The General Administration of Customs announced matters related to the application of import licenses for goods and the paperless operation of customs clearance, as follows:

 I from October 15, 2018, import license applications and customs clearance operations will be paperless nationwide for goods subject to automatic import license management and goods subject to import license management ( except ozone-depleting substances ).

 Two, the import unit to apply for the import of the goods, can choose the paper operation or paperless operation mode.  Importers who choose a paperless operation mode shall apply to the Ministry of Commerce or an agency entrusted by the Ministry of Commerce for an electronic certificate of the People's Republic of China Automatic Import License ( hereinafter referred to as the Automatic Import License ) or an electronic certificate of the People's Republic of China Import License ( hereinafter referred to as the Import License ) in accordance with regulations, and go through customs clearance formalities in a paperless manner.

 3. Importers who go through customs clearance formalities in a paperless manner may be exempted from submitting automatic import licenses or import license paper certificates.  If it is necessary to verify the automatic import license or the paper certificate of the import license due to management needs or other circumstances, the import entity shall submit the paper certificate additionally, or handle the customs declaration and clearance formalities with the customs in the form of paper work.

 Four, the customs to import license online verification way to verify the automatic import license or import license electronic certificate, no paper endorsement.  The automatic import license or import license issuing agency shall carry out such operations as extension, alteration and verification according to the import license usage status and customs clearance data fed back by the customs.

 V. The specific procedures for paperless operation of the above goods shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions of Announcement No. 82 of 2016 of the Ministry of Commerce, Announcement No. 25 of 2014 of the General Administration of Customs, and Notice of the General Office of the Ministry of Commerce on Issuing the " Standard for Application for Issuing and Using Electronic Certificates for Import and Export Licenses of Goods ( Trial )" ( Commercial Office Letter [ 2015 ] No. 494 ).