Ministry of Commerce, Registration for the Record of Foreign Trade Operators Procedures

Promulgated: June 25 2004
Effective: July 1 2004
Interpreting authority: Ministry of Commerce

Main contents: A foreign trade operator engaged in import and export of goods or technology shall carry out registration for the record with the Ministry of Commerce or its entrusted institution, except where laws, administrative regulations or provisions of the Ministry of Commerce do not require such registration. If a foreign trade operator fails to carry out registration for the record in accordance with these Procedures, customs shall refuse to handle customs declaration and release the goods being imported or exported (Article 2). Article 5 details the procedure for the registration of foreign trade operators for the record. Foreign trade operators shall complete the related formalities necessary for the launch of foreign trade business, on the strength of the Form for Registration for the Record of Foreign Trade Operators affixed with the seal for registration for the record, with such local departments as customs, inspection and quarantine, foreign exchange and tax within 30 days. The registration form will become invalid automatically if the formalities are not completed within the time limit (Article 8). Foreign trade operators that have obtained the qualification to conduct import and export of goods and technologies in accordance with the law prior to the implementation of the Procedures, and are merely engaged in the originally approved scope of business, are not required to complete the formalities for registration for the record. Foreign trade operators that have transcended the originally approved scope of business are required to complete the registration for the record in accordance with the Procedures (Article 14).
Repealed legislation: Any provisions inconsistent with the Procedures shall be repealed from the date of promulgation of the Procedures.