2026 Professional Compliance Guide for Full Process of Japanese Food Import Customs Declaration

In 2026,the scale of Japan’s food import trade to China continues to grow,but there are still many compliance traps in food import customs clearance at Shanghai Port and other ports across the country.As a foreign trade agency headquartered in Shanghai,we focus on the full-chain risk points of Japanese food import customs declaration and provide implementable practical solutions for importers.

Core Compliance Nodes for Japanese Food Import Customs Declaration

Japanese food import customs declaration needs to cover two major supervision systems: customs and entry-exit inspection and quarantine.The core nodes include four modules: overseas production enterprise registration,document preparation,inspection compliance,and tax and fee calculation,each of which directly affects the efficiency and cost of customs clearance.

1.Registration of Overseas Production Enterprises (Updated Requirements of GACC Decree 248 in 2026)

According to the newly revised Regulations on the Administration of Registration of Overseas Production Enterprises of Imported Food (Decree 248) issued by the General Administration of Customs in 2026,all production enterprises in Japan that export food to China must complete GACC registration and obtain a registration number,otherwise the goods will be directly returned.

• The registration period is usually 15-20 working days,and the application shall be submitted by the domestic importer or its agency
• Production license issued by the Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare of Japan and enterprise self-inspection system documents shall be provided
• New requirement in 2026: Registration information shall be linked with Japan Customs export declaration data in real time to avoid inconsistency between goods and documents

2.Core Document Preparation and Commodity Inspection

The core documents for Japanese food import include Certificate of Origin (FORM R,eligible for RCEP tariff preferences),Phytosanitary Certificate,Health Certificate,bill of lading,etc.Among them,the tariff preferences for Japanese food under RCEP in 2026 shall meet the direct transportation rules,and a non-processing certificate shall be provided if the goods are transshipped through a third country.

Key points for attention in commodity inspection:

• The ingredient list of prepackaged food shall meet the label requirements of China’s GB 7718-2024 (fully implemented in 2026),and food additives shall be included in the list of permitted use in China
• Fresh food shall provide cold chain transportation records to prove that the whole-process temperature meets China’s entry requirements
• Shanghai Port added an AI intelligent inspection system in 2026.If the matching degree between document information and actual goods is lower than 90%,targeted inspection will be triggered

3.Customs Valuation and Tax & Fee Calculation

In 2026,the customs valuation system is upgraded to AI dynamic valuation.If the deviation between the price declared by the importer and the average export price of Japan in the same period exceeds 10%,price consultation will be triggered.Please note:

• Authentic transaction contracts,invoices,and foreign exchange payment vouchers shall be provided as price evidence
• Tariff preferences under RCEP shall match the FORM R document,otherwise tax reduction cannot be enjoyed
• Some Japanese specialty foods (such as Wagyu beef,sake) may be subject to anti-dumping duties,and the latest 2026 tax rate shall be verified in advance

4.Chinese Label Filing and Implementation

For imported prepackaged Japanese food,Chinese label filing shall be completed before entry.Shanghai Port supports online pre-review in 2026,and labels can be directly pasted and released after passing the pre-review.Please note:

• The label shall include 12 mandatory items such as product name,ingredient list,net content,country of origin,and importer information
• Food additives shall be marked with specific names,and vague expressions such as "flavor" shall not be used
• If filing is not done in advance,rectification will be required during inspection,resulting in port detention fees

Risk Warning for Japanese Food Import Customs Declaration

Common hidden risks in actual operation include:

• Document exchange fee trap: Some freight forwarders charge high document exchange fees,so the scope of all-inclusive fees shall be clarified in advance
• Demurrage fee: If the documents are not fully prepared,resulting in failure to declare the goods in time after arrival at the port,a demurrage fee of 0.05% of the value of the goods will be incurred daily
• Exchange loss risk: If non-compliant settlement methods are adopted,you may face foreign exchange control penalties.It is recommended to use foreign exchange settlement under current account

Actual case: In 2025,an importer in Shanghai imported Japanese matcha powder.Because it did not verify in advance whether the food additives met the GB standards,the inspection was delayed for 7 days,resulting in port detention fees of about 23,000 yuan.With the assistance of the agency to rectify the label and conduct expedited pre-review,the release was completed within 3 days,avoiding additional losses.

Localized Service Advantages

As a foreign trade agency headquartered in Shanghai,we have the ability to link ports across the country and can provide:

• Full-process GACC registration agency service,shortening the registration period to 10 working days
• Document pre-review pre-service,checking compliance risks in advance
• Exclusive green channel at Shanghai Port,priority for inspection and release
• Full-process risk control warning,avoiding hidden costs and compliance risks