Printable Version Worldwide Customs & Regulatory Updates

FedEx Express would like to remind customers that regulations affecting the export of certain textile products to Europe came into effect on January 1 this year. Some of the key points are summarized below.

1. Quantity restrictions on ten textile product items exported from China to the European Union (E.U.)
    have been eliminated.

• Category 2 (cotton fabrics), category 4 (T-shirts), category 5 (pullovers), category 6 (trousers),
  category 7 (blouses), category 20 (bed linen), category 26 (dresses), category 31 (brassieres),
  category 39 (table and kitchen linen), and category 115 (flax or ramie yarn).

2. Eight textile product items (see appendix) exported to E.U. member countries are now subject to
    permit controls. These controls are valid until December 31, 2008.

• Category 4 (T-shirts), category 5 (pullovers), category 6 (trousers), category 7 (blouses), category 20
  (bed linen), category 26 (dresses), category 31 (brassieres), and category 115 (flax or ramie yarn).

3. Businesses engaged in any of the eight textile product items listed in point 2 are subjected to an
    operational qualifications review. Companies that qualify may apply for the Original Export License
    and the Certificate of Origin (COO) to export these eight textile products to the E.U.

An export license is issued on a “single shipment” or “single Customs clearance” basis. The Chinese-language version of the export license is valid for 45 days; the English-language version is valid for 75 days. The validity of electronic data (Chinese and English) expires at the same time as the corresponding export license (Chinese and English). The validity period of the Original Export License and the Certificate of Origin cannot be extended.

4. All samples and products for trade shows/display, and products intended for sale at trade shows
    require the Original Export License and the Certificate of Origin.

5. For exports shipped by air, the local government office will mark “by air” on the related export
    contract and Power of Attorney submitted by firms and forward it to the Ministry of Commerce.
    Relevant information will be sent electronically by the Ministry of Commerce to the appropriate
    contact in the E.U.

To read the full text of the announcement (in Chinese) on the regulations, please go to
http://wms.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/zcfb/d/q/200711/20071105226018.html

For all shipments imported into a market within the E.U. that are of Chinese origin and fall under one of the categories mentioned above, the Original Export License and the Certificate of Origin is required. This applies to all such shipments whose contents are shown as "Made in China" regardless as to whether the shipper is located in China or a non-China market. This is also applicable to samples of items within the above categories, including those marked or mutilated. 

If the above documents are not made available at the time of import, the goods will be held until the documents are received. If the documents are not received within a certain timeframe then the shipment will be returned to the shipper.

FedEx Express will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as necessary. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact the FedEx Sales team or your local FedEx Customer Service Team.