Food Import Customs Brokerage Consultation: Full-Process Compliance Guide from Access Permits to Port Clearance

Core Service Modules of Food Import Customs Brokerage Consultation

1.Customs Valuation & Tariff Calculation

In 2026,the General Administration of Customs (GACC) updated the valuation rules,further clarifying the applicable standards for the transaction value method,especially the stricter requirements for additional cost calculations under EXW and FOB terms.For example,overseas terminal handling charges,storage fees,packing fees,etc.if not included in the declared price,will directly trigger valuation objections.Previously,Mr.Jiang,who we worked with,imported Greek olive oil under FOB terms and omitted overseas terminal handling charges and storage fees in his declaration,leading to non-conformity in customs valuation,3-day port detention of the goods,and nearly 20,000 yuan in demurrage and storage fees.We immediately helped him organize overseas payment vouchers and freight forwarder bills,submit a valuation review application to the customs,and completed the correction within 24 hours,avoiding further cost losses.Meanwhile,we will monitor tariff rate changes in target countries in real time.For example,in 2026,the EU’s anti-dumping tariff on citrus products from China is adjusted to 18%,and we will remind clients in advance to adjust pricing strategies or avoid additional costs through transit trade.

2.Pre-inspection of Commod Inspection & Quarantine & Access Compliance

Pre-inspection of commodity inspection & quarantine is a core pre-process for food import,directly determining whether goods can enter the domestic market.In 2026,the fifth year after the implementation of GACC Order 248,the requirements for overseas manufacturer registration have been further refined,with mandatory registration categories added for fermented foods and infant complementary foods,and the registration validity period extended from 3 years to 5 years.The compliance of Chinese labels on pre-packaged foods is a key focus of pre-inspection.In 2026,the customs canceled the paper filing requirement and switched to online submission of electronic labels,which must strictly comply with GB7718-2024 standards,especially the access scope of food additives in the ingredient list.For example,imported sweetener erythritol has been restricted from use in infant foods.

• Overseas Manufacturer Registration Verification: Must be on the valid list published by GACC.In 2026,mandatory registration requirements for fermented soy products were added.Goods from unregistered manufacturers will be directly re-shipped.
• Food Additive Compliance Review: Additives in pre-packaged food ingredient lists must correspond one-to-one with the access standards of GB2760-2024.Prohibited or restricted components must be checked in advance.
• Electronic Label Pre-inspection: A second-for-second electronic label review system will be implemented in 2026.Label files containing core information such as country of origin,production date,shelf life,and allergen warnings must be uploaded in advance.

3.Animal & Plant Quarantine & Risk Control

Different types of food correspond to different animal & plant quarantine requirements.For example,fresh fruits need to provide official Phytosanitary Certificates and cold treatment records; frozen meat needs to provide Health Certificates.In 2026,RCEP member countries’ tariff preference policies have been further implemented.For example,when importing durian from Thailand,providing a FORM E Certificate of Origin can enjoy zero tariffs,but it is necessary to ensure that the certificate information is completely consistent with the bill of lading and invoice,otherwise the preference cannot be enjoyed and even considered false documents.Previously,Ms.Wei imported frozen beef from Australia,and the batch number was missing in the certificate of origin provided by the foreign supplier,so she could not enjoy the RCEP preferential tax rate.We helped her contact the Australian Embassy in China to re-issue the certificate and applied for accelerated customs inspection,avoiding demurrage losses.

4.Import License Processing & Emergency Handling

Imports of categories such as dairy products,meat,and grains require advance application for import licenses.In 2026,the customs simplified the license application process,and the license will be issued within 2 working days for online applications.However,note that the applicant must be an enterprise with import & export operation rights,and the license validity period must match the arrival time of the goods.In case of emergencies such as document errors or non-conformity in port inspection,our global agency network can assist clients in re-issuing compliant documents overseas and connect to the customs accelerated channel to shorten the processing cycle.For example,a client importing New Zealand milk powder encountered an insufficient validity period of the health certificate provided by the foreign supplier.We assisted the client in contacting the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries to re-issue the certificate and applied for advance customs inspection,avoiding high fees caused by port detention of goods.

Core Risk Warnings for Food Import Customs Clearance

Many importers easily overlook hidden cost traps,such as demurrage fees,document exchange fees,storage fees,etc.These fees are usually not included in the initial quotation.If goods are detained,demurrage fees per container can reach 3,000-5,000 yuan per day,which will greatly increase import costs cumulatively.In addition,foreign exchange markets fluctuated greatly in 2026.If the exchange rate is not locked in advance,exchange losses of 1%-3% may occur.It is recommended to specify an exchange rate locking clause in the contract.Regarding compliance red lines,acts such as false certificates of origin and forged overseas manufacturer registration certificates will be included in the customs dishonesty list,and will be prohibited from engaging in import & export business for 3 years,and face penalties such as goods re-shipment and fines.Our risk control system will review all documents in advance to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and avoid touching compliance red lines.Relying on core resources of Shanghai Port,we can achieve cross-region filing at ports nationwide,without clients needing to travel to various ports.Our global agency network can assist clients in completing document review overseas in advance,ensuring rapid customs clearance after goods arrive at the port.