On January 30, 2008, China Customs published China Customs Order #170, which clarified its Enterprise Categorization System, and extended the system to also cover Customs brokers. The system evaluates Exporters of Record  (EOR), Importers of Record (IOR), and Customs brokers, on various aspects of
their business, and assigns a rating based on the company’s performance.
The policy has existed for exporters and importers since 1999, and allows China Customs to assign ratings of AA, A, B, C and D to companies based on their performance in observing laws and regulations, managing business, maintaining statistical records, and meeting other criteria.
While the policy to include Customs brokers in the evaluation process is new, the classification structure and criteria remain the same as for EORs and IORs.
China Customs has indicated that it will evaluate brokers from April 2008 until March 2009 and issue the first classifications in April 2009. The policy applies to exporters, importers and brokers that are registered with China Customs, according to Expeditors' Newsflash.