On June 27, at the request of Rizhao Lingyunhai Sugar Group Company, Qingdao Customs issued a written decision on advance ruling of origin for the mineral water produced in New Zealand, which was the first piece of advance ruling made by China Customs for the origin of goods based on China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 

Once being issued, an advance ruling of origin will keep valid for three consecutive years. Before real import and export of goods, the importer or exporter is required to apply to the Customs for such advance ruling. An issued advance ruling of origin will be applicable across Customs districts nationwide, with clearance facilitations provided for enterprises. 

At present, based on the advance ruling of origin, the mode of “self-declaration of origin” can be adopted under China-New Zealand FTA, China-Australia FTA and China’s arrangements for special preferential tariff treatment for the least-developed countries.

Kou Shuming, International Business Manager of Lingyunhai Sugar, said: “After the Customs issued us the advance ruling of origin, we don’t need for three years to apply for Certificate of Origin for the mineral water from New Zealand and we can self-make the Declaration of Origin, thus greatly streamlining our clearance”.