Complete Process Analysis of Chengdu Food Import Customs Clearance Agency

Chengdu Food Import Customs Clearance Agency: A Complete Practical Guide from Market Access to ClearanceAs an agency with 20 years of experience at the Shanghai port,I have seen many pitfalls encountered by Chengdu enterprises when importing food.Last year,a Chengdu importer of Southeast Asian snacks,through our agency,had their entire shipment detained at the port for 12 days due to not completing the GACC overseas manufacturer registration (Decree 248) in advance.In this article,I will break down the core steps of Chengdu food import customs clearance with practical details to help you avoid compliance risks.### 1.Customs Valuation: The Declared Value Must Withstand "Peer Comparison"The first hurdle for Chengdu food imports is Customs valuation.Last year,a Chengdu company imported infant formula from New Zealand with a declared unit price of 180 RMB per can,while the average price for similar declarations at the time was 220 RMB per can.Customs directly questioned the "suspicion of low-price declaration." Our response was: **simultaneously providing the Certificate of Origin,purchase contract,exporter’s quotation,** and attaching a third-party price evaluation report.Customs ultimately accepted the declared value.A key reminder here: for food products,Customs valuation focuses on checking "ingredient cost + transportation cost + reasonable profit." If the declared value deviates by more than 15% from similar products,be sure to prepare supporting documents in advance.### 2.CIQ Pre-inspection: The Chinese Label is the "Make-or-Break Line"The major bottleneck in Chengdu food import clearance often occurs during the CIQ (Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine) stage.**The Chinese label must comply with the GB 7718-2011 standard**,with the ingredient list,food additive usage,and allergen warnings being the core review points.I once encountered a Chengdu company importing baking ingredients that were required to be returned or re-labeled at CIQ because they failed to indicate "contains gluten" (an allergen),resulting in a loss of over 100,000 RMB.The correct approach is: **complete label registration 3 months in advance.** Zhongshitong offers one-stop services for label design,translation,and compliance review to ensure conformity with the GB 2760 standard for food additive use.### 3.Animal and Plant Quarantine: The "Two Mandatory Certificates" for Meat/Dairy ProductsFor categories like meat,dairy products,and fruits,it is mandatory to carry the "Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit" and the "Quarantine Certificate from the Exporting Country/Region" (e.g.Phytosanitary Certificate).Last year,a Chengdu frozen meat importer had their goods detained by Customs for failing to provide the latter.Our solution is: **confirm the format of the quarantine certificate with the overseas supplier in advance,** ensuring it contains key information such as "animal origin,processing method,inspection and quarantine number." Notably,starting from 2026,imported meat will require an additional "heat treatment certificate" to avoid rejection due to processing issues.### 4.Import License: First-time Imports Require "Application 30 Days in Advance"If a Chengdu enterprise is importing a certain category of food for the first time (e.g.bird’s nest,olive oil),it needs to apply for the "Food Import License" in advance.We handled a case: Chengdu Company B imported Spanish extra virgin olive oil but could not declare the goods upon arrival at the port because they had not applied for the license beforehand.The correct procedure is: **complete the license application before signing the contract.** Zhongshitong can provide "food use declaration + enterprise qualification documents + product testing report" to shorten the approval cycle to within 5 working days.### 5.Practical Case: How a Chengdu Company Achieved "3-Day Clearance" for Imported Snacks?**Situation (S)**: Chengdu Company C imported sandwich biscuits from South Korea,scheduled to arrive before the Chinese New Year.Due to port congestion during the holiday,they required clearance within 3 days.**Task (T)**: To achieve rapid cargo clearance while ensuring compliance.**Action (A)**: ① Zhongshitong contacted the South Korean agent 15 days in advance to complete the pre-review of GACC overseas manufacturer registration (Decree 248); ② Simultaneously completed Chinese label registration (including GB 7718 standard review); ③ Initiated "pre-declaration" at the Shanghai port 3 days in advance,allowing direct release upon cargo arrival.**Result (R)**: The goods entered the warehouse on time,with no demurrage fees,achieving a 40% faster clearance efficiency compared to similar enterprises.### 6.Chengdu Food Import "Risk Triangle" and Avoid Pitfalls Guide1.**Delayed Label Registration Risk**: Complete label design and review 3 months in advance to avoid rejection due to "format errors";

• **Holiday Port Congestion**: For example,port inspection volume surges from March 15-20 after the 2026 Chinese New Year; it is advisable to avoid this period;
• **Exchange Loss and Hidden Costs**: It is recommended to lock in exchange rates through Zhongshitong’s foreign exchange platform to avoid cost increases due to exchange rate fluctuations;
• **Compliance Red Lines**: The use of absolute claims like "100% natural" or "no additives" is prohibited.GB 7718 explicitly requires "additives must be labeled with specific names and usage limits."As an agency with Shanghai headquarters and Chengdu business coordination,Zhongshitong can help Chengdu enterprises navigate the entire import chain through "port pre-review + remote declaration + global agency network." If you are facing challenges with food imports,you can contact our Manager Miao at any time (contact: 139-1777-6136) for one-on-one compliance diagnostics.