Chongqing Food Import Agency: Customs Valuation and Label Filing Practice

Chongqing Food Import Agency: Customs Valuation and Label Filing Practice

As a core food consumption city in Southwest China,Chongqing’s import demand has increased by 15% annually in recent years,but food import involves multiple links such as customs valuation,commodity inspection pre-review,and quarantine certificates.Taking a Chongqing import and export company represented by Zhongshitong as an example,when it imported Southeast Asian fruit cans,it was rejected because the labels did not meet national standards,and finally avoided port detention through early pre-review and rectification.This article,combined with the latest regulatory requirements of Shanghai Port in 2026,breaks down the core operation nodes of Chongqing food import agency.

1.Customs Valuation: The "Triple Verification" Logic of Price Declaration

Customs valuation is the first checkpoint for Chongqing food import agencies.The 2026 "Measures for Customs Determination of Dutiable Value of Import and Export Goods" clearly adopts the "transaction value method" as the preferred standard.Enterprises need to provide three types of supporting materials: 1.Statement of business relationship with the seller (proving no related-party transactions); 2.Payment vouchers for commissions and brokerage fees (to be listed separately if any); 3.Details of transportation and insurance cost allocation (supplementary required for FOB terms).

Zhongshitong once assisted a Chongqing trading company in handling imported Italian olive oil,which was questioned because the declared price differed by 12% from similar products in the same period.By retrieving the origin certificate,supplier quotation,and international bulk commodity index,it was proved that the price conformed to the "transaction value method for identical goods",and the customs finally recognized the declared price,avoiding a supplementary tax of 280,000 yuan.

• Common Disputes: Transaction prices between importers and related parties,whether overseas service fees are included in costs,and identification of non-trade commissions.
• Practical Suggestions: Complete the pre-review of "manifest confirmation + price explanation" 72 hours in advance,and focus on marking the "non-related-party transaction statement" and "cost composition table".

2.Commodity Inspection Pre-review: The "Four-Step Compliance Method" for Label Filing

Prepackaged food labels must comply with GB 7718-2026 "National Food Safety Standard General Rules for Prepackaged Food Labels".Zhongshitong recommends Chongqing enterprises adopt the dual-track system of "Shanghai Port pre-review + Chongqing local rectification":

• The initial label draft provided by foreign suppliers must include: product name,ingredient list (in descending order of content),net content,allergen prompt (in bold),and nutrition facts table (core indicator units must be g/100g or mg/100g).
• Submit the electronic label draft to Shanghai Port 3 working days in advance,and the customs will issue the "Label Review Opinion Form" (queryable through the "Single Window").
• Chongqing local warehouses simultaneously prepare compliant storage plans to ensure temperature and humidity meet food storage requirements.
• Complete label rectification within 24 hours after the goods arrive at the port,and apply to the customs for inspection and release at the same time.

Ms.Hong from a Chongqing import and export company once had her order rejected at Chongqing Port because the label did not use Chinese to express "Nutrition Facts Table (NRV%)".The Zhongshitong team assisted her in redesigning the label within 3 days and passing the Shanghai pre-review,and the goods finally cleared customs smoothly.

3.Animal and Plant Quarantine: "Dual Certificates + Cold Chain" Requirements for Special Foods

Animal-derived foods (meat,dairy products) need to provide: 1.Registration number of foreign production enterprises in China (filed under GACC Order 248); 2.Veterinary Certificate; 3.Cold chain transportation temperature records (full monitoring at -18℃±2℃).Plant-derived foods (fruits,dry goods) need to additionally provide: 1.Phytosanitary Certificate; 2.Fumigation and disinfection certificate (wooden packaging must comply with IPPC standards if applicable).

New requirement in 2026: Imported cold chain foods must be accompanied by a COVID-19 test report (issued by an official laboratory of the exporting country).Zhongshitong can verify the validity of the test report in advance through its global agent network,avoiding delays in customs clearance for Chongqing enterprises due to "non-compliant test report format".

4.Risk Warning: Three Hidden Cost Control Guidelines

1.Demurrage Trap: If customs clearance is not done in time after the goods arrive at the port,demurrage of 500-2000 yuan per day will be incurred (highest at Yangshan Port).Zhongshitong suggests: Complete "manifest confirmation + document pre-review" 72 hours before the goods arrive at the port,and apply for "advance declaration" at the same time.

2.Exchange Loss Risk: RMB exchange rate fluctuations may lead to increased costs.Solution: Adopt "cross-border RMB settlement + forward exchange settlement to lock the exchange rate".Zhongshitong’s partner banks can provide real-time exchange rate monitoring services.

3.Label Rectification Fee: The average rectification fee per label is 12,000-28,000 yuan (including design,printing,and filing).Pre-review through Shanghai Port can reduce the rectification rate by 60%.Zhongshitong provides a "label template library" (containing more than 200 compliance cases) for enterprises to reference.

5.Zhongshitong Service Advantages: Shanghai Port Empowers Chongqing Enterprises

Relying on hubs such as Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port,Yangshan Port,and Pudong Airport,Zhongshitong provides "one-time declaration,multi-location linkage" services: 1.Shanghai Port import: Complete customs declaration entry within 24 hours,and issue inspection notice within 3 working days; 2.Chongqing local delivery: Ensure delivery to the enterprise’s designated warehouse within 48 hours through the "door-to-door" cold chain special line; 3.Global agent network: Covering major food-producing areas such as Southeast Asia and Europe,it can directly connect with suppliers to complete "direct procurement from origin".

A Chongqing catering chain enterprise imported Australian beef through Zhongshitong’s agency,achieved a 3.2% tariff reduction using the RCEP origin certificate,and compressed the overall customs clearance time from the industry average of 15 days to 7 days through the "advance declaration + batch inspection" plan.

Conclusion: Core Value of Chongqing Food Import Agency

The essence of food import agency is "compliance management + risk control".With 20 years of practical experience at Shanghai Port,Zhongshitong has formed a standardized process of "pre-review - declaration - inspection - delivery",helping Chongqing enterprises avoid more than 90% of customs clearance risks.For specific case analysis or the latest policy interpretation,you can contact professional consultants to obtain customized solutions.