Enterprises in the port within the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Shanghai FTZ) are now able to obtain a permit on the day they apply for it thanks to a reform initiated by the General Administration of Customs.

According to the reform on administrative approval, since Dec 1, applicants only need to submit their application and sign a letter of commitment before obtaining a permit.

From January to November, customs at Pudong International Airport accepted 304 applications for the frontier port hygiene license and issued 289 licenses. The average time for handling these applications was 5.5 working days but is now shortened to within a day.

Yang Yuelan from a hotel company in Shanghai FTZ renewed her company’s frontier port hygiene license Dec 2 at the Customs Declaration Hall of Pudong International Airport Comprehensive Free Trade Zone.

Yang said she was excited when told by the working staff about the new application process.

Quick access to permits comes with necessary checks. Generally within 30 days after the enterprise commits and obtains the permit, customs will check the authenticity of the enterprise's promised content, the actual hygienic situation, and whether it meets the conditions of sanitary permits.

Customs at the Pudong International Airport also provide consultancy services for permit process, pre-examination of design drawings of business sites, and will explain supervisory policies to enterprises.