Maritime Legal Update – March 2014

1. Measures for Disclosing Customs Information Released

On February 26, the General Administration of Customs released the Measures for Disclosing Government Information by Customs of the People's Republic of China (the "Measures") which shall come into effect as of April 1, 2014.

The Measures clarify issues concerning the scope and methods of disclosure as well as procedures, supervision and protection, etc.

The Measures provide that any citizen, legal person or other organization that finds any Customs has failed to perform the obligation to disclose the customs information may lodge a complaint to the customs supervision authorities, the authorities in charge of the disclosure of customs information or the Customs of the next higher level. The Customs or authorities receiving the complaint shall conduct an investigation.