All exhibitions traveling into or out of China require
an Exhibition Permit (EP). This Permit must be applied for by
a registered Chinese Corporation / Exhibition Organizer (CORP).
An art agent cannot make this application – it must be provided
by the CORP. The EP must be obtained prior to shipment.
On import the EP must be presented to Customs along
with normal customs documents.
When an exhibition is re-exported the CORP will
apply to Customs for the refund of any deposit or return of any
Letter of Guarantee that has been lodged.
All goods must be re-exported and customs will
check that the quantity/volume/weight on the export are the same
as for the import. It is also important to ensure that re-export
is completed within the valid period of the EP.
ATA Carnet can be used at the airport for exhibition
shipments but it is still subject to Regional Customs authority.
An EP must still be provided by the CORP to allow import and re-export.
In China there are both central and provincial
customs formalities which must be considered.
Documentation required for customs clearance and
which must be provided by the shipper (import) and CORP (export)
includes commercial invoice, packing list, no-wood packing or
non-coniferous wood declaration by the consignor (not the shipping
agent), heat treatment certificate, contract / agreement for the
transaction (exhibition contract) and Exhibition Permit.
For traveling exhibitions each venue must be a
recognized Exhibition Organizer and must have a valid EP. Customs
formalities must be completed each time the exhibition is transferred
from one venue to another.
Remember it is up to the party who is organizing
the exhibition to obtain the Exhibition Permit before the shipment
is made.
Thomas Yuen, Michelle International
