What are provisions amended in accordance with relevant rules of WTO and China's commitments to WTO?
1) The purpose of inspection and list of imports and exports subject to inspection. The purpose of the inspection of imports and exports has been revised from "ˇproceed the need of foreign trade development" to "..protecting human health and safety, protecting the life and health of fauna and flora, protecting the environment, guarding against fraudulent conduct and safeguarding national security".
2) The coverage of inspection of imports and exports. Previously the Law covered the inspection of the specification, quantity and weight of exports and exports as well as other commercial terms. To include commercial terms in the scope of legal inspection does not conform to relevant rules of the WTO and China's commitments to WTO. It has been revised to "The inspection of imports and exports that must be enforced refers to the activity of qualification appraisal to determine whether imports and exports included in the list meet the compulsory requirements of relevant technical regulations of the State.
3) On the grounds for the inspection of imports and exports. The amended Law provided that the imports and exports included in the list shall be inspected in accordance with the compulsory requirements of relevant technical regulations of the State. Where no compulsory requirements of relevant technical regulations of the State have been made, they shall be made in a timely manner in accordance with the laws. Before the making of compulsory requirements concerned, inspection can be enforced in accordance with relevant foreign standards designated by the State commodity inspection authorities.
4) On the administration of certification and verification. Previously China applied a system of licensing for the quality of imports and exports and a system of compulsory certification for domestic products. Under the revised Law, the State commodity inspection authorities shall, in accordance with the national unified certification system, enforce the administration of certification of relevant imports and exports.
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