Is food customs clearance too complicated? This guide will help you avoid pitfalls

"My imported chocolates were held by customs due to incomplete paperwork" "My online-ordered imported baby formula has been stuck in clearance for two weeks"... Have you faced similar issues? With the boom in cross-border e-commerce and international trade, more consumers and businesses are dealing with imported foods. But as a special commodity, food faces far more complex customs procedures than regular goods. This article provides a detailed analysis of the core process and pitfall-avoidance strategies for food customs clearance to ensure smooth import!

Unlike regular goods, food imports must comply with three dimensions: food safety, quarantine requirements, and tax compliance. Based on real cases from Zhongshitong, the complete process includes:

• Pre-qualification preparation: Importers must obtain a food business license, register as an importer, and for special foods (e.g., infant formula), register overseas manufacturers.
• Document submission: 12 types of documents including certificates of origin, health certificates, ingredient analysis reports (listing additives/allergens), and Chinese label samples.
• On-site inspection: Customs verifies cargo against declarations and may conduct lab testing. Only compliant goods enter the domestic market.

Mr. Zhang’s wine shipment was rejected for unlisted "sulfur dioxide content"; Ms. Li’s Japanese snacks were destroyed for missing irradiation certificates. These real cases expose common issues:

• Non-compliant labels: Chinese labels must include 9 mandatory elements (e.g., nutrition facts, origin, shelf life) with font height ≥1.8mm.
• Missing quarantine certificates: High-risk foods (dairy, meat) require official health certificates matching China’s requirements.
• Incorrect HS codes: Tariff differences (e.g., 8% between "dark chocolate" and "milk chocolate") may trigger penalties.
• Undeclared special ingredients: Foods with medicinal ingredients (e.g., lingzhi, ginseng) need health food approvals.

From 300+ cases handled by Zhongshitong, we recommend:

• Pre-classification service: Have professionals verify HS codes and regulations before shipping to avoid amendments.
• E-label filing: Pre-file labels via the "Imported Food Label Management System" to save 5-7 working days.
• Pre-clearance consultation: For novel foods (e.g., insect protein), submit ingredient reports early for customs pre-approval.

With "Single Window" and blockchain adoption, digital clearance is rising. Some companies now use traceability QR codes to auto-link declarations, test reports, and logistics data, cutting clearance time by 40%. Note: Automated processes demand higher data accuracy—any errors may trigger inspections.

Has this guide changed your perspective? Share your clearance stories in comments or ask specific questions. Next issue reveals clearance tricks for "special dietary foods"—follow us to stay updated!