China Customs goes fully paperless

Chinese authorities as of August 1 have been accepting electronic documents (eDocs) at the point of customs declaration, ceasing to require paper documents as a strict prerequisite for clearance. Until recently, Chinese Customs required paper output of relevant trade documentation originating from online platforms (such as Bills of Lading, Commercial Invoices, Packing Lists, Certificates or Origin etc.).

London-based paperless trade platform provider essDOCS said the news comes from a recent announcement by China’s General Administration of Customs.

It said the Administration noted that the decision is intended “to further promote the convenience of foreign trade and improve the efficiency of customs clearance at ports”.

The General Administration mentions that “if the documents issued by the relevant competent authorities or agencies at home and abroad are used for online verification or internet access, only the document number or a scanned upload is required.”

The announcement adds that certain requirements will need to be met in order to legally accept eDocs for clearance, whereby “if network verification has not been implemented and the Internet cannot be queried, a scanned copy […] is required.”

With the recent decision taking full effect, essDOCS anticipates a significant acceleration of eDocs uptake in China and expect major efficiency gains for our users involved in trades into and out of the Asian nation.