Extension of Customs Facilitation Measures for Wine Entering the Mainland through Hong Kong & Registration as Hong Kong Registered Wine Exporters

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref: TID TS 50/1

5 November 2015

Dear Sirs,

The customs facilitation measures for wine(^{Note 1}) entering the Mainland through Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been extended to all ports under Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen Customs Districts.

2.To strengthen Hong Kong's position as a wine trading and distribution hub in Asia, the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) of Hong Kong and the General Administration of Customs (GAC) of the Mainland signed the "Cooperation Agreement on Customs Facilitation Measures for Wine Entering the Mainland through Hong Kong" ("Customs Facilitation Agreement") on 9 February 2010.  The measures expedite customs clearance of wine imported into the Mainland through Hong Kong by those who have registered with the Trade and Industry Department (TID) as Registered Wine Exporters.  The two sides also signed a supplementary agreement on 18 September 2014 to further facilitate Registered Wine Exporters.

3.The GAC published a notice on 20 October 2015 to extend the customs facilitation measures to cover all ports under Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen Customs Districts.  With the customs facilitation measures, Hong Kong Registered Wine Exporters can, prior to shipping wines through the aforesaid ports, submit valuation and consignment information in advance through C&ED's Web-based Computer System to the Mainland Customs in order to enjoy immediate customs clearance of the wines.  Details of the facilitation measures are at Annex I (pdf format).

4.Local companies/registered businesses may apply to TID for registration as a Registered Wine Exporter.  The registration is voluntary.  Non-registered companies may continue to export wine to the Mainland in accordance with the general procedures of the Mainland Customs.

5. Applicants should meet the following conditions:

1. having carried on a business registered in Hong Kong under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) for not less than 6 months; and
2. having engaged in substantive business operation in wine(^{Note 2}) in Hong Kong for the 6 months prior to the submission of the application.  If the company has been established in Hong Kong for more than 6 months, the reference period for engagement in substantive business operation in wine may be relaxed to 12 months prior to the submission of the application.

6.Applicants should submit the duly completed application form at Annex II (pdf format) together with the required supporting documents and proof of payment in person to the Registration Unit for Hong Kong Registered Wine Exporters at the Textiles Trader Registration Office.  The address is 14/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong.  Where necessary, TID may request the applicant to provide additional information and supporting documents.

7.Where appropriate, C&ED may conduct verification on individual applicants.  Verification may include validation of the documents submitted as well as inspection of the relevant business and storage premises.  Under normal circumstances, TID will inform the applicants of the results of their application within 10 clear working days following receipt of the duly completed application and all necessary supporting documents.

8.Upon verification by TID, an applicant who meets the registration conditions will be issued with a Certificate valid for two years as well as the login ID and password for using the Web-based Computer System of the C&ED.  TID will publish a Register of Hong Kong Registered Wine Exporters through its departmental website (https://www.tid.gov.hk).

9. A Registered Wine Exporter should undertake:

1. to operate in compliance with the law, not to provide any forged documents, and to take all reasonable and practicable measures in ensuring that the documents submitted to relevant officers of the HKSAR Government are accurate and correct;
2. to maintain records of transactions and import/export relating to the wine exported to the Mainland for at least two years, including the sales contracts, invoices and transport documents, etc.;
3. to agree, under reasonable circumstances, to provide officers of the HKSAR Government with the information relating to the application and item (ii) above and to give consent that the HKSAR Government may disclose the relevant information to the Mainland Customs.  Such information will only be used for purposes relating to the Customs Facilitation Arrangement and the Registration as Hong Kong Registered Wine Exporters; and
4. to permit relevant officers of the HKSAR Government, under reasonable circumstances, to enter its business and storage premises for the purpose of inspection and verification of information relating to the application and item (ii) above.

10. If a Registered Wine Exporter breaches any of the above undertakings and cannot provide reasonable explanations in writing, TID may cancel its registration and revoke the Certificate(s) issued.  TID will also remove it from the Register and inform the Mainland Customs.

11. Existing Registered Wine Exporters who remain in conformity with the registration conditions in paragraph 5 above and are willing to continue to abide by the undertakings of the registration in paragraph 9 above may apply for renewal of registration within the specified period (see paragraph 12).  A new Certificate valid for two years (^{Note 3}) will be issued after a successful renewal.

12. To renew the registration, companies should submit the duly completed renewal application form at Annex III (pdf format) together with the required supporting documents and proof of payment in person to the Registration Unit for Hong Kong Registered Wine Exporters at the Textiles Trader Registration Office, 14/F, Trade and Industry Tower no earlier than two months prior to expiry of existing registration and no later than two months after expiry thereof.  Belated applications submitted after two months from the expiry of the original validity period of the registration will be taken as new applications.

13.Similar to new applicants, C&ED may conduct verification on individual applicants for renewal.  TID will inform the applicants of the results of their application within 10 clear working days following the receipt of the duly completed application and all necessary supporting documents.

14. TID will notify individual Registered Wine Exporters before the expiry of their registration and provide them with the renewal application form.  Registered Wine Exporters are reminded to submit their renewal application in good time to ensure that they may continue to make use of the Mainland's customs facilitation measures without interruption(^{Note 4}).

15.The application fee for new registration (including belated renewal application) is HK$495.  The fee for renewal application is HK$210.

16. Applicants should complete the respective Fee Demand Note (Annex IV (pdf format) for new application and Annex V (pdf format) for renewal application) and pay at the Shroff and Form Sales Counter at Room 1309, 13/F, Trade and Industry Tower.  The fee may be paid by crossed cheque, in cash, or through the Easy Pay System (EPS).  Payment by crossed cheque should be made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region".  Applicants should also ensure that payment by cheque should bear the exact correct amount and will be honoured.  After payment, the Shroff and Form Sales Counter will imprint a payment franking on Part A of the Fee Demand Note and return the franked slip to the applicants as a proof of payment.

17. Applicants are advised to approach the Registration Unit for Hong Kong Registered Wine Exporters at the Textiles Trader Registration Office, 14/F, Trade and Industry Tower with the duly completed application form and the necessary supporting documents for a preliminary verification of the application before payment.  The application fees paid shall not be refundable irrespective of whether the application is approved or not.

19. For any questions, please contact us at:

Tel : 3403 6426
Fax : 2309 7744
E-mail : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Yours faithfully,

(Ms. Sophie WONG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
 

^{Note 1.} Wine refers to products classified under four-digit tariff items 22.04 of the Mainland's Import Customs Tariffs.

^{Note 2.} Substantive business operation in wine covers import and export trade, wholesale, retail, logistics and transport, storage and other supporting operation in wine.

^{Note 3.} Approved applicant for renewal of registration will be issued with a new Certificate valid for two years from the expiry date of the existing registration if the renewal application is submitted prior to expiry of the existing registration and the processing of the application is completed in time.   Other renewed registrations will be valid for two years from the date of approval of the renewal.

^{Note 4.} Registered Wine Exporters might be temporarily removed from the Register maintained by TID when their existing Registered Wine Exporter status expires while their renewal application is being processed.