Import Surveillance Requirements for Escalators and Moving Walkways Communiqué No: 2026/12

Scope of the Regulation

The Communiqué applies exclusively to escalators and moving walkways falling under HS 8428.40.00.00.00. Surveillance is triggered only when the declared unit value is below USD 5/kg (gross weight). Declarations at or above this level fall outside the surveillance requirement.

Mandatory Surveillance Certificate

Where the declared unit value is below the reference threshold, importation is permitted only with a valid Surveillance Certificate issued by the Ministry of Trade (Directorate General for Imports). The certificate must be obtained prior to customs declaration registration and correctly referenced in the declaration.

Absence of a valid certificate at registration will result in non-acceptance of the customs declaration, irrespective of the commercial context.

Application and Review Process

Applications are submitted electronically through the Single Window System using the designated industrial surveillance document type and selecting Communiqué No: 2026/12 as the legal basis. Applications require an electronic signature and may also be filed via the national e-government portal.

If electronic submission is not possible due to technical issues, physical applications may be accepted using the prescribed form together with official company registration documentation.

During review, authorities may request original invoices, technical documentation, transport details, or additional supporting evidence. Any inconsistency or deficiency will suspend issuance until remedied.

Customs Value Clarification and Practical Application

The Communiqué explicitly states, in a separate provision, that the surveillance reference value does not replace the customs value. General customs valuation rules remain fully applicable.

In practice—specifically for value-based surveillance measures—importers may legitimately exceed the surveillance threshold by including lawful overseas cost elements in the declared customs value, such as international freight, insurance, royalties, engineering or tooling costs, where applicable and properly documented. When these costs are correctly declared, the resulting customs value may exceed the surveillance threshold, enabling clearance without a Surveillance Certificate.

This approach is accepted in administrative practice by customs authorities, subject to adequate documentation and consistency, and applies only to value-based surveillance regimes (not to quantity-based or other forms of surveillance).

Validity and Legal Effect

Surveillance Certificates issued under this Communiqué are valid for six months from the date of issuance. Possession of a certificate does not limit customs authorities’ powers to examine or reassess the declared customs value under general valuation provisions.

Enforcement and Compliance Risk

Submission of false, misleading, or incomplete information during application or review will halt issuance until corrected and may increase scrutiny at clearance or during post-clearance controls. Given the high value and complex cost structure of escalator systems, valuation accuracy and documentation completeness are critical.

Entry into Force

The Communiqué enters into force on the 30th day following publication. Importers with ongoing contracts, shipments in transit, or phased deliveries should reassess pricing structures and cost allocation well in advance of declaration.

Compliance Assessment

This regulation targets a capital-intensive, weight-based product group where valuation accuracy is essential. Importers should ensure precise HS classification, correct gross-weight determination, and defensible inclusion of overseas cost elements. A pre-declaration valuation review is strongly recommended to determine whether a Surveillance Certificate is required or can be lawfully avoided through proper valuation.

See relevant legislative document.