Measures of the People's Republic of China for the Customs Supervision on Inbound and Outbound Baggage

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 These Measures are formulated in accordance with the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, the Tariff Law of the People's Republic of China, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine, the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the People's Republic of China, and other relevant laws and administrative regulations for the purposes of regulating customs supervision of inbound and outbound baggage, safeguarding national security, and facilitating customs clearance at ports.

Article 2 These Measures apply to the customs supervision of inbound and outbound baggage.

Article 3 Inbound or outbound baggage must be brought into or out of the country in a place where a customs office has been established.

Under special circumstances, if inbound or outbound baggage needs to be temporarily brought into or out of the country in a place where no customs office has been established, customs formalities shall be followed in accordance with these Measures with the approval of the State Council or an agency authorized by the State Council.

Article 4 A person entering or exiting the country may go through the customs formalities for bringing his or her baggage into or out of the country in person or by agent.

Article 5 Inbound and outbound baggage must meet the reasonable quatities for personal use; if it exceeds a reasonable number for personal use, it shall undergo customs formalities as goods.

Article 6 The inbound or outbound baggage carried by a person entering or exiting the country shall comply with laws, administrative regulations, and provisions issued by the State Council or made by the relevant department of the State Council under the authority of laws or administrative regulations.

A person entering or exiting the country shall not carry any baggage that violates the national prohibitive management provisions.

A person entering or exiting the country with baggage subject to restrictive management provisions shall comply with the amount or quantity requirements and submit permits and other supporting documents in accordance with the law.

Article 7 The Customs shall strengthen the application of up-to-date science and technology innovations to ensure the information-based, digitalized, standardized, and easier supervision of inbound and outbound baggage.

Chapter II Declaration

Article 8 A person entering or exiting the country with baggage shall truthfully declare it to the Customs.

The customs accept written declarations from persons entering or exiting the country at a designated place such as declaration counters.

Article 9 If a person entering the country falls under any of the following circumstances, he or she shall make a written declaration to the Customs:

(1) Carrying an article the import of which is prohibited.

(2) Carrying an article the import of which is restricted and which exceeds the amount or quantity limit or for which a permit or any other supporting documentation is required.

(3) Carrying an animal or plant, an animal or plant product, or any other quarantinable article.

(4) Carrying an article related to public health safety, such as blood or any other human tissue, pathogenic microorganism, and biological product.

(5) Carrying an article that has been contaminated with quarantinable infectious disease or poses a risk of spreading quarantinable infectious disease.

(6) Carrying currency exceeding the prescribed amount.

(7) Carrying an article exceeding the duty-free amount or quantity limit.

(8) Carrying goods, a sample, or advertising material.

(9) Shipping baggage unaccompanied to the country.

(10) Carrying other baggage that require written declaration according to the law.

Article 10 If a person exiting the country falls under any of the following circumstances, he or she shall make a written declaration to the Customs:

(1) Carrying an article the export of which is prohibited.

(2) Carrying an article the export of which is restricted and which exceeds the amount or quantity limit or for which a permit or any other supporting documentation is required.

(3) Carrying goods, a sample, or advertising material.

(4) Carrying an article related to public health safety, such as blood or any other human tissue, pathogenic microorganism, and biological product.

(5) Carrying an article that has been contaminated with quarantinable infectious disease or poses a risk of spreading quarantinable infectious disease.

(6) Carrying currency exceeding the prescribed amount.

(7) Carrying other baggage that require written declaration according to the law.

Article 11 When a person entering or exiting the country makes a written declaration to the Customs, he or she shall fill in a paper declaration form or submit electronic declaration data.

The person entering or exiting the country shall present his or her valid entry and exit document to the customs at the declaration counter or any other designated place, submit a paper declaration form or confirm the electronic declaration data, file a permit and other supporting documents, and submit to customs verification.

Under any circumstance listed in Articles 9 and 10, if he or she fails to complete the written declaration procedures in accordance with the above provisions before the Customs takes inspection measures, he or she is deemed to have failed to declare to the Customs.

Article 12 When entering or exiting the country in a place where the customs implement the declaration model of red and green channels, a person entering or exiting the country with baggage who is required to make a written declaration at customs in accordance with these Measures, or who is ignorant about customs provisions or how to choose a channel, shall choose the red channel. Any other person entering or exiting the country may choose the green channel.

Article 13 When brought into or taken out of the country, baggage temporarily imported or exported may be declared and registered in writing at customs, secured as required, cleared with notes after approval by the Customs. If the baggage is re-exported or re-imported, the customs will inspect and clear it based on the notes.

Chapter III Inspection

Article 14 The Customs inspect inbound and outbound baggage in accordance with the law.

The time and place for inspecting inbound and outbound baggage are determined by the customs based on actual circumstances.

Article 15 Before inspection, a person carrying inbound or outbound baggage or his or her agent shall voluntarily state any article that is prone to sustain damage or cause personal injury during inspection.

Article 16 The Customs may use any equipment, tool, or working dog, among others, to inspect inbound and outbound baggage and take samples in accordance with the law.

Article 17 When the Customs inspects inbound or outbound baggage, the person entering or exiting the country or his or her agent shall be present, move, open, and reseal the baggage in accordance with customs requirements, and answer questions from a customs officer truthfully. The Customs may, as they deem necessary, conduct inspection directly in the presence of a witness.

Article 18 No person may open or damage without authorization a seal or sign affixed by the Customs to inbound and outbound baggage.

Chapter IV Disposition

Article 19 The Customs shall levy on baggage permitted to enter the country in accordance with the Tariff Law of the People's Republic of China, the Measures for the Collection of Tariffs, Value-Added Tax and Consumption Tax on Personal Imports, and other relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 20 Inbound and outbound baggage receives customs clearance upon full payment of taxes or provision of security, and submission of a permit and other supporting documents as required by law. Additionally, if mandated by law, the baggage shall also undergo and pass quarantine inspection.

Article 21 If the baggage carried by a person entering the country falls under the circumstances of Article 43 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine, the customs shall detain it and issue a relevant notice. The detention period shall not exceed seven days. However, if quarantine inspection in laboratories or isolation is required, it shall comply with relevant laws, administrative regulations, and the provisions of the GACC.

Article 22 If the baggage carried by a person entering the country falls under any of the following circumstances, it shall be quarantined and subject to customs supervision:

(1) Contaminated with quarantinable infectious disease.

(2) Discovering a vector related to human health.

(3) Other circumstances where there is a risk of spreading quarantinable infectious disease.

(4) Discovering a live pest that poses an animal and plant quarantine risk and may cause proliferation.

(5) Other requiring quarantine according to the law.

Article 23 If a person entering or exiting the country cannot complete customs formalities on the spot under any of the following circumstances, he or she shall complete them within three months:

(1) The inbound baggage is taxable.

(2) A permit and other supporting documents are required.

(3) Customs formalities shall be undergone as goods.

(4) Where the properties, contents, or value, among others, of the inbound or outbound articles are doubt,testing or identification, among others is required.

(5) The required return or other disposition cannot be effected immediately.

The operation time in subparagraph (4) of the preceding paragraph shall not be included in the period.

Article 24 For the following baggage that complies with Article 23 of these Measures, a person entering or exiting the country shall complete customs formalities within 7 days:

(1) Hazardous chemicals.

(2) Baggage fresh, perishable, easily ineffective, or otherwise unsuitable to preserve for a long time.

(3) Baggage related to public health safety, such as blood or any other human tissue, pathogenic microorganism, and biological product.

(4) Other baggage specified by The Customs of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 25 If the baggage carried by a person entering the country falls under any of the following circumstances and has been handled by the Customs in accordance with the law, it may be returned with the consent of the Customs:

(1) Failure to pay tax on inbound baggage.

(2) Failure to go through customs formalities as goods.

(3) Failure to submit a permit or any other supporting document.

(4) An article the import of which is prohibited.

(5) Failure to pass quarantine inspection without effective treatment method.

(6) Return is otherwise permitted by law.

Article 26 If an inbound or outbound person state abandonment of his or her baggage, he or she may abandon it with the consent of the Customs, unless abandonment is impermissible according to the law.

If, after passing the Customs interception and quarantine, the person entering the country fails to collect his or her inbound baggage within the interception period, it will be deemed to have been voluntarily abandoned.

Article 27 If the baggage carried by a person entering the country falls under any of the following circumstances, the Customs shall auction, sell, destroy, or otherwise dispose of it in accordance with the law:

(1) It is abandoned with the consent of the Customs or voluntarily.

(2) It is prohibited from entry and cannot be returned.

(3) It fails quarantine inspection, there is no effective treatment method, and it cannot be returned.

(4) Customs formalities fails to be completed within the prescribed time limit.

(5) It has remained unclaimed in the Customs surveillance zone for more than three months.

Where the above baggage is not suitable for long-time storage, the Customs may dispose of it according to actual circumstances.

Chapter V Baggage Shipped Unaccompanied and in Transit

Article 28 If a person entering the country ships baggage unaccompanied to the country, he or she shall declare it to the Customs at the time of entry. With the consent of the Customs, he or she shall complete the customs formalities within 6 months of entry.

If a person exiting the country ships baggage unaccompanied from the country, he or she shall complete customs formalities before exit.

Article 29 When declaring unaccompanied baggage, a person entering or exiting the country shall submit to the Customs his or her valid entry and exit document, a list of unaccompanied baggage and other materials.

Article 30 A person in transit who does not leave the customs surveillance zone may be exempted from filling out a baggage declaration form and may not leave his or her baggage in the country without the consent of the customs. The Customs may inspection if necessary.

A person specified in the preceding paragraph shall not carry any article the import of which is prohibited, except with the approval or consent of an appropriate authority.

Article 31 Where a person in transit is permitted to leave the customs surveillance zone, the customs shall supervise him or her in the same manner as a person entering the country.

Chapter VI Supplemental Provisions

Article 32 No person may disrupt the order of a Customs supervision operation site nor record on audiotape or videotape or take photos at the Customs supervision operation site without the permission of customs.

If a person other than one entering or exiting the country enters or exits a customs supervision operation site through the staff channel with a valid document, he or she shall not carry an inbound or outbound article or duty-free goods and shall submit to customs inspection.

Article 33 Any violation of these Measures shall be handled by the Customs in accordance with the law.

Article 34 If any law, administrative regulations, provisions issued by the State Council, or a relevant authority of the State Council, under the authority of any law or administrative regulations, has otherwise established provisions on the following inbound and outbound baggage, such provisions shall prevail:

(1) Baggage brought into or out of the country by a person enjoying diplomatic or consular privileges and immunities.

(2) Baggage brought into or out of the country by a non-resident long-term traveler (including a resident employee), an overseas mountaineering group or individual, a high-level overseas student returning to China, an overseas scientific and technological expert working in China, or any other particular person.

(3) Baggage entering or leaving the Hainan Free Trade Port or any other special area supervised by the customs together with relevant authorities.

(4) Other provisions stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or by relevant departments in accordance with the authorization of laws and administrative regulations.

A person enjoying diplomatic, consular privileges and immunities as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) of the preceding paragraph shall voluntarily produce his or her passport, visa, or relevant supporting documentation, and customs shall grant corresponding courtesy after verification.

Article 35 The following terms in these Measures have the following meanings:

"Baggage" means an article carried by a person entering or exiting the country, including an article carried along or shipped unaccompanied.

“Unaccompanied baggage" means the baggage that a person entering or exiting the country ships to or from the country by separate consignment.

Article 36 For the purposes of these Measures, “exceeding” excludes the figure itself.

Article 37 These Measures are subject to interpretation by the GACC of the People's Republic of China.

Article 38 These Measures shall come into force on April 1, 2025, upon which the Measures of the Customs of the People's Republic of China for the Supervision of Baggage of Inbound and Outbound Passengers, promulgated by GACC Decree No. 9 on November 1, 1989, and amended by GACC Decree No. 198 on November 26, 2010, and GACC Decree No. 235 on December 20, 2017; the Provisions of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Baggage of Passengers in Transit, promulgated by GACC Decree No. 25 on September 2, 1991, and amended by GACC Decree No. 198 on November 26, 2010; the Provisions of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Articles for Personal Use in Travel of Inbound and Outbound Passengers, promulgated by GACC Decree No. 35 on September 10, 1992, and amended by GACC Decree No. 198 on November 26, 2010; the Provisions of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on Customs Clearance of Inbound and Outbound Passengers promulgated by GACC Decree No. 55 on December 25, 1995, and amended by GACC Decree No. 198 on November 26, 2010; the Provisions of the Customs of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Inbound and Outbound Baggage of Passengers of Chinese Nationality, promulgated by GACC Decree No. 58 on August 10, 1996, and amended by GACC Decree No. 198 on November 26, 2010, and GACC Decree No. 235 on December 20, 2017; and the Measures for the Administration of Quarantine of Articles Carried by Entry-Exit Personnel, promulgated by Decree No. 146 of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on August 2, 2012, and amended by GACC Decree No. 238 on April 28, 2018, GACC Decree No. 240 on May 29, 2018, and GACC Decree No. 243 on November 23, 2018, are repealed.