The Customs and Excise Department today (November 14) reminded importers and exporters that import and export declarations for shipments on or after January 1, 2017, must be completed in accordance with the Hong Kong Imports and Exports Classification List (Harmonized System) (HKIECL) 2017 Edition.
The 2017 Edition, published in the Gazette on November 11, will take effect on January 1, 2017, to replace the current 2012 Edition and the subsequent annual amendments thereto.
Compilation of the HKIECL is based on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, or Harmonized System (HS), which is designed by the World Customs Organization (WCO). Hong Kong has adopted the HS in full since 1992.
The 2017 Edition has incorporated the 242 sets of amendments recommended by the WCO to ensure that Hong Kong's commodity classification system continues to be compatible with those of its major trading partners.
The amendments mainly relate to the agricultural, chemical, wood, textile, base metal, machinery and transport sectors. The summary of the changes to the HKIECL and the Hong Kong Harmonized System correlation tables can be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/trader/declaration/index.jsp).
The bilingual HKIECL 2017 Edition, comprising two volumes, is published in electronic version and can be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/trader/declaration/index.jsp).
For enquiries about trade classification, please contact the Trade Classification Section of the Census and Statistics Department:
Commodity Code Enquiry Hotline: 3178 8933
Fax: 2824 2782
Email: trade-declaration@censtatd.gov.hk
Ends/Monday, November 14, 2016