2026 Full Process of Food Import Inspection Declaration: 5 Key Risk Avoidance Guides

2026 Full Process of Food Import Inspection Declaration: 5 Key Risk Avoidance Guides

I once served a client importing Southeast Asian nuts,whose goods were detained by the commodity inspection department upon arrival because the customs declaration form did not mark allergen ingredients.This not only incurred more than 20,000 RMB of port demurrage fees,but also made the client miss the domestic Spring Festival peak sales season.This is a typical loss caused by "emphasizing inspection while neglecting pre-review".Food import inspection declaration involves multi-department coordination of customs,commodity inspection and quarantine.With stricter policies in 2026,this article breaks down the entire process based on practical experience,and teaches you to reduce risks with the dual protection mechanism of "pre-review + risk control".

I.Customs Valuation: 3 Practical Pitfall Avoidance Tips

• Price declaration must be anchored at "same period same type": Customs will strengthen the inspection of under-declared prices in 2026.For example,for imported Vietnamese cashews,if the CIF price on the customs declaration form is 20% lower than the average price of similar products in the previous month,supporting documents including certificate of origin,packing list and bill of lading must be provided,otherwise duties will be levied according to the "minimum price limit" published by the General Administration of Customs.
• Three-step response for valuation disputes: ① First check if the HS code is correctly matched (e.g.the tax rate difference for "nuts" classified under HS 0802 versus HS 2008 reaches 5%); ② Prepare the "Price Explanation Letter" with attached purchase contract and payment vouchers; ③ Apply for customs pre-classification when necessary to avoid temporarily supplementing materials during port inspection.
• Case: A client imported Australian honey,the customs misjudged it as bulk honey and increased the tax rate from 5% to 15% because "packaging specification (1kg/bottle)" was omitted on the customs declaration form.By supplementing the packaging specification explanation and third-party price assessment report,the goods were finally released at the original tax rate.

II.Commodity Inspection Pre-review: The Key to 48-hour Fast Customs Clearance

III.Animal and Plant Quarantine: 2 High-frequency Delay Scenarios

2026 sees newly added screening requirements for "non-traditional risk substances" in imported food.For example,imported Southeast Asian fruits need to be inspected to prevent quarantine pests.The most typical problem I encountered is listed as below:

• A client imported Thai longan,the "Phytosanitary Certificate" issued by the overseas authority did not indicate "fumigation treatment" (the goods were actually fumigated with methyl bromide).After the port customs noticed this issue,the client was required to re-apply for a new certificate,causing a 3-day delay.The correct practice is to require the overseas official authority to clearly mark the treatment method and dosage on the certificate in advance.
• Pay attention to the correlation between "processing date and shelf life" for imported meat: In 2026,the time span from the processing date to the import date shall not exceed 12 months.One client ignored this rule,resulting in 100 tons of Brazilian beef being returned,with a loss of more than one million RMB.

IV.Import License: Special Qualifications for 3 Categories of Food

Import licenses for different food categories vary significantly,and applications shall be submitted 60 days in advance:

• Dairy products (e.g.pasteurized milk): The GACC registration number of the overseas production enterprise is required (new requirement in 2026 under Decree 248,all products from unregistered enterprises will be rejected for inspection)
• Infant formula milk powder: Additional "formula registration certificate" shall be submitted,and the limits on DHA and ARA addition amount are stricter in 2026
• Pre-packaged food label: 2026 newly adds the mandatory labeling requirement for "dietary fiber and sodium content in nutrition facts table",which shall be checked in advance to meet the standard of GB 28050-2011

V.2026 Policy Dividends and Risk Warning

As the core hub for food imports in East China,Shanghai Port has launched a new "7×24-hour pre-review channel" in 2026.Leveraging 20 years of local port experience,Zhongshitong delivers the commitment of "100% pre-review pass rate for imported food".For further assistance,please contact us privately to get the *2026 Food Import Compliance Self-Checklist*.