The Ministry of Finance and four other departments jointly issued a notice to improve the policy of duty-free shops in the city.

On August 27th, the Ministry of Finance and four other departments issued the "Notice on Improving the Policy of Duty-Free Shops in Cities", clearly stating that starting from October 1, 2024, the management of duty-free shops in cities will be regulated in accordance with the "Interim Measures for the Management of Duty-Free Shops in Cities" to promote the healthy and orderly development of duty-free shops in cities. According to the "Notice", the existing duty-free shops in Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian, Xiamen, and Sanya, a total of 6 cities, will apply the "Measures" from the date of the implementation of the "Notice"; and the existing duty-free shops in 13 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Harbin will transform into duty-free shops in cities within 3 months from the date of the implementation of the "Notice," and will be allowed to operate after passing the customs inspection. Additionally, in 8 cities including Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xi'an, Changsha, and Fuzhou, each city will establish 1 duty-free shop. The full text is as follows: Notice on Improving the Policy of Duty-Free Shops in Cities Finance Tax [2024] No.19 All provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, municipalities directly under the State Plan, the Finance Departments (Bureau), the competent departments of commerce, the Departments (Bureaus) of Culture and Tourism, the Customs General Administration, the Guangdong Sub-administration of the Customs General Administration, all directly-affiliated customs, the tax bureaus of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, municipalities directly under the State Plan, the finance bureau, commerce bureau, culture, sports, radio, and television bureau, and the tourism bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps: The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Administration of Taxation have researched and improved the policy of duty-free shops in cities, and with the approval of the State Council, hereby notify the relevant matters as follows: 1. The duty-free shops operated by China Duty-Free Company Limited in Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian, Xiamen, Sanya, a total of 6 cities, will apply the "Interim Measures for the Management of Duty-Free Shops in Cities" from the date of this notice. 2. The duty-free shops operated by China International Travel Service Group Corporation in Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian, Nanjing, Chongqing, Hefei, Nanchang, Kunming, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, and Harbin, a total of 12 cities, as well as the duty-free shop operated by China CYTS Tours Holding Co., Ltd. in Harbin, will transform into duty-free shops in cities within 3 months from the date of this notice, and will be allowed to operate after passing customs inspection. The "Measures" will be applicable; duty-free shops that fail to complete the transformation by the deadline will be closed, and the original operators of the duty-free shops should apply to customs for termination of operations and complete relevant cancellation procedures. After the implementation of this notice, no more duty-free shops for foreign exchange goods will be established. 3. One duty-free shop will be established in each of the 8 cities including Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xi'an, Changsha, and Fuzhou, which will apply the "Measures." Please urge all relevant departments to carry out policy organization and implementation work in accordance with their responsibilities. Two years after the implementation of the "Measures," the Ministry of Finance, together with the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Administration of Taxation, will evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation. This notice will be implemented from October 1, 2024. This text is compiled from the "Official Website of the Ministry of Finance"; GMTEight Editor: Huang Xiaodong.