MOFCOM Announcement No.66, 2014 on 2015 Sugar Import Tariff Quota Rules

In accordance with China's Provisional Measures on Agricultural Product Import Tariff Quotas (MOFCOM-NDRC Decree No.4 of 2003), the MOFCOM has formulated China's Implementation Rules for 2015 on Sugar Import Tariff Quotas as follow:

1. Tariff Quota Total: For 2015, sugar import-tariff quota totals 1,945,000 tons, with 70% thereof for state-run trade.

2. Applicant Type:
(1) State-run trading firms;
(2) Central Government-owned firms having the function of state reserve;
(3) the firms holding sugar tariff quota of 2014 and having actual import performance (as the applicants with actual performance);
(4) the sugar-making firms with daily processing of not less than 600 tons, registered capital of not less than CNY 10 Million, and annual sales of not less than CNY 450 Million;
(5) the firms in sugar processing trade

3. Applicant Conditions:
(1) Being registered with China's Industrial and Commercial Administrations before October 1, 2014 and having released annual report;
(2) No violation records in 2012-2014 in respect of customs, foreign exchange, industrial-commercial administration, quality inspection, social security, environmental protection, and industrial discipline;
(3) No violations of the Provisional Measures on Agricultural Product Import Tariff Quotas and of 2014 Rules on Application and Allocation of Sugar Import Tariff Quota.

4. Application Documents to Submit:
(1) Agricultural Import Tariff Quota Application Report;
(2) Agricultural Import Tariff Quota Application Form;
(3) Copy of the License of Business Corporation;
(4) The Sugar Import Tariff Quota Certificate of 2014 and copies of import declaration forms of 2014, which are endorsed by customs authorities;
(5) Certificate of tax payment in 2013

An applicant with actual performance shall submit the (1)-(4) materials; an applicant without actual performance shall submit the (1), (2), (3) and (5) materials. If an applicant without actual performance is established after 2009, it shall also submit authorities' approvals of its feasibility report (or project proposal) and its project acceptance report.

5. Quota Allocation

(1) If the total tariff quota can meet the qualified applicant's application, the quota will be allocated as application amount;
(2) If the total tariff quota cannot meet the qualified applicants' application, the quota will first be allocated to the applicants with actual performance as per the norms of their previous-year import performance, production capacity, sales and others.

6. Application Period
The period of applying for 2015 sugar import tariff quota is October 15-30, 2014. The Applicants are required to apply within the time limit to MOFCOM-authorized local agencies. The applicants may obtain "Agricultural Import Tariff Quota Application Form" (see Annex 1) from the authorized agencies or from MOFCOM website (http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/).
7. The authorized local agencies are responsible for accepting local applications and shall deliver the qualified applications to the MOFCOM before November 30, 2014.
8. The MOFCOM will, before January 1, 2015, allocate the import tariff quota to the approved applicants and the authorized local agencies will issue them the "Agricultural Import Tariff Quota Certificate".
9. Any counterfeiter or buyer and seller of the Agricultural Import Tariff Quota Certificate shall be subjected to criminal punishment by China law and the quota holders involved in such crime will be prohibited by the MOFCOM from applying for the quota within two years.

Annexes:
1. Agricultural Import Tariff Quota Application Form (omitted)
2. Table of 2015 Tax Items on Sugar Imports


The Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM)
September 30, 2014