How deep is the water in the clearance of imported food?

When Mr. Zhang first tried to import a batch of handmade cheese from France, he thought he only needed to pay for the goods and freight. It was not until the goods were detained at the customs for two weeks, generating thousands of yuan in storage fees per day, that he realized: Imported food clearance is far more complicated than imagined. According to statistics, in 2023, the value of imported food destroyed due to customs clearance problems exceeded 300 million yuan, and this often stems from a blind spot in the understanding of agency services.

Ms. Li's Australian health product store was randomly inspected by the customs due to self - declaration. When the staff pointed out that the nutrition facts table was not labeled in accordance with Chinese regulations, the entire batch of goods was at risk of being returned.

• Regulatory difference traps: Additives allowed in the EU may be prohibited in China
• Document maze: Health certificates/original certificates/Chinese labels need to be matched simultaneously
• Time - effect game: For fresh products, the loss rate increases by 5% for every 1 - day delay

1. Risk prediction system
An importer of Japanese matcha avoided a loss of 520,000 yuan in the value of goods because the agent detected excessive pesticide residues in advance. Regular agents will establish a commodity HS code database to predict the key points of quarantine.

2. Cost - optimization plan
Through classification suggestions and the application of free trade agreements, Zhongshitong once saved 28% of the tariffs for a wine importer. For cold - chain food, the "port direct - through" mode can also be selected to reduce transshipment costs.

3. Emergency handling network
When the flight of Chilean cherries was temporarily diverted to land in Guangzhou, the agent coordinated and completed the off - site inspection within 3 hours, rescuing 300 boxes of goods that were about to over - ripen.

• Whether it has the qualifications for special categories such as meat/dairy products
• The AEO certification level of the customs
• The recognition of the test reports of cooperative laboratories
• The allocation of on - site port coordination personnel
• The historical return rate data (a high - quality agent should have a rate < 3%)

When you see the label of "overseas direct mail" on an e - commerce platform, there is often a professional agent supporting the entire link behind it. The next time you consider importing food, you might as well ask yourself first: Is it better to learn from mistakes with money or to clear customs with experience? Welcome to share your cross - border procurement stories in the comment area, or send a private message to get the 2024 Imported Food Compliance White Paper.