The General Administration of Customs recently announced its decision to revise and scrap a number of documents relating to the management of inbound items, with effect from 1 December. Adjustments have been made with regard to the management of inbound and outbound personal postal items, customs declarations for inbound and outbound passengers, and duties on vapes. Previous announcements and notices concerning the release of personal baggage carried by inbound and outbound passengers and the amount of duty-free tobacco and cigarettes that passengers can bring into the country have been scrapped.

On 25 October, the State Council issued a circular calling for efforts to replicate and promote experimental measures to align with international economic and trade rules and standards, and to steadily expand institutional opening-up. In pilot free trade zones, measures to be promoted include permitting foreign financial institutions to offer new financial services, and allowing enterprises and individuals to purchase offshore financial services. Measures that will be promoted nationwide include free inward and outward remittance of all relevant transfers of funds by foreign investors.

On 25 November 2024, the European Commission formally requested consultations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the provisional anti-dumping measures imposed by the Chinese mainland on imports of EU brandy.

Indonesia has begun enforcing its halal certification and labelling requirements for food and beverage-related goods and services as of 17 October 2024 for medium and large businesses. Indonesia’s Law No. 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance (Halal Law) mandates the gradual enforcement of halal certification from October 2024 to October 2034. The first phase covers food and beverage-related goods and services. From October 2026 the second phase will apply to traditional medicines and food supplements, cosmetics, chemical products, clothing items, household appliances and Class A medical devices, among others. The third phase, from October 2029, will cover Class B medical devices, while the last phase, from October 2034, will include prescription medicines and Class C medical devices.

A year after scrapping plans to expand and revise the Seafood Import Monitoring Program the U.S. Department of Commerce has announced its intention to try again.

Recently, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly against Two European Commission draft decisions to allow residue levels of several pesticides banned in the EU in imported food. These pesticides, although banned from use within the EU, were still being considered for permissible residue levels in products imported from non-EU countries. This decision marks a firm stand by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in ensuring that imported goods adhere to the same stringent safety and environmental standards that EU-produced goods have to follow.

On 9 October, the State Administration for Market Regulation issued guidelines on the filing of records on formula foods for infants. Prior to production, manufacturers producing and selling such foods in mainland China must complete record-filing by submitting information to the provincial‑level market regulator on aspects such as food ingredients, additives and formulations.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce on 8 October, from 11 October China was due to impose temporary anti-dumping duties on EU brandy in containers holding fewer than 200 litres. Importers now need to pay security deposits to Chinese customs when importing EU-originated brandy. The amount due will be calculated ad valorem based on the dutiable value of the liquor as determined by customs.

Among other key objectives, the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address, set out moves to promote the liquor trade and boost the development of the high value-added industries (including logistics and storage, tourism and high-end food / beverage consumption). To this end, following the success of similar moves regarding the wine industry, the Government has decreed that, as of 16 October 2024, the duty rate for liquor with an import price of more than $200 will be reduced from 100% to 10% for the portion above $200, while the duty rate for the portion of $200 (and below), as well as liquor with an import price of $200 or below, will remain unchanged.

Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) has announced that food importers must register products on its online platform, SiHalal, for halal certification. The new regulation, under Law 33/2014 on Halal Product Insurance and its Associated Regulations (the Halal Law), will be enforced from 17 October 2024 for food producers and their supply chain partners, including trade, retail and logistics. The certification process will include all phases of production, such as slaughter and processing, packaging, storage, transport, marketing and sale. Additionally, all products containing prohibited ingredients must be labelled “non-halal”.