'Passport' extension for expo exhibitors

Shanghai Customs has issued a number of new measures as the city prepares for the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November.

They include an extension to the “exhibits passport” and how exhibits are stored after the exhibition, the local Customs authority said.

The ATA Carnet is an international customs document for temporary imports which is like a “passport” for exhibits. In the past, it was valid for six months and companies had to file another application if they wanted to keep products in the country after that period.

Now the valid period has been extended to a year for CIIE exhibits’ first entry.  

Customs officials said with the CIIE approaching, exhibitors have been asking about extending the six-month period.

After the expo, exhibitors will be allowed to store exhibits in areas under the supervision of the Customs or in a bonded zone, instead of sending goods out the country and bringing them in again after another round of applications.

Customs has also opened a “green channel” for prepackaged food to be handed out at the expo. Overseas exhibitors won’t have to attach a Chinese label to such products but will have to provide information such as expiry dates in Chinese. 

All such products will undergo a risk evaluation by the Customs ahead of the exhibition.