The concept of transit goods may seem complex,but if you are engaged in international trade or logistics,understanding transit goods and their regulations is essential.Today,let’s delve into the definition,permissible conditions,safety requirements,and various considerations during the transit process to help you operate more effectively in trade.

What are transit goods?

Transit goods refer to goods transported from outside one country,passing through another country via land transport,and then continuing to a third country.Simply put,it is a transportation method where goods depart from one country,pass through another,and finally arrive in a third country.

Permissible conditions for transit goods

Whether transit goods are permitted depends on relevant international treaties and agreements.For goods from countries or regions that have concluded international treaties with transit clauses with China,transit will be permitted according to the treaty provisions.For other goods,approval from national commerce,transportation,and other competent authorities and filing with the customs at the entry point are required before transit is permitted.Additionally,if laws and regulations have special provisions,they should be followed.

What goods are prohibited from transit?

Some goods are not allowed for transit,including:

• GoodsfromordestinedforcountriesorregionswithwhichtradeisprohibitedbyChina.
• Weapons,ammunition,explosives,andmilitarysupplies(exceptthosetransportedviamilitarychannels).
• Narcoticsandhighlytoxicdrugs,suchasopium,morphine,heroin,cocaine,etc.
• Hazardouswasteandradioactivewaste.
• Specialitemssuchasmicroorganisms,humantissues,biologicalproducts,bloodanditsproducts,etc.
• Invasivealienspecies.
• Ivoryandotherendangeredanimalsandplantsandtheirproducts(exceptasotherwiseprovidedbylaw).
• Animalandplantquarantineitemsprohibitedfromentry.
• GoodsthatmayharmChinaspolitics,economy,culture,ormorality.
• Othergoodsprohibitedfromtransitbystateregulations.

Safety requirements for transit goods

• Highbiosafetyrisktransitgoods,suchastransitanimals,mustenterthroughdesignatedports.
• Quarantineitemslikeanimalandplantproductsrequirequarantinecertificatesfromtheexportingcountrysanimalandplantquarantineauthority;transitanimalsalsorequireananimaltransitlicenseissuedbycustoms.Forrestrictedgoodssuchasdual-useitems,relevantlicensesmustalsobesubmitted.
• Afterarrivingattheentrypoint,transitgoodsmustbeapprovedbycustomsbeforetransittransportation;ifquarantineisrequiredbylaw,transportationcanonlyproceedafterpassingquarantine.Thecarcasses,excreta,andotherwasteoftransitanimalsmustbedisposedofaccordingtolawandmustnotbediscardedwithoutauthorization.

What are the considerations from filing to declaration?

• Thepersoninchargeofthetransportvehiclefortransitgoodsmustbeapprovedbyrelevantnationalauthoritiesandregisteredwithcustomsbeforeconductingtransportationbusiness.
• Thepersoninchargeofthetransportvehiclemustsubmitatransitgoodstransportationdeclarationandtruthfullydeclaretotheentrypointcustoms.
• Iftransitgoodsarenotdeclaredtocustomswithinthreemonthsfromthedateofentryofthetransportvehicle,theywillbetreatedasimportedgoodsandhandledaccordingtotheCustomsLawofthePeoplesRepublicofChina.
• Transitgoodsshouldbetransportedoutofthecountrywithinsixmonths,whichcanbeextendedunderspecialcircumstances,buttheextensionperiodshallnotexceedthreemonths.Specialcircumstancesincludejudicialdetention,portclosures,andforcemajeurefactors.

What are the considerations during transit?

• Withoutcustomsapproval,nounitorindividualmayopen,extract,dispatch,modify,mortgage,orperformotheroperationsontransitgoods.Animals,plants,andquarantineitemsmustnotbeunloadedfromthetransportvehiclewithoutcustomsapproval.
• Transitgoodsshouldbetransportedalongroutesspecifiedbythetransportationdepartment;ifnorouteisspecified,customswilldesignateone.
• Transitgoodstransportinganimalsmustfollowtheroutedesignatedbycustoms.

What are the considerations for transshipment?

• Iftransitgoodsneedtochangetransportvehiclesorcontainersduringtransitfromtheentrypointtotheexitpoint,atransferapplicationmustbesubmittedtothecustomsatthetransferlocation.
• Transfermustbeconductedinwarehousesorlocationsapprovedbycustoms;hazardousgoodsmustbetransferredatlocationswithsafetyconditions.
• Fortransitgoodswithathroughbilloflading,aone-timeapplicationfortransittransportationandtransferprocedurescanbesubmittedtotheentrypointcustomsandthetransferlocationcustoms.

What are the consequences of violating regulations?

• Iftransitgoodsarenottransportedoutofthecountrywithinthespecifiedperiodplusthreemonths,customshastherighttoseizeandsellthemaccordingtolaw.
• Iftransitgoodsarenotdeclaredorarefalselydeclared,customsmayissueawarningorimposeafineofupto30,000yuan.
• Otherviolationswillbepenalizedbycustomsaccordingtorelevantlawsandregulations;ifacrimeisconstituted,criminalliabilitywillbepursuedaccordingtolaw.

Conclusion

Understanding and complying with transit goods regulations is key to successful international transportation.From approval conditions to safety requirements,and from declaration to transfer details,every step must be handled meticulously to ensure compliance.We hope this article provides useful reference for handling transit goods and helps you navigate international trade more effectively.