LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON IMPORT　AND　EXPORT　COM-MODITY INSPECTION

LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON IMPORT　AND　EXPORT　COM-MODITY INSPECTION

(Adopted at the Sixth Meeting of the　Standing　Committee　of　the 　Seventh National People's Congress on February 21,　1989,　promulgated　by 　Order No. 14 of the President of the　People's　Republic　 of　 China　 on 　February　21, 1989, and effective as of August 1, 1989) 　　　　

Important Notice 　　　　
This　English document is coming from the　"LAWS　AND　REGULATIONS　OF THE 　PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF　CHINA　GOVERNING　FOREIGN-RELATED　MATTERS" (1991.7) 　which　is　compiled　by　the　Brueau　of　Legislative Affairs of the State 　Council of　the　People's Republic of China, and is published by the China 　Legal System Publishing House. 　In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.　　　

　Contents 　
Chapter I　　 General Provisions 　
Chapter II　　Inspection of Import Commodities 　
Chapter III　 Inspection of Export Commodities 　
Chapter IV　　Supervision and Administration 　
Chapter V　　 Legal Responsibility 　
Chapter VI　　Supplementary Provisions　　　

Chapter I General Provisions 　

Article 1 　This Law is enacted with a view to strengthening the inspection of　import 　and　export　commodities,　ensuring　the　quality　of　import　and　export 　commodities, protecting the lawful rights and　interests　of　the　parties 　involved in foreign trade, and promoting the smooth development of China's 　economic and trade relations with foreign countries.

Article 2 　The State Council shall establish an Administration for Import and　Export 　Commodity Inspection (hereinafter referred to as the State　Administration 　for Commodity Inspection), which shall be in charge of the　inspection　of 　import and export commodities throughout the country. The local import and 　export commodity inspection authorities (hereinafter referred　to　as　the 　commodity inspection authorities) set up by the State　Administration　for 　Commodity Inspection shall be responsible for the inspection of import and 　export commodities within areas under their jurisdiction.

Article 3 　The commodity inspection authorities and　other　inspection　organizations 　designated by the State Administration for Commodity　Inspection　and　the 　commodity inspection　authorities　shall,　in　accordance　with　the　law, 　perform the inspection of import and export commodities.

Article 4 　The State Administration for Commodity Inspection shall, in the　light　of 　the needs in the development of foreign trade, make, adjust and publish　a 　List of Import　and　Export　Commodities　Subject　to　Inspection　by　the 　Commodity Inspection Authorities (hereinafter referred to as the　List　of 　Commodities).

Article 5 　Import　and　export　commodities　which　are　included　in　the　List　 of 　Commodities and import and export commodities subject to inspection by the 　commodity inspection authorities under other laws or administrative　rules 　and regulations must be inspected by the commodity inspection　authorities 　or inspection organizations designated by　the　State　Administration　for 　Commodity　Inspection　or　the　commodity　 inspection　 authorities.　 No 　permission shall be granted for the sale　or　use　of　import　commodities 　specified in the preceding paragraph until they have undergone inspection; 　and no permission shall be granted for the export　of　export　commodities 　specified in the preceding paragraph until they have been found to　be　up 　to standard through inspection. 　

Import and export commodities specified in the　first　paragraph　of　this 　Article may be exempted from inspection upon the examination and　approval 　of　an　application　from　the　consignee　or　consignor　by　 the　 State 　Administration for Commodity Inspection.　　

Article 6 　Inspection on import and export commodities　performed　by　the　commodity 　inspection authorities　shall　cover　quality,　specifications,　quantity, 　weight, packing and the requirements for safety and hygiene. 　

Import and export commodities governed by compulsory　standards　or　other 　inspection standards which must be complied with as provided for　by　laws 　or administrative rules and regulations shall be inspected　in　accordance 　with such inspection standards;　in　the　absence　of　such　stipulations, 　import and export commodities shall be inspected in　accordance　with　the 　inspection standards agreed upon in the foreign trade contracts.

Article 7 　Import and export commodities or items　subject　to　inspection　by　other 　inspection　organizations　under　laws　 or　 administrative　 rules　 and 　regulations shall be　inspected　in　accordance　with　the　provisions　of 　relevant laws or administrative rules and regulations.

Article 8 　The State　Administration　for　Commodity　Inspection　and　the　commodity 　inspection authorities shall collect　information　on　the　inspection　of 　import and export commodities　and　make　it　available　to　the　relevant 　circles.　

Chapter II Inspection of Import Commodities　

Article 9 　For import commodities which are subject to inspection　by　the　commodity 　inspection authorities in accordance with this　Law,　the　consignee　must 　register them with the commodity inspection　authorities　located　at　the 　port of discharge or the station of arrival. Import commodities which　are 　included in the List of Commodities shall be checked and released　by　the 　Customs　upon　presentation　of　the　seal　of　the　commodity　inspection 　authorities affixed to the Customs declaration.

Article 10 　For import commodities which are subject to inspection　by　the　commodity 　inspection authorities in accordance with this Law,　the　consignee　shall 　apply to the same authorities for inspection in places and within the time 　limit specified　by　them.　The　commodity　inspection　authorities　shall 　accomplish　the　procedures　for　inspection　and　issue　 an　 inspection 　certificate within the period　of　validity　of　claims　prescribed　in　a 　foreign trade contract.

Article 11 　If import commodities other than those which are subject to inspection　by 　the commodity inspection authorities in accordance with this Law are found 　to be not up to the quality　standard,　damaged　or　short　on　weight　or 　quantity,　the　consignee　shall　apply　to　 the　 commodity　 inspection 　authorities for inspection and the issuance of an　inspection　certificate 　if such a certificate is necessary for claiming compensation.

Article 12 　For important import commodities and a complete set of equipment in　large 　size, the consignee shall, in accordance with the terms agreed upon　in　a 　foreign trade contract, conduct initial inspection or initial　supervision 　over manufacturing or loading in the exporting　country　before　shipment, 　while　the　relevant　competent　 departments　 shall　 strengthen　 their 　supervision. The commodity inspection　authorities　may,　when　necessary, 　dispatch　inspection　personnel　to　take　part　in　such　inspection　and 　supervision.　　　　　

Chapter III Inspection of Export Commodities　

Article 13 　For export commodities which are subject to inspection　by　the　commodity 　inspection authorities in accordance with this Law,　the　consignor　shall 　apply to the same authorities for inspection in the places and within　the 　time limit specified by them.　The commodity inspection authorities　shall 　accomplish the procedures for inspection and issue a　certificate　without 　delaying the prescribed time for shipment.　Export commodities　which　are 　included in the List of Commodities shall be checked and released　by　the 　Customs upon presentation of the inspection certificate or the　paper　for 　release issued by the commodity inspection authorities or the seal of　the 　same authorities affixed to the Customs declaration.

Article 14 　Export commodities which have been inspected and passed by　the　commodity 　inspection authorities and for which an inspection certificate or a　paper 　for release has been issued by the same authorities shall be declared　for 　export and shipped out of the country within the time limit　specified　by 　the same　authorities.　Failing　to　meet　the　time　limit　shall　entail 　reapplication for inspection.

Article 15 　An enterprise manufacturing packagings for　dangerous　export　goods　must 　apply　to　the　commodity　inspection　authorities　for　a　test　of　 the 　performance of such packagings. An enterprise producing　dangerous　export 　goods must apply to the　same　authorities　for　a　test　of　the　use　of 　packagings. No permission shall be granted for　the　export　of　dangerous 　goods kept in packagings which have not passed a test.

Article 16 　For vessel holds or containers used for　carrying　perishable　foods,　the 　carrier　or　the　organization　using　the　containers　shall　apply　 for 　inspection before loading. No permission shall be granted for loading　and 　shipment until the relevant conditions are passed by the inspectors.　　　　　

Chapter IV Supervision and Administration　

Article 17 　The commodity inspection authorities　may　make　a　random　inspection　of 　import and export commodities beyond those subject to　inspection　by　the 　commodity　inspection　authorities　in　accordance　with　this　 Law.　 No 　permission shall be granted for the export of export commodities found　to 　be substandard in a random inspection.

Article 18 　The　commodity　inspection　authorities　may,　 when　 necessary,　 assign 　inspection personnel to manufacturers　of　export　commodities　which　are 　included in the List of Commodities to take part in supervision　over　the 　quality inspection of export commodities before they leave the factory.

Article 19 　The　commodity　inspection　 authorities　 may　 undertake　 the　 quality 　certification of import and export commodities on the basis of　agreements 　signed between the State Administration for Commodity Inspection　and　the 　foreign bodies　concerned　or　upon　entrustment　by　the　foreign　bodies 　concerned. They may permit the　use　of　quality　certification　marks　on 　import and export commodities which have been given quality certification.

Article 20 　The State　Administration　for　Commodity　Inspection　and　the　commodity 　inspection authorities shall, on the basis of the　requirements　in　their 　inspection, entrust competent inspection organizations at home and　abroad 　with the inspection of import and export commodities after examining their 　qualifications.

Article 21 　The State　Administration　for　Commodity　Inspection　and　the　Commodity 　inspection authorities shall exercise　supervision　over　the　import　and 　export commodity inspection　conducted　by　the　inspection　organizations 　designated or approved by them and may make a　random　inspection　of　the 　commodities which have been inspected by such organization.

Article 22 　The State shall, when necessary, institute a quality　licence　system　for 　important import and　export　commodities　and　their　manufacturers.　The 　specific measures thereof shall be drawn up by　the　State　Administration 　for Commodity　Inspection　in　conjunction　with　the　relevant　competent 　departments under the State Council.

Article 23 　The commodity inspection authorities may, when necessary, place　commodity 　inspection marks or sealings on import and export commodities proved to be 　up to standard through inspection.　　

Article 24 　In case an applicant for the inspection of import and　export　commodities 　disagrees with the　results　of　inspection　presented　by　the　commodity 　inspection　authorities,　he　may　apply　for　reinspection　to　the　same 　authorities,　to　those　at　the　next　higher　level　or　to　the　 State 　Administration for Commodity Inspection. The　conclusion　on　reinspection 　shall be made　by　the　commodity　inspection　authorities　or　the　State 　Administration for Commodity Inspection which has accepted the application 　for reinspection.

Article 25 　The　commodity　inspection　authorities,　the　 inspection　 organizations 　designated by them and other　inspection　organizations　approved　by　the 　State Administration for Commodity Inspection may handle the　business　of 　superintending and surveying import and export commodities as entrusted by 　parties involved in foreign trade or by foreign inspection bodies. 　

The scope of business of superintending and surveying　import　and　export 　commodities shall cover: inspection of the quality, quantity,　weight　and 　packing of import and　export　commodities;　inspection　of　cargoes　with 　respect to general or particular average; inspection of container cargoes; 　damage survey of import cargoes; inspection of　technical　conditions　for 　the shipment of exports; measurement of dead tonnage; certification of the 　origin　or　value　of　exports　and　other　superintending　and　surveying 　services.　　　　　

Chapter V Legal Responsibility　

Article 26 　Anyone who, in violation of the relevant provisions of this Law, purposely 　markets or uses import commodities which　are　included　in　the　List　of 　Commodities　or　subject　to　inspection　by　the　 commodity　 inspection 　authorities in accordance with other　laws　or　administrative　rules　and 　regulations　without　having　such　commodities　inspected,　or　purposely 　exports export commodities which are included in the List　of　Commodities 　or subject to　inspection　by　the　commodity　inspection　authorities　in 　accordance with other laws or administrative rules and regulations without 　having such commodities inspected and proved up to standard shall be fined 　by the commodity inspection authorities. If the circumstances are　serious 　and cause heavy　economic　losses,　the　criminal　responsibility　of　the 　personnel directly responsible shall be investigated by　applying　mutatis 　mutandis the provisions of Article 187 of the Criminal Law. 　

Anyone who, in violation of the provisions of　Article　17　of　this　Law, 　purposely exports export commodities which　have　been　found　substandard 　during a random inspection by the commodity inspection authorities,　shall 　be punished in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 27 　If the falsifying or remaking of the certificates or documents,　seals　or 　stamps, marks, sealings　or　quality　certification　marks　for　commodity 　inspection　constitutes　a　crime,　the　criminal　responsibility　of　the 　personnel directly responsible shall be investigated by　applying　mutatis 　mutandis the provisions of　Article　167　of　the　Criminal　Law;　if　the 　circumstances are minor, the offender shall　be　fined　by　the　commodity 　inspection authorities.

Article 28 　If a party refuses to accept the　punishment　decision　of　the　commodity 　inspection authorities, he may, within 30 days of receiving the notice　on 　the punishment, apply for reconsideration to the　same　authorities　which 　have made the punishment decision, to those at the next higher level or to 　the State Administration for Commodity Inspection.　If the　party　refuses 　to accept the decision on the reconsideration, he may, within 30　days　of 　receiving the notice on the reconsideration decision,　bring　a　suit　nor 　complies with the punishment decision within the　prescribed　time　limit, 　the commodity　inspection　authorities　which　have　made　the　punishment 　decision shall apply to a court of law for compulsory execution.

Article 29 　Any functionary of the State Administration for Commodity Inspection or of 　the commodity inspection authorities or any of the inspection personnel of 　the inspection organizations designated by the　State　Administration　for 　Commodity Inspection and the commodity inspection authorities　who　abuses 　his power, commits irregularities for the　benefit　of　his　relatives　or 　friends, falsifies inspection results or fails to conduct　inspection　and 　issue a certificate within　the　time　limit　through　dereliction　shall, 　depending on the seriousness of the circumstances, be given administrative 　sanction, or his criminal responsibility shall be　investigated　according 　to law.　　　　　

Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions　

Article 30 　The commodity inspection authorities and　other　inspection　organizations 　shall collect fees according　to　relevant　provisions　for　carrying　out 　inspection　or　performing　superintending　and　surveying　 services　 in 　accordance with the provisions of this Law. The procedures for　collecting 　fees　shall　be　drawn　up　by　the　State　Administration　for　Commodity 　Inspection in conjunction with the competent departments under　the　State 　Council.

Article 31 　Rules for the implementation of this Law shall be formulated by the　State 　Administration for Commodity Inspection and shall come　into　force　after 　being submitted to and approved by the State Council.

Article 32 　This Law shall come into force as of August 1, 1989.　The　Regulations　of 　the People's Republic of China on the　Inspection　of　Import　and　Export 　Commodities promulgated by the State Council on January 28, 1984 shall　be 　invalidated as of the same date.　