Zhoushan rolls out new measures to accelerate smart customs clearance for AEO enterprises

Zhoushan Customs and Zhoushan Yongzhou Container Terminal Co recently signed a memorandum of cooperation, introducing 11 new measures to expedite customs clearance for authorized economic operators.

Measures include priority handling of customs declarations, inspections, and laboratory testing, as well as two-hour telephone appointments for customs clearance outside normal hours. It also supports paperless customs withdrawal applications and prioritizes direct loading upon arrival and direct delivery to the ship.

To further facilitate these processes, a dedicated hotline for AEO enterprises has been established, and containers in need of inspection or early entry are automatically identified. A dedicated inspection platform ensures priority handling of container operations, and early entry time restrictions for export containers have been removed.

Hu Jinyao, customs supervisor at Shaoxing Sleemon Furniture Co, noted that the removal of early entry time restrictions is very beneficial for his company, saving on transportation costs and avoiding delays.

Zhoushan Customs has developed a one-stop port supervision service platform and the "AEO Enterprise Management" module, allowing AEO enterprises to submit container entry applications as needed.

The Yongzhou terminal has upgraded its gate system to enable electronic early entry and prioritizes the handling of inspection, container lifting, unpacking, and loading for AEO enterprises.

Since the trial implementation of several new measures intended to increase convenience, the total process time from entry to inspection and release for AEO enterprise goods has been reduced by about 15 percent, according to authorities.

The terminal currently operates 35 foreign trade routes, primarily to Russia, Australia, West Africa, East Africa, and the Mediterranean, and the implementation of these new measures will make the port's customs clearance system more intelligent and efficient, allowing more AEO enterprises to expand their overseas presence, noted Wang Danli, a staff member at the terminal.