China Notifies US of Upcoming Customs Changes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently received a letter from China’s customs agency about Decree 248, which includes upcoming changes to certain customs procedures for overseas producers and customs registrations, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service said Oct. 11. Although China hasn’t yet issued implementing regulations for the decree, USDA said the letter includes a “Catalogue of Imported Foods with Historical Trade,” a registration application for overseas manufacturers of imported foods and a sample of a “Competent Authority Conformity Declaration.” USDA said China hasn’t “answered U.S. industry or the U.S. Government questions on the draft measure” but said it expects the measures to be implemented Dec. 31. The letter was originally sent to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing last month.