China has optimized the duty-free shopping policy for outbound travelers from Hainan, according to an announcement on Friday.

Under the updated policy, the scope of duty-free products has been expanded from 45 to 47 categories, to include products such as pet supplies, portable musical instruments, mini drones and small home appliances.

The new regulations will also allow certain domestically produced goods – such as clothing, footwear, ceramics, silk scarves, coffee, and tea – to enter offshore duty-free stores, while enjoying value-added and consumption tax exemptions.

Notably, departing international travelers will also be eligible to enjoy the offshore duty-free policy, with their purchases counted toward the existing 100,000 yuan ($14,000) annual tax-free shopping quota, without limits on the number of purchases.

Meanwhile, the minimum age for duty-free shoppers will be raised from 16 to 18 years old.

The adjustments, jointly released by the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs and the State Taxation Administration, will take effect from November 1.

According to data from Haikou Customs, offshore duty-free sales in Hainan recorded 195.8 billion yuan ($27.5 billion) over the course of five years, since its implementation in July 2020.

The move is expected to further expand the reach of Hainan's duty-free policy, enrich product supplies, enhance consumer shopping experience, and contribute to the high-quality development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, according to the announcement.