discretion of the customs department.  For example;

? Kitchen electronic items.
? CD’s& DVD’s if less than 300, ( Air shipment less than 10) *For returning Chinese, client is not allowed to bring more than 50  pcs of CDs & DVDs ,or more than 50 books in SEA shipment.
? Books (less than 10 or 3 sets)
? Audio Cassette tapes
? A small quantity of prescription medicines (with a copy of the prescription)

New Customs Regulations in Shanghai
From 1 July, 2007on:

If shipper brings both air & sea shipment to Shanghai, we have to apply the import permit at the same time, which means air and sea shipment should arrive Shanghai at the same time. Otherwise, the second import permit application will be fully dutiable.

Note: If the air shipment is imported as priority clearance, Customs computer system will not have a record, thus the sea freight (with import permit application) will be counted as first import. Please note the gross weight for air freight should not exceed 200kgs gross for priority clearance, and priority clearance fee will be applicable.

From Aug 1, 2007 on:

All items in each box need to be clearly mentioned, and quantity to be noted down of each sort. We are even told that for clothes for example, trousers, shirts, jackets, etc. should be marked separately with quantity, etc.

From Feb 27th, 2008 on:
The weight limit for priority clearance has been changed to 200kgs gross.
In other words, for any air freight which exceeds 200kgs gross weight, we have to wait until client's work permit and residence permit (with at least one year validity) to be ready before sending out the air freight.

From 5th June, 2008 on:

Shipper is not allowed to bring map, liquid items (including wine and toiletries), cosmetics, soap, candle (including candle products), and any cream & paste products in AIR FREIGHT to Shanghai.

Duty Guidelines
? Furniture – 10%
? Books-10% (for returning Chinese)
? CDs, VCDs, DVDs –RMB30 per piece. (may be subject to customs screening)
? Alcohol – below 12% @RMB50 per bottle
? Alcohol – above and inclusive of 12% @RMB250 per bottle
? Foodstuffs – 10%
? Electronic luxury items – 20% - see below for examples