China Customs Advance Manifest (CCAM) Regulation
Effective from 1 January 2009

As previously advised the regulation is due to be implemented Jan 1^st 2009 and requires all import cargo to China has to have Advanced Manifest lodged and approved 24 hours before loading of the cargo. The regulation is applicable to all imports to and cargo transshipped via Chinese ports. It does not however apply to direct import shipments to Hong Kong and Macau.

Under the rule, it will be mandatory on shipping lines to electronically submit the required data elements to China Customs, who will then analyze container content information before a container is authorized for loading and thereby deciding in advance on its loading/no loading status.

China Customs may impose fines or other penalties on the carriers and other parties responsible for the submission of cargo declaration in the case of non-compliance with the regulations.

For further information, please also refer to China Customs sites. http://www.customs.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab3889/module1188/info135494.htm and http://www.customs.gov.cn/publish/portal0/tab3889/module1188/info135501.htm for details. (These sites are in Chinese).

No official grace period has been announced by China Customs. But, it is most likely there will be a parallel run period before the strict enforcement of the customs rules.

Nonetheless, it is OOCL’s intention to be compliant with the rules to minimize any chance of unauthorized containers being shipped and penalties being incurred. 

To achieve this we will require your Shipping Instructions within sufficient time to get the data elements entered, lodged and authorized for loading. Initially we will trial 54 hours prior to the vessels arrival time at load port. Our Booking Co-Coordinators will discuss with you at the time of booking.

After a trial period the 54 hour time line will be reviewed.

Meanwhile, if you have any queries, please contact one of our local customer service coordinators.

OOCL is one of the world's leading container transport and logistics service providers, with more than 280 offices in 58 countries.  Linking Asia, Europe, North America, the Mediterranean, Indian Sub-Continent, Middle East and Australia/New Zealand, OOCL offers transportation services to all major east/west trading economies of the world.

Yours sincerely,
OOCL (Australia) Pty Ltd.