On August 25, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released the information that from October 1, 2015, seven enterprise-related administrative fees for the water transportation sector set up by the central government, namely the Harbor Dues on Vessels, the Escort Fee of Special Vessel and Water and Underwater Projects, Temporary Vessel Registration Fee, Vessel’s Funnel Mark or Company Flag Registration Fee, Vessel Rename or Home Port Alteration Fee, Certificate of Registry Fee, and Scrapped Vessel Registry Fee, will be cancelled.

 

This move is to carry out the deployment of the State Council on promoting the charging item streamlining reform to earnestly lower the burdens of shipping enterprises and enhance the economic development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, according to the MOF and NDRC.

 

In line with the Notice on Canceling the Water Transportation Enterprise-related Administrative Charging Items jointly released by the MOF and NDRC, the departments of finance and pricing departments of various provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) are required to streamline the water transportation enterprise-related administrative charging items set up by the provincial governments. The unreasonable charging items that were set up for the general public services or reflecting the general administrative functions of the government, or for the employment of redundant personnel, and that are against the basic principles of market economy, will be cancelled. The charging items that were set up illegally will be cancelled.

 

Meanwhile, the MOF and NDRC made it clear that after the water transportation enterprise-related administrative charging items are cancelled, the funds of the relevant departments and units for the fulfilment of their functions and undertaking development by law shall be included in the budgetary arrangement of the same level government to ensure normal operation.

 

No area or department is allowed to delay or refuse to carry out the cancellation by any excuse, nor can they continue to charge such items in any other name or transfer such charges into the business service fees. 

 

Source: www.gov.cn, August 26, 2015