KYB CHINA
English

Trade & customs

Measures for the Administration of Imported Films

进口影片管理办法

This regulation governs the import, distribution, and customs clearance of films from foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan into China.

Issuing authority
State Council of the People's Republic of China中华人民共和国国务院
Published
1981-10-13
Effective
1981-10-13
Status
In force
Open official source ↗Source checked: 2026-07-30
Original ChineseTranslation
Original Chinese

(1981年10月13日国务院批准 文化部、海关总署发布)

Translation

(Approved by the State Council on October 13, 1981; Promulgated by the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Customs)

Original Chinese第一条

为了加强对进口影片的管理,根据一九八○年四月十四日中共中央、国务院、中央军委《关于制止滥放内部参考影片的通知》精神,特制订本办法。

TranslationArticle 1

These Measures are formulated in accordance with the spirit of the Circular on Stopping the Indiscriminate Showing of Internal Reference Films issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission on April 14, 1980, in order to strengthen the management of imported films.

Original Chinese第二条

凡属从外国及港澳地区进口发行影片或试映拷贝(包括35毫米、16毫米、超8毫米、影片录相带和影片视盘等,以下统称影片)的业务,统由中国电影发行放映公司(以下简称中影公司)经营管理。

TranslationArticle 2

All business concerning the import of films for distribution or test screening (including 35mm, 16mm, super 8mm, video tapes, video discs, etc., hereinafter collectively referred to as films) from foreign countries and the Hong Kong and Macao regions shall be uniformly managed by the China Film Distribution and Exhibition Corporation (hereinafter referred to as CFDEC).

Original Chinese

影片进口时,由海关凭中影公司填报的进口货物报关单核查放行。属于在全国发行的商业性影片,应在进口时办理纳税手续;属于非商业性影片,应予免税;属于非商业性影片,进口后经过批准在全国发行的,由中影公司按章向北京海关办理补税手续。

Translation

When films are imported, Customs shall release them upon verification of the import goods declaration form submitted by CFDEC. Commercial films to be distributed nationwide shall go through tax payment procedures at the time of import; non-commercial films shall be exempted from tax; if non-commercial films are later approved for nationwide distribution after import, CFDEC shall go through tax supplementary procedures with Beijing Customs in accordance with regulations.

Original Chinese第三条

中国电影资料馆进口的资料影片(包括中国电影资料馆与外国电影资料馆互相选购、交换、赠送或通过其他途径购作资料的影片),属于非商业性影片,海关凭该馆填报的进口货物报关单核查免税放行。

TranslationArticle 3

Reference films imported by the China Film Archive (including films purchased, exchanged, donated, or acquired through other channels as reference materials between the China Film Archive and foreign film archives) are non-commercial films. Customs shall release them duty-free upon verification of the import goods declaration form submitted by the Archive.

Original Chinese

进口的资料影片,如经批准,需向全国发行的,由中影公司按章向北京海关办理补税手续。

Translation

If imported reference films are approved for nationwide distribution, CFDEC shall go through tax supplementary procedures with Beijing Customs in accordance with regulations.

Original Chinese第四条

科学技术、工业、农业、教育、卫生、新闻、外贸、外事等单位,因业务需要进口的专业性纪录、科教影片,属于国务院系统的单位进口的,由国务院各部委(总局)审批;属于地方单位进口的,由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府审批。

TranslationArticle 4

For professional documentary and educational films imported by units in science, technology, industry, agriculture, education, health, news, foreign trade, foreign affairs, etc., due to business needs: if imported by units under the State Council system, approval shall be granted by the relevant ministries or commissions (general bureaus) of the State Council; if imported by local units, approval shall be granted by the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government.

Original Chinese

影片进口时,海关凭有关部委(总局)或省、自治区、直辖市人民政府的批准文件和申请单位填报的进口货物报关单一式三份核查免税放行,并将盖有海关印章的报关单一份转送文化部电影事业管理局备案。

Translation

When films are imported, Customs shall release them duty-free upon verification of the approval document from the relevant ministry/commission (general bureau) or provincial/municipal people's government and the import goods declaration form submitted by the applicant unit in triplicate, and shall forward one copy of the customs-stamped declaration form to the Film Bureau of the Ministry of Culture for record.

Original Chinese第五条

外国、港澳地区及台湾省的团体或个人运进给机关、团体、学校等单位的故事片,凡属国务院系统的单位接受的,须经文化部电影事业管理局审批;属地方单位接受的,须经省、自治区、直辖市文化局(电影局)审批,并抄送文化部电影事业管理局备案。

TranslationArticle 5

For story films shipped into China by groups or individuals from foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan to organs, organizations, schools, etc.: if accepted by units under the State Council system, approval must be obtained from the Film Bureau of the Ministry of Culture; if accepted by local units, approval must be obtained from the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal cultural bureau (film bureau), with a copy sent to the Film Bureau of the Ministry of Culture for record.

Original Chinese

影片进口时,海关凭接受单位填报的进口货物报关单和批准文件核查免税放行。

Translation

When films are imported, Customs shall release them duty-free upon verification of the import goods declaration form submitted by the accepting unit and the approval document.

Original Chinese

接受单位应当将接收的影片交中国电影资料馆统一保管。如因业务上特殊需要,接受单位可以凭上级主管部门的批准文件向该馆提取,供有关人员参考借鉴,但不准外借,不准招待映出,不准拿到社会上公开放映。借鉴后仍送回中国电影资料馆保管。

Translation

The accepting unit shall hand over the received films to the China Film Archive for unified custody. If there is a special business need, the accepting unit may, with the approval document from its superior competent authority, retrieve the films from the Archive for reference by relevant personnel, but they shall not be lent out, shown as hospitality, or publicly screened in society. After reference, they shall be returned to the China Film Archive for custody.

Original Chinese

进口的故事影片,如经批准在全国发行的,应由中影公司向海关办理补税手续。

Translation

If imported story films are approved for nationwide distribution, CFDEC shall go through tax supplementary procedures with Customs.

Original Chinese第六条

对外国人和华侨、港澳及台湾省同胞等邮寄或者入境随身携带属于赠给我国个人作为业务参考的科教影片,海关应准许进口,并凭接受影片的个人填报的进口货物报关单及其所在单位的证明信件核查免税放行。属于赠给我国个人的故事影片,一般地不准进口,海关予以退运。如遇特殊情况,由文化部和海关总署研究处理。

TranslationArticle 6

For educational films mailed or brought in by foreigners, overseas Chinese, and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan as gifts to individuals in China for business reference, Customs shall permit import and release them duty-free upon verification of the import goods declaration form submitted by the individual recipient and a certificate from their unit. Story films gifted to individuals in China are generally not allowed to be imported; Customs shall return them. In special circumstances, the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Customs shall study and handle the matter.

Original Chinese

对外国驻华使(领)馆人员、外国工商企业派来我国的常驻人员(包括外国常驻记者)和应聘来华工作的外国专家(包括文教、经济、科技专家)携带(或者从国外邮寄给他们)的影片,按海关现行有关规定办理。影片进口后应由有关部门严格控制,只限他们在内部放映;我方单位或个人不许借映。

Translation

For films carried (or mailed from abroad) by personnel of foreign embassies or consulates in China, permanent representatives of foreign industrial and commercial enterprises in China (including permanent foreign correspondents), and foreign experts recruited to work in China (including cultural, educational, economic, and technological experts), the current relevant customs regulations shall apply. After import, such films shall be strictly controlled by the relevant departments and may only be shown internally; Chinese units or individuals are not allowed to borrow or screen them.

Original Chinese第七条

除香港长城、凤凰、新联三公司回内地拍片,由国务院港澳办公室同有关地区和有关单位直接联系外,凡属中外或我与港澳地区及台湾省的合作制片业务,统由中国电影合作制片公司管理。合拍影片的进口,由中国电影合作制片公司向海关办理进口报关手续;其中批准在全国发行的,则由中影公司按章向北京海关办理补税手续。

TranslationArticle 7

Except for the three Hong Kong companies—Great Wall, Feng Huang, and Sun Luen—which come to the mainland to shoot films and are directly contacted by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council with relevant regions and units, all co-production business between China and foreign countries or with the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions shall be uniformly managed by the China Film Co-Production Corporation. The import of co-produced films shall be handled by the China Film Co-Production Corporation for customs import declaration; if approved for nationwide distribution, CFDEC shall go through tax supplementary procedures with Beijing Customs in accordance with regulations.

Original Chinese第八条

对违反规定进口的或走私进口的影片,海关按有关规定处理;对没收的影片,凡有保留参考价值的可转送文化部电影事业管理局交中国电影资料馆保存。

TranslationArticle 8

For films imported in violation of regulations or smuggled, Customs shall handle them in accordance with relevant regulations; for confiscated films that have preservation reference value, they may be transferred to the Film Bureau of the Ministry of Culture and handed over to the China Film Archive for storage.

Original Chinese第九条

本办法自发布之日起施行。

TranslationArticle 9

These Measures shall come into effect on the date of promulgation.