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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Press Release

Registration Arrangement for Hong Kong Wine Exporters launched
Thursday, May 20, 2010

The Trade and Industry Department (TID) launched the Registration Arrangement for Hong Kong Wine Exporters and starts accepting applications for registration today (May 20). The Registration is to complement the customs facilitation measures to be introduced by the Mainland and Hong Kong for wine entering the Mainland through Hong Kong. The customs facilitation measures will be implemented as a pilot in Shenzhen soon.

The Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong and the General Administration of Customs of the Mainland signed the "Co-operation Agreement on Customs Facilitation Measures for Wine Entering the Mainland through Hong Kong" (Customs Facilitation Agreement) in February 2010 to facilitate wine entering the Mainland through Hong Kong. The Registration operates in accordance with the "three designations" principle under the Customs Facilitation Agreement, facilitating the customs clearance of wine (i) entering through designated ports in the Mainland; (ii) exported by designated Hong Kong exporters registered with TID; and (iii) imported by designated Mainland importers registered with Mainland Customs.

A spokesman for TID said, "Through their Mainland import partners registered with Shenzhen Customs, Hong Kong exporters registered under the Registration may, from June 15, 2010, make use of the following customs facilitation measures at Shenzhen ports for their wine entering the Mainland through Hong Kong:

* Pre-valuation of wine duty: request Shenzhen Customs to conduct wine duty valuation 10 working days before the shipment is imported into the Mainland. When the shipment arrives on the Mainland, Shenzhen Customs will normally complete the customs procedure within one working day; and

* Expedited customs clearance: If no pre-valuation has been conducted, Shenzhen Customs will normally complete the clearance within three working days for wine that has been imported into the Mainland before, provided that all necessary documents have been submitted. For wine new to the Mainland market, the relevant process will normally take seven working days. If customs clearance cannot be completed within the said timeframe, the Mainland importers may request for release upon payment of guarantee deposit."

"The Registration is voluntary. Non-registered wine exporters may continue to export wine to Shenzhen in accordance with the general procedures of Mainland Customs," the spokesman added.

Hong Kong companies interested in registering as a Hong Kong Wine Exporter should have engaged in wine business operation (e.g. trading, storage and transport, etc) for not less than six months. Applications should be lodged at the TID. The registration is valid for two years, with an application fee of HK$585.

The trade circular and application form of the "Registration Arrangement for Hong Kong Wine Exporters" are available at TID's website (www.tid.gov.hk/english/import_export/nontextiles/wine/index.html). For enquiries, please contact 3403 6426.

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