Maximum Coverage = Maximum Declared Value for Carriage for the Priority™ Worldwide service.
The last part of the address must be PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
Import Restrictions
Personal items
Items for genuine personal use to the value of 100 yuan per item and 800 yuan per addressee family per year, subject to payment of customs duties are admitted. Other restrictions are:
1 electronic pocket calculator per year
5 magnetic cassette tapes
10 metres of cotton or synthetic cloth not wider than 130 cm
100 philatelic stamps
40 yuan of medicines or materials used in Chinese medicines
alcohol liquors and articles containing alcohol
bees, leaches and silkworms
baby formula
cereal products
endangered plants and species
fish and crustaceans
flies of the family Drosophilidae
fruits and nuts
live plants
military weapons
organic chemicals
pharmaceutical products
radio reception equipment, transmission equipment and coding equipment
renminbi (national currency)
rice without husk, milled or unmilled
rough diamonds
transmission apparatus
watch cases of base metal, whether or not gold or silver plated
watch straps, bands and bracelets
watches with case of precious metals or metal clad with precious metals
wildlife controlled by CITES and health restrictions
wine.
Gifts
Gift shipments are acceptable. Duties and taxes will be assessed.
Documents
Private letters and correspondence addressed to individuals are prohibited via Priority Worldwide (delivered by FedEx). Documents are only acceptable via Priority Worldwide if sent for business purpose and consigned to a business. Personal correspondence addressed to individuals may be sent via International Letter-post, Registered Mail or Xpresspost-International.
Foodstuffs
Food processing product require an examination by the Department of Health.
Infant formula and dairy products require certification by the China Certification & Accreditation Administration (CNCA).
Prohibited Items
In addition to items considered non-mailable matter, the following are prohibited:
addictive narcotics and poisons
animal carcasses
animals and/or plants and their products carrying dangerous viruses, bacteria and injurious insects
articles infringing upon intellectual property rights; and counterfeit and shoddy products
bank or currency notes
banned chemicals as listed in the List of Toxic Chemicals Banned or Severely Restricted in the P.R.C. (The First Group) published by the State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
biological and chemical products; contagious and infectious substances such as germ, anthrax, parasite, excreta, medical waste, skeleton, animal organ, limb, hide not tanned, animal bone not medicated, etc
carcasses of any animal
chinese securities
clothing or bed linen, used
coins,bank notes, currency notes, securities
corrosive substances
cubilose
dairy products, including egg and egg products
deadly poisons
documents, files and other articles that involve state secrets
drugs and drug paraphernalia; narcotic drugs and psychotropic drugs not being used for legitimate purposes; and precursor chemicals not being used for legitimate purposes
egg and egg products
endangered wild animals and their products; including ivory, tiger bone, rhinoceros horn, etc
fans, electric
fat and grease, hides, hair, hooves, bones, and horns
food, medicine and other commodities which are harmful to the health of humans and animals and/or from epidemic infected areas
food, unclean or from regions affected by epidemic diseases
fresh pork and all by-products
genetically modified matter
illegally forged articles
items marked "Made in ROC" (Republic of China). The label "Made in Taiwan" is acceptable.
ivory
imitation of envelope, wrapper, card, form or documents issued by any postal authority
jewels and precious stones
liquids
lottery tickets and items of a seditious nature
live animals (except cats and dogs) including all mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects and other invertebrates.
meat and meat products, raw or cooked
manuscripts
organic cultivation media
paint, varnishes, enamels
painting or drawings of an obscene or indecent character
plants or plant products with microbes or insects
platinum, gold or silver (manufactured or not)
printed matter, films, photos, records, audio and video tapes, VCDs, computer storage media and other commodities which are harmful to China's politics, economy, culture, and/or ethics
products made by prisoners
products marked " Made in China," except for products being returned for repair
publications that are politically, economically, culturally or morally detrimental to the People's Republic of China
radios, radio-telegraphic receivers and transmitters and parts for such apparatus
records
rhinoceros horns
securities of any kind payable to bearer
seeds
sewing machines
smokeless tobacco products
specialized espionage equipment
soil is prohibited unless a special approval is given to import for scientific research only
tape recorders
televisions
the importation of beef and beef products originating from the USA
tiger bones
tobacco leaves (except cut tobacco)
traveller's cheques
used electrical equipment and machinery
watches
weapons.
Packaging
China prohibits items in opaque, sealed containers.
Documentation Required
Information regarding Customs can be found in "Customs Requirements" of the Canada Postal Guide.
Import Shipment Classifications
There are three Customs entry categories each with specific documentation requirements and procedures.
Category 1: Documents
This category includes documents, contracts, tickets, accounting statements, invoices, training materials & etc. These items have no commercial value. Books, Diskettes, CD's, VCD's, and DVD's are not included. The quantities and values of these should be reasonable. Documents of this category are declared through the simplified clearance process and the KJ1 Declaration Form of Import and Export Express Shipment are required and must be completed by the broker.
Since China Customs does not accept declaration of shipments without a commercial value, the minimum declared value should be US $1.
Category 2:
refer to separately shipped passenger's luggage, gifts exchanged between relatives and friends, and other must be declared as, be of a reasonable quantity and must be for personal use.
Shipments from Hong Kong, Macao, must show the declared value less than 800 CNY and the assessed duty and tax value must be less than 400 CNY.
For other countries, the declared value must be less than 1,000 CNY and the assessed duty and tax value must be less than 500 CNY. Goods valued at more than 1000 CNY require a formal entry.
The shipments are declared through the simplified clearance process and the KJ1 Declaration Form is required.
When items imported for personal use exceed this limit in value, three outcomes are possible:
a) The items will be returned;
b) If Customs determines that the item is actually intended for personal use and the item only includes one article which cannot be segmented, item will be released by customs after duty/tax payment process.
c) If Customs determines that the items are not for personal use but are actually intended for commercial use, the items will be cleared using commercial customs procedures. Supporting documents such as a trade contract, commercial invoice, packing list, waybill, customs declaration brokerage authorization agreement, import and export licence, or other similar documentation will need to be provided.
Category 3: Cargo
Import cargo is further classified into 3 subcategories:
1.) Non-dutiable samples and advertising material:
Samples are goods imported as reference items for placing an order, and advertising material is advertising or promotion material imported for the promotion of the relevant product. Non-dutiable samples and advertising materials include:
a. Samples and advertising material without a commercial value
b. Samples and advertising material with a commercial value less than 400 CNY
c. Shipments in which the assessed duty and tax is less than 50 CNY
Non-dutiable samples and advertising material must be declared as "XXX as sample" or "XXX as advertising material" on the Airway Bill and the Commercial Invoice. Samples and advertising material are cleared through the simplified clearance process, and the KJ2 Declaration Form of Import and Export Shipment is required and must be completed by the broker.
Note: Commodities controlled by a license or those for which foreign exchange is required and need to be paid upon import, are excluded from this category.
2.) Dutiable samples and advertising material:
Shipments of this category are those samples or advertising material for which customs duties shall be levied. They must be declared as "XXX as sample" or "XXX as advertising material" on the Airway Bill and the Commercial Invoice. Samples and advertising materials are cleared through the simplified clearance process, and the KJ3 Declaration Form of Import and Export Express Shipment is required and must be completed by the broker.
NOTE:
1. Commodities controlled by a license or those for which foreign exchange needs to be paid upon import are excluded from this category.
2. Samples and advertising material of mechanical and electronic products valued at 5,000 CNY or less are not subject to the Mechanical and Electronic Product Import Certificate, but they are still subject to import duty and tax.
3.) Formal Entry Shipments:
This category includes:
shipments not belonging to the above categories
shipments containing commodities requiring an import license/permit, quota, or other special clearance documentation
shipments for which foreign exchange need to be paid upon import. In this case, the shipment is automatically classified as a category D regardless of its value and the consignee is required to obtain an individual declaration form, which serves as an import certificate. The declaration can then be used by the bank to make payment to the foreign vendor. In summary, if a consignee needs an individual declaration form, or individual Customs invoice, the shipment is classified as category "D" regardless of its value.
Document Requirements
Import Documentation
The following are some basic clearance documents. Please note that different declared values, commodities, and types of trade may require additional documents not noted below.
1. Commercial Invoice: A Commercial Invoice is required for all non-document shipments. A specific format is not required, although the following basic information must be included:
The shipper's and consignee's name and address and telephone number
a detailed description of the goods
currency used
freight and Insurance Charges as applicable
harmonized code of shipment
the FOB value of each item
the country of origin
the place and date of shipment
the quantity and weight
PLEASE NOTE: ELECTRONIC INVOICES (ECI) ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
2. Pro Forma Invoice: A Pro Forma Invoice is permissible for customs clearance of non-trade shipments, with no commercial value.
3. Certificate of Origin: A Certificate of Origin is required for non-document shipments. The certificate has a specified format. The information supplied should be consistent with that of the shipment's other documentation. When required, two copies should be provided.
Documents to be presented to customs vary according to the products. Some additional documents which may be required are: Insurance Policy, the sale contract or the inspection certificate of the AQSIQ (General Administration of the PRC for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine), or other licenses of safety and quality.
Custom Procedures:
Most goods entering into China are subject to mandatory inspection before clearing customs and lodging declaration. Pre-shipment inspection is required for importing wastes such as; metal, plastic, wood, textiles as well as raw materials to ensure wastes meet environmental protection standards. All waste products must be inspected by the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).