Like most countries around the world, China is no stranger to rules and regulations governing alcoholic beverages, including spirits. In China, said regulations are put in place by the Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM) [1]. The most recent version of this regulation is the Food Safety Law of China [2] issued in2009 and amended in 2018. Alongside this law, the MOFCOM also issued two documents aimed at instructing alcohol business entities as they undertake the purchasing, selling, distributing and the storage of alcoholic beverages in China. The documents are titled Management standard for alcohol commodities retailing and Management standard for alcohol commodities wholesale.
和世界上大多数国家一样，中国同样存在对酒精饮料（包括烈性酒）的相关管理法规。在中国，上述规定由中国商务部（MOFCOM）[1]发布。本条例的最新版本是《中华人民共和国食品安全法》[2]，于2009年发布，2018年修订。除此之外，商务部还发布了两份文件，旨在指导酒类经营实体在中国从事酒类饮料的采购、销售、分销和储存。文件名称为《酒类商品零售经营管理规范》、《酒类商品批发经营管理规范》。
[1] http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/
[2]http://www.lawinfochina.com/display.aspx?id=29705&lib=law&SearchKeyword=&SearchCKeyword=ʳƷ°²È«·¨
At the same time, there are regional administrative bodies, such as provincial governments, who also have local spirits regulations which are complementary to those of the MOFCOM. All these documents make it tricky to navigate to China’s liquor market. And anyone interested in exporting alcohol to China must become familiar with these administrative rules and regulations. As complex as it may sound, rest assured it's not rocket science, there are ways to navigate the slippery slope of the Chinese alcoholic beverages Market without crashing, even as a newbie. Here are some of the guidelines you need to master to get you started.
同时，地方性的行政机构，如省级政府，也有地方性的酒类经营法规，以作为商务部法规的补充。所有这些文件都让我们对把握中国酒类市场感到棘手，任何有意向中国出口酒水的商人都必须熟悉这些行政法规。尽管听起来可能很复杂，但请放心，这可不是艰深的科学公式，即使是新手也有办法在中国酒精市场中站稳住脚。以下是一些你可能会用到的入门知识。
Taxation and Duty Levies
税收和关税
The 2018 amendment did not change much from the previous years, according to the China Customs & National Taxation Bureau, Excise taxes on wine and spirits are charged by value while beer and rice wine are charged by volume (RMB per liter of pure alcohol). This simply means : Import tariff = CIF x 14%Excise tax = [ (CIF + import tariff) / (1 – 10%)] x 10%Value-Added Tax = (CIF + import tariff + excise tax) x 17%
根据中国海关总署和国家税务局，2018年的修正案与前几年相比并没有太大变化，葡萄酒和烈酒的消费税是按价值征收的，而啤酒和米酒是按体积（人民币每升纯酒精）征收的，即：
关税 = CIF× 14%
消费税 = [(CIF+ 关税)/ (1 - 10%)] x 10%
增值税 = (CIF+ 关税+ 消费税)x 17%
Customs Requirements for Labeling
海关商品标签的要求
Packaging and labeling is an essential part of exporting alcoholic drinks to China when it comes to spirits, in particular, the rules are strict and must be followed to the letter. China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) subjects all imported foods to inspection and for it to pass inspection and receive a clearance certificate, the following information must be present on the label, in Chinese:
包装和标签是向中国出口酒精饮料的重要组成部分，尤其是在烈性酒方面，这些规定必须严格遵守。中国海关总署对所有进口食品进行检验，若要通过检验并获得结关证书，标签上必须有以下中文信息：
i) Name/Brand of Product
产品名称/品牌
ii) Ingredients List e.g (Sweeteners, preservatives and added color), the only exception is for products made of one ingredient
成分表，例如甜味剂、防腐剂和添加的颜色，唯一的例外是由一种成分制成的产品
iii) Net Volume, marked either in (ml) or Liters(l) for bottles over a liter
净容积，对于超过1升的瓶子，标记为（mL）或（L）
iv) The minimum print height is 3mm for small bottles and 6mm for bigger bottles
小瓶子的最小印刷高度为3mm，大瓶子的最小印刷高度为6mm
v) It must indicate the Alcohol Content (%), using the Alcoholic strength xx.x% vol’ format
必须使用酒精强度xx.x%vol格式指示酒精含量
vi) Production Date in (yy/mm/dd) format
生产日期（年/月/日）格式
vii) Producer/Distributor/Importer (Name and address of the Chinese agent, importer or distributor must be shown)
生产商/经销商/进口商（必须显示中国代理商、进口商或经销商的名称和地址）
viii) Country of Origin
原产国
ix) Minimum Durability Date
保质期
x) And finally, mandatory Warning Statements: The following and other warnings must be on the bottle in Chinese: "Excessive drinking is harmful to health" or "Pregnant women and children shall not drink"
最后，强制性警告声明：瓶子上必须有以下中文警告和其他警告：“过量饮酒有害健康”或“孕妇和儿童不得饮酒”
Required Documentation
所需文件
A number of documents are required to back your claims on the label, for example, you need to provide a Certificate of Origin, stamped, and dated by a competent authority from the product's country of origin to confirm it’s origin, a certificate of health/Sanitation, signed by any government entity such as the chamber of commerce, etc.
还需要提供一些文件来证明标签上的声明，例如，你需要提供一份由产品原产国主管当局盖章并注明日期的原产地证明，一份由商会等任何政府实体签署的健康/卫生证明等。
These are all the documents you need to provide:
你将需要提供：
• Commercial Invoice
商业发票
• Customs Value Declaration
完税价格申报
• FreightInsurance/Documents
货运保险/文件
• Packing List
打包清单
• Insurance Certificate
保险凭证
• Certificate of Authenticity/Free Sale (for distilled spirits and malt beverages)
真品证书/自由贸易证书（用于蒸馏酒和麦芽饮料）
• Certificate of Health/Sanitation (for distilled spirits and malt beverages)
健康/卫生证书（用于蒸馏酒和麦芽饮料）
• Certificate of Origin (for distilled spirits and malt beverages)
原产地证书（用于蒸馏酒和麦芽饮料）
Licensing and Registration
许可和注册
The competent authority in charge of licensing and registration for alcoholic beverage products entering China is the Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine(AQSIQ).
进入中国的酒类产品经营许可和登记主管机关为国家质量监督检验检疫总局（AQSIQ）出入境检验检疫局。
Every importer must submit an application to the Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine Bureau and register on-line via www.mofcom.gov.cn. Upon review, the importer is assigned a serial number and added to the database of approved importers, the list can be viewed on the AQSIQ website.
每个进口商都必须向出入境检验检疫局提交申请，并通过www.mofcom.gov.cn在线注册。经过审查，为进口商分配了序列号，并将其添加到认可进口商的数据库中，可以在国家质检总局网站上查看该列表。
Per the 2009 Food Safety Law, it’s also mandatory to register and obtain a Filing Code (registration number) electronically via this website: http://ire.eciq.cn.The registration form can be filled out in English.
根据2009年《食品安全法》，还必须通过以下网站以电子方式注册并获取备案代码（注册号）：http://ire.eciq.cn。注册表格可以用英语填写。
Tariffs
关税
The recent trade war between the U.S and China has greatly impacted the international liquor scene, there’s no denying that the ongoing tariffs have affected imported spirits in China. So, any company willing to do business in the current economic climate has to, first of all, identify the harmonized tariff schedule number for their product then use the number to find the tariff amount for their particular product.
最近中美之间的贸易战极大地影响了国际烈酒市场，无可否认，现行关税已影响到中国进口烈酒。因此，任何愿意在当前经济形势下开展业务的公司都必须首先确定其产品的统一关税清单编号，然后使用该编号查找其特定产品的关税金额。
Tax rates for wine and distilled spirits are based on an Import tax, Value-added Tax (VAT), and Consumption Tax. The rates are compiled into a formula that is used to determine the effective tax rate and the can be found on the World TradeOrganization Website.
葡萄酒和蒸馏酒的税率基于进口税，增值税（VAT）和消费税。税率被汇编成用于确定有效税率的公式，可以在世界贸易组织网站上找到。
Conclusion
总结
These are the 5 main areas you need to be versed in if you want to succeed as an importer in the Chinese liquor market. However, you can decide to use the services of an agent. There are lots of agencies inChina who can hold your hand through the different stages or handle everything from A to Z depending on your preference. You should bear in mind that whichever route you decide to take, all the information you provide must be truthful, accurate and non-misleading in any way. Any disparity in the information you provide will attract the kind of attention you don’t need in China. So, to end on a positive note, What’s stopping you from starting your own liquor company in China? Nothing at all.
如果你想成为中国烈酒市场的进口商，你需要掌握以下五个关键领域。但是，你也可以使用代理商。中国有很多代理商可以根据你的喜好在不同阶段处理从头到尾的所有事务。你应该记住，无论你决定采用哪种路线，你提供的所有信息都必须真实，准确且无误导。你提供的信息中的任何差异都会在中国引起各种不必要的麻烦。因此，若以积极的语气结束：是什么阻碍了你在中国设立自己的酒水公司？其实都不值得一提。
For more information do not hesitate to ask us.
如需更多信息，请随时咨询我们。
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