GAC Announcement on Gate Management in Special Customs Supervision Areas

On February 17, 2025, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) issued the Announcement on Matters Related to Gate Management in Special Customs Supervision Areas (the “Announcement”) on its website, which will take effect on March 1, 2025.

The Announcement stipulates that without customs approval, vehicles or personnel are not allowed to carry goods through non-cargo channels to enter or exit special customs supervision areas. Customs may conduct gate inspections on goods entering or exiting special customs supervision areas based on their risk levels and by referring to the Administrative Measures of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China on the Inspection of Import and Export Goods. Gate inspections are conducted at inspection sites within the special customs supervision areas. If the goods are vulnerable to natural factors such as temperature, static electricity, or dust, making inspection unsuitable at the designated sites, customs may conduct inspections at specified locations upon the written application of enterprises within the special customs supervision areas or their agents. Enterprises or their agents within the special customs supervision areas should cooperate accordingly. The administrative management institutions within the special customs supervision areas must fulfill their operational management responsibilities, improve the operation and maintenance of gate facilities and equipment, enhance the staffing for gate management, and improve the information database for gate passage records. The retention period for gate passage records should be no less than three years, and video record data should be kept for no less than three months. During the operation management process at gates and other areas, any violations of customs-related laws and regulations should be promptly reported to customs.