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

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)
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.