China to implement 24-hr advance manifest rule

From January 1, 2009, all sea cargo bound for China will be subject to the 24-hour advance manifest rule.

A manifest is a document that lists all cargo carried on a specific vessel, informed Exim News Service.

According to the new regulation, sea carriers undertaking shipments to China must submit manifest details to Chinese Customs 24 hours before a ship arrives at the port of loading anywhere in the world.

All airfreight carriers will be required to submit full manifest electronically 4 hours before departure.

Upon screening of manifest data received, the Chinese Customs will advise back to the carrier whether or not the cargo can be allowed into China. Only if Customs feedback is positive will the cargo be accepted on board a ship. Under no circumstance will the carrier be allowed to load cargo on board if manifest filing is rejected by Chinese Customs.

This move is expected to have a significant impact on the way carriers handle their documentation and operations for shipments bound for China. Shipping lines and their clients will be forced to adjust their internal workflow in order to meet the different time scale required by this new rule.

In case a shipment is rejected, it is the shipper who will have to bear the charges that accrue. The costs of exports to China are likely to go up as a result.

Only the US and Canada have enforced such rules so far in order to prevent arms and ammunition from entering through the sea route.