Law of the People\'s Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspe

Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection 

 

　

(Adopted　 at　the　Sixth　Meeting of the Standing Committee of the

Seventh　National　 People's　Congress on February 21, 1989, promulgated

by　Order　No.14　of　the　President　of　the People's Republic of China

on February 21, 1989, and effective as of August 1, 1989 )

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER II INSPECTION OF IMPORT COMMODITIES

CHAPTER III INSPECTION OF EXPORT COMMODITIES

CHAPTER IV SUPERVISION AND ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER V LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY

CHAPTER VI SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article　1.　This　Law　is　enacted　with　a　view to　strengthening　 the　 inspection　 of　import　and　export　commodities,　ensuring　the　quality　of　import and　export　commodities,　protecting　the　lawful　rights　and　interests of the parties　involved　in foreign　trade,　and　promoting　the　smooth development of China 's economic and

trade relations with foreign countries.

Article2.The　　State　 Council　 shall　 establish　an　Administration　 for　 Import　and　Export　Commodity Inspection(hereinafter　 referred　to　as　the State　Administration for Commodity　Inspection),　which　shall be in charge of the　inspection of import and　export　commodities　throughout　the　country.　The　local　 import　and　export　 commodity　 inspection　 authorities　(hereinafter referred　to　as　　the　 commodity　inspection　authorities)　set　up　by　the　State　Administration　 for　Commodity　Inspection　shall　be　responsible　for　the　inspection　 of　 import　 and　 export　commodities　within　areas　under their jurisdiction.

Article　 3.　 The　 commodity　 inspection authorities and other

inspection　organizations　 designated　 by　 the　State　Administration

for　 Commodity　Inspection　and　the　commodity　inspection authorities

shall,　in accordance with the law, perform the inspection of import and

export commodities.

Article　 4.　 The　State Administration for Commodity Inspection

shall,　in　the　 light　 of　 the　 needs in the development of foreign

trade,　make,　adjust　and　 publish　 a　 List　of　Import　and　Export

Commodities　 Subject　to　Inspection　by　 the　 Commodity　 Inspection

Authorities　(hereinafter referred to as the List of Commodities).

Article　 5.　Import and export commodities which are included in

the　List of　Commodities　and　import and export commodities subject to

inspection　by　the　 commodity　 inspection　 authorities　under　other

laws　or administrative rules　and　regulations　must　be　inspected　by

the　　　commodity　　 inspection　　authorities　　　or　　　inspection

organizations　　 designated　　by　　the　 State　Administration　　for

Commodity　Inspection　or　the　commodity　inspection authorities.

　No　 permission　 shall　 be　 granted　for　the sale or use of import

commodities　specified　 in　 the　preceding　paragraph　until they have

undergone　inspection;　and　 no　permission　shall　be　granted for the

export　of　export　commodities　specified　 in　the preceding paragraph

until they have been found to be up to standard through inspection.

　Import　 and　 export　commodities　specified　in　the first paragraph

of　this Article　may　be　exempted from inspection upon the examination

and　 approval　 of　　an　　application　　from　　the　 consignee　 or

consignor　by　the　State Administration for Commodity Inspection.

Article　6. Inspection on import and export commodities performed

by　the　commodity　　inspection　 authorities　 shall　 cover　quality,

specifications,　quantity,　weight,　packing　and　the　requirements for

safety and hygiene.

　Import　and　export　commodities　governed　by compulsory standards or

other　inspection　standards which must be complied with as provided for

by　laws or administrative　rules　and regulations shall be inspected in

accordance　with　such　 inspection　 standards;　in the absence of such

stipulations,　import　and export　commodities　shall　be　inspected　in

accordance　with　the　inspection　standards　agreed upon in the foreign

trade contracts.

Article　 7.　Import　and　export commodities or items subject to

inspection　 by　　other　　inspection　 organizations　 under　laws　or

administrative　 rules　 and　 regulations　 shall　 be　 inspected　 in

accordance　 with　 the　 provisions　of relevant laws or administrative

rules and regulations.

Article　 8.　The　State　Administration for Commodity Inspection

and　 the　 commodity　　 inspection　　 authorities　　shall　　collect

information　 on　 the　inspection　 of　import　and　export commodities

and make it available to the relevant circles.

CHAPTER II INSPECTION OF IMPORT COMMODITIES

Article　 9.　 For　 import　 commodities　which　are　subject to

inspection　by　the　 commodity　inspection　authorities　in　accordance

with　　this　Law,　the　consignee　 must　 register　 them　 with　 the

commodity　inspection　authorities located　at　the　port　of　discharge

or　 the　 station　of　arrival. Import commodities　which　are included

in　the　List　of　Commodities　shall　be　checked and　released　by the

Customs　upon　presentation　of　the　seal　of　the commodity inspection

authorities affixed to the Customs declaration.

Article　 10.　 For　 import　commodities　which　are　subject to

inspection　by　the　 commodity　inspection　authorities　in　accordance

with　 this Law, the consignee　shall　apply to the same authorities for

inspection　in　places　and　within　　the　　time　limit　specified　by

them.　 The　 commodity　 inspection authorities　shall　accomplish　the

procedures　 for inspection and issue an inspection　certificate　within

the period of validity of claims prescribed in a foreign trade contract.

Article　 11.　If　import　commodities other than those which are

subject　to　inspection　 by　 the　commodity　inspection authorities in

accordance　with　this　Law　 are　 found　to　be　not up to the quality

standard,　damaged　or　short　on　weight　 or　quantity,　the consignee

shall　apply to the commodity inspection authorities　for inspection and

the　issuance　of　an　inspection　certificate　if such a certificate is

necessary for claiming compensation.

Article　12.　For　important　import　commodities　and a complete

set　of　equipment　 in　 large size, the consignee shall, in accordance

with　the　terms　agreed　upon　in　a　foreign　trade　contract, conduct

initial　inspection　or　initial　 supervision　 over　manufacturing　or

loading　in　the exporting country before　shipment,　while the relevant

competent　departments shall strengthen their supervision. The commodity

inspection　 authorities　may,　when　necessary,　dispatch　　inspection

personnel　to　take　part　in　such　inspection　and supervision.

CHAPTER III INSPECTION OF EXPORT COMMODITIES

Article　 13.　 For　 export　commodities　which　are　subject to

inspection　by　the　 commodity　inspection　authorities　in　accordance

with　 this Law, the consignor　shall　apply to the same authorities for

inspection　in　the　places and　within　the　time　limit　specified　by

them.　The　commodity　inspection　authorities　 shall　 accomplish　the

procedures　 for　 inspection　and　issue a certificate without delaying

the prescribed time for shipment.

　Export　 commodities　 which　 are included in the List of Commodities

shall　be　checked　and　released　by　the　Customs upon presentation of

the　inspection　certificate　or　the　paper　for　release issued by the

commodity　 inspection　 authorities　 or　 the　 seal　 of　 the　 same

authorities affixed to the Customs declaration.

Article　 14.　 Export　commodities which have been inspected and

passed　by　the　 commodity　 inspection　 authorities　 and　for　which

an　 inspection　certificate　or　a paper for release has been issued by

the　same　authorities　shall　be declared for export and shipped out of

the　 country　 within　 the　 time　limit　 specified　 by　 the　 same

authorities.　Failing　to meet the time limit shall entail reapplication

for inspection.

Article　15. An enterprise manufacturing packagings for dangerous

export　goods　must　apply to the commodity inspection authorities for a

test　of the performance　of　such　packagings.　An enterprise producing

dangerous　export goods　must　apply　to　the　same　authorities　for　a

test　 of　 the　use　of packagings.　No　permission　shall　be　granted

for　the　export　of　dangerous　goods kept in packagings which have not

passed a test.

Article　 16.　For　vessel　holds or containers used for carrying

perishable　foods,　the carrier or the organization using the containers

shall　apply　for　inspection　 before　loading.　No permission shall be

granted　for　loading　and　shipment　until　the relevant conditions are

passed by the inspectors.

CHAPTER IV SUPERVISION AND ADMINISTRATION

Article　17.　The　commodity　inspection　authorities　may make a

random　inspection　 of　import　and　export　commodities　beyond　those

subject　 to　inspection　 by　 the　commodity inspection authorities in

accordance　with　this　Law.　 No　permission　shall　be granted for the

export　of　export　commodities　found　to　be　substandard　in a random

inspection.

Article　 18.　 The　 commodity　inspection authorities may, when

necessary,　assign　 inspection　 personnel　to　manufacturers of export

commodities　which　are　 included　in　the　List of Commodities to take

part　in　supervision　over the quality inspection of export commodities

before they leave the factory.

Article　 19.　 The　 commodity　 inspection　 authorities　 may

undertake　 the　 quality　　certification　　of　 import　 and　 export

commodities　on　the　basis　of　agreements　 signed　between　the State

Administration　 for　Commodity　Inspection　and　 the　 foreign　bodies

concerned　or　upon　entrustment　by the foreign bodies concerned.　They

may　permit　the use of quality certification marks on import and export

commodities which have been given quality certification.

Article　 20.　The　State Administration for Commodity Inspection

and　the　commodity　 inspection　authorities shall, on the basis of the

requirements　in　their　 inspection,　 entrust　 competent　 inspection

organizations　at　home　and　abroad　 with the inspection of import and

export commodities after examining their qualifications.

Article　 21.　The　State Administration for Commodity Inspection

and　the　commodity　 inspection　authorities shall exercise supervision

over　the　import　and　 export　 commodity　inspection conducted by the

inspection　organizations　designated　 or　approved　by　them　and　may

make　a　random　inspection of the commodities which have been inspected

by such organization.

Article　 22.　The　state　shall,　when　necessary,　institute　a

quality　 licence　　system　　for　　important　　import　 and　 export

commodities　 and　their　manufacturers.　 The specific measures thereof

shall　 be　 drawn　up　by　the　State　Administration　 for　 Commodity

Inspection　 in　conjunction　with　the　relevant　competent departments

under the State Council.

Article　 23.　 The　 commodity　inspection authorities may, when

necessary,　place　　commodity　　inspection　 marks　 or　 sealings　on

import　 and　 export　commodities　proved　to be up to standard through

inspection.

Article　 24.　 In　 case　 an　applicant　for　the inspection of

import　 and　export　 commodities　 disagrees　 with　 the　results　of

inspection　presented　by the　commodity　inspection authorities, he may

apply　for　reinspection　to　the same　authorities,　to　those　at　the

next　 higher　 level　 or　to　the State Administration　for　Commodity

Inspection.　 The　 conclusion　on reinspection shall　be　made　by　the

commodity　 inspection　 authorities　or　the　State Administration　for

Commodity　 Inspection　 which　 has　 accepted　 the　 application　for

reinspection.

Article　　25.　 The　 commodity　 inspection　 authorities,　the

inspection　 organizations　　 designated　　 by　　them　　and　　other

inspection　 organizations　approved　by　the　State　Administration for

Commodity　Inspection　may　handle　the　business　of superintending and

surveying　import　and　export　commodities　as　 entrusted　 by parties

involved in foreign trade or by foreign inspection　bodies.

　The　 scope　of　business　of　superintending and surveying import and

export commodities　shall　cover:　inspection　of the quality, quantity,

weight　and　packing　 of　import　and　export　commodities;　inspection

of　 cargoes with respect　to　general or particular average; inspection

of　container　cargoes;　damage　survey of import cargoes; inspection of

technical　conditions　for　the　shipment　of　exports;　measurement　of

dead　 tonnage;　certification　of　the　origin　or value of exports and

other superintending and surveying services.

CHAPTER V LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY

Article　 26. Anyone who, in violation of the relevant provisions

of　this　Law,　 purposely　markets or uses import commodities which are

included　in the List　of　Commodities　or　subject to inspection by the

commodity　inspection authorities　in　accordance　with　other　laws　or

administrative　rules　and　regulations　without having such commodities

inspected,　or　purposely exports export　commodities which are included

in　 the　List　of　Commodities　or　subject　to　 inspection　 by　 the

commodity　inspection　authorities　in　accordance　with other　laws　or

administrative　 rules　and　regulations without having such commodities

inspected　 and　 proved　 up　 to　 standard,　shall　be　fined　by the

commodity　　inspection　　authorities.　 If　 the　 circumstances　 are

serious　and cause　heavy　economic　losses, the criminal responsibility

of　 the　personnel　directly　 responsible　shall　be　investigated　by

applying　mutatis mutandis the provisions of Article 187 of the Criminal

Law.Anyone　 who,　 in　 violation　 of　the　provisions　of Article 17 of

this　Law,　purposely　 exports　 export　commodities　which　have　been

found　substandard　during　 a　 random　 inspection　by　the　commodity

inspection　authorities,　shall　be　punished　in　accordance　with　the

provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article　 27.　 If　 the　 falsifying　 or　 remaking　 of　 the

certificates　or　documents,　 seals　 or　stamps,　marks,　sealings　or

quality　certification　marks　for　commodity　inspection　constitutes a

crime,　 the　 criminal　responsibility　of　 the　 personnel　 directly

responsible　 shall　be　investigated by applying mutatis　mutandis　the

provisions　of　Article　167　of　the Criminal law; if the circumstances

are　　minor,　　the　 offender　 shall　 be　 fined　by　the　commodity

inspection authorities.

Article　28. If a party refuses to accept the punishment decision

of　the　commodity　 inspection　authorities,　he may, within 30 days of

receiving　the　notice　 on the punishment, apply for reconsideration to

the　same　authorities　which　 have　 made　the punishment decision, to

those　at　the next higher level or　to　the　State　Administration　for

Commodity　 Inspection.　If the party refuses　to　accept　the　decision

on　the　reconsideration,　he　may,　within　30　days　of　receiving the

notice　on the reconsideration decision, bring a suit before　a court of

law.　If　the　party　neither　applies for reconsideration nor brings　a

suit　 nor　 complies　 with　 the　 punishment　 decision　 within　the

prescribed　 time limit, the commodity inspection authorities which have

made　the　 punishment　decision　shall　apply　to　a　court　of law for

compulsory execution.

Article　 29.　 Any　 functionary of the State Administration for

Commodity　Inspection　 or　 of　the　commodity　inspection　authorities

or　　any　　of　 the　 inspection　　personnel　　of　 the　 inspection

organizations　 designated　by　the State　Administration　for Commodity

Inspection　and　the　commodity　inspection　authorities　who abuses his

power,　commits　irregularities　for　the　benefit of his　relatives　or

friends,　falsifies　inspection　results　or fails to conduct inspection

and　　 issue　　a　 certificate　 within　 the　 time　 limit　 through

dereliction　　shall,　　depending　　on　　the　 seriousness　 of　 the

circumstances,　be　given　 administrative　sanction,　or　his　criminal

responsibility shall be investigated according to law.

CHAPTER VI SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

Article　 30.　 The　 commodity　inspection authorities and other

inspection　organizations　shall　collect　fees　according　to　relevant

provisions　for　carrying　 out　inspection or performing superintending

and　surveying services in　 accordance　with　the　provisions　of　this

Law.　 The　 procedures　 for　collecting　fees shall be drawn up by the

State　Administration　for　Commodity　Inspection　in　conjunction　with

the competent departments under the State

Council.

Article　　31.　 Rules　 for　 the　implementation　of　this　Law

shall　 be　formulated　 by　 the　 State　Administration　for Commodity

Inspection　and　shall　come　into　force　after　being submitted to and

approved by the State Council.

Article　 32.　 This　 Law　shall come into force as of August 1,

1989.　The　Regulations　 of　 the　 People's　Republic　of China on the

Inspection　of　Import　and　Export Commodities promulgated by the State

Council on January 28, 1984 shall be invalidated as of the same date.