Import Surveillance Requirements for Imitation Jewellery and Decorative Accessories - Communiqué No: 2026/27

Scope of the Regulation

The surveillance measure applies to imitation jewellery and accessories manufactured from various materials, reflecting the high price dispersion and design-driven nature of this product group.

Under HS 7117.11, cufflinks and similar buttons are subject to surveillance when declared below USD 45 per kilogram. Other imitation jewellery classified under HS 7117.19 is subject to differentiated thresholds depending on material composition. Products incorporating glass components fall under surveillance below USD 60 per kilogram, while items plated with gold, silver, or platinum are subject to a significantly higher threshold of USD 105 per kilogram. Other residual categories within this subheading are covered below USD 75 per kilogram.

Further surveillance applies to imitation jewellery under HS 7117.90. Articles made from plastic and glass, wood, carvable stone, or mixed materials are generally covered below USD 60 per kilogram. A lower threshold of USD 30 per kilogram applies specifically to cufflinks and similar buttons made from any material other than base metals, while other residual articles under this heading remain subject to the USD 60 per kilogram threshold.

Only imports declared at or above the relevant reference values may be released without surveillance certification.

Mandatory Surveillance Certificate

Where the declared unit value falls below the applicable reference threshold, importation is permitted only upon presentation of a valid Surveillance Certificate issued by the Ministry of Trade. The certificate must be obtained prior to registration of the customs declaration and must be correctly referenced in the declaration using the assigned document number and issue date.

Failure to present a valid certificate will result in customs clearance being blocked, irrespective of branding, design value, or retail positioning of the goods.

Application and Review Process

Applications for Surveillance Certificates are submitted electronically through the national Single Window system using the designated industrial surveillance document type and selecting Communiqué No: 2026/27 as the legal basis. Submission requires a qualified electronic signature, with an alternative filing option available through the national e-government portal.

Where electronic submission is not technically feasible, physical applications may be accepted using the prescribed application form together with corporate registration documentation.

During the review stage, the authority may request original documents, additional explanations, or supplementary information. Any inconsistency, deficiency, or contradiction identified will suspend the issuance process until fully remedied.

Customs Value Clarification and Practical Application

The Communiqué explicitly states, in a separate provision, that the reference values introduced for surveillance purposes do not replace and do not constitute customs value. General customs valuation rules remain fully applicable.

In practice—and specifically for value-based surveillance regimes—it is possible to structure the declared customs value by including legitimate foreign cost elements, such as international freight, insurance, and other overseas charges. By lawfully declaring these costs, the final customs value may be increased above the surveillance reference threshold, allowing the import to proceed without a Surveillance Certificate. This approach is accepted by customs authorities, provided that all cost elements are genuine, properly documented, and declared in full compliance with valuation rules.

This practice applies only to value-based surveillance measures and does not extend to quantity-based or non-value surveillance regimes.

Validity and Legal Effect

Surveillance Certificates issued under this Communiqué are valid for six months from the date of issuance. The existence of a certificate does not prevent customs authorities from examining or reassessing the declared value under general valuation principles. Conversely, accurate and well-documented valuation may allow clearance without surveillance certification where thresholds are legitimately exceeded.

Enforcement and Compliance Risk

If inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete information is identified during the application or review stages, issuance of the Surveillance Certificate will be withheld until corrective action is taken. Non-compliance may lead to customs delays, additional storage costs, and increased scrutiny during post-clearance audits.

Repealed Regulation and Entry into Force

With the entry into force of this Communiqué, Communiqué No: 2007/32 has been fully repealed. The new surveillance regime applies to customs declarations registered from the 30th day following publication, requiring careful transition planning for shipments scheduled around the effective date.

Compliance Assessment

From a customs compliance and trade risk management perspective, this regulation directly targets a sector characterized by high unit value sensitivity, design-driven pricing, and frequent under-declaration risks. Importers of imitation jewellery should carefully reassess product classification, material composition, supplier pricing, and cost allocation prior to shipment.

For value-based surveillance, lawful inclusion of foreign cost components may offer operational flexibility, provided documentation is robust and internally consistent. A shipment-by-shipment analysis is strongly recommended to determine whether surveillance can be avoided through correct valuation or whether proactive application for a Surveillance Certificate provides greater certainty and risk control.

See relevant legislative document.