Complete Guide to Italian Food Import Customs Clearance: Key Nodes from Access to Release

Italian Food Import Customs Clearance: Core Compliance & Practical Guide for 2026

In 2026,EU trade policies will continue to tighten,and Italian food importers will face new compliance requirements such as CBAM Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism declaration and EPR Extended Producer Responsibility Directive.As a broker with 20 years of experience at Shanghai Port,we recently handled an Italian cheese import case: an enterprise failed to complete the GACC Overseas Food Production Enterprise Registration (as required by Decree No.248) in advance,resulting in 7 days of port detention and detention fees exceeding RMB 30,000.Such issues can be completely avoided through pre-audit.

Customs Valuation: Key to Cost Control for Italian Food Imports

Customs valuation for Italian food imports needs to be based on documents such as FOB price,certificate of origin,and trade contract.In 2026,customs will be stricter in valuing high-value Italian foods such as wine and olive oil.Enterprises must provide true and valid proof of transaction price to avoid tax supplements or inspections due to false price declarations.For example,an enterprise importing Italian sparkling wine had its valuation increased by 15% because it failed to provide the original factory invoice,resulting in an additional tax payment of over RMB 20,000.

Commodity Inspection Pre-Audit: Avoid Label & Ingredient Risks in Advance

Key Compliance Points for Pre-Packaged Food Labels

Imported Italian pre-packaged food must comply with the GB 7718-2021 standard,with core attention to the following details:

• Whether food additives in the ingredient list are within the scope permitted by GB 2760-2024,e.g.preservatives in Italian pasta must meet national standard limits;
• Chinese labels must include product name,net content,country of origin,production date,shelf life,importer information and contact details;
• Special foods (such as infant cereal supplementary food) require additional nutritional component testing reports and import health food approval certificates.

Practical Case: Label Rectification for Italian Olive Oil

Situation: In March 2026,a trading company imported Italian extra virgin olive oil.During commodity inspection,it was found that the label did not indicate the national standard grade and acidity value corresponding to "extra virgin".Task: Complete label rectification quickly to avoid port detention.Action: We assisted the enterprise in contacting the Italian manufacturer to provide product grade certification and acidity test reports,redesigned Chinese labels that meet national standard requirements,and submitted rectification applications to the commodity inspection department simultaneously.Result: Passed commodity inspection within 2 days,goods were released smoothly,avoiding detention fees of over RMB 5,000 per day.

Animal & Plant Quarantine: Access Threshold for Italian Food Imports

Italian foods such as honey and meat products must provide a Phytosanitary/Health Certificate and comply with China’s animal and plant quarantine regulations.In 2026,customs will strengthen African swine fever virus testing for Italian meat products.Enterprises must ensure that foreign manufacturers have completed registration with the General Administration of Customs of China (Decree No.248).For example,an enterprise importing Italian ham had its goods returned because the foreign manufacturer was not registered,resulting in losses exceeding RMB 100,000.

Import License Application: Required Documents for Specific Foods

Import of special Italian foods such as dairy products and meat requires advance application for the Import Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit.The processing period is usually 10-15 working days,and enterprises need to reserve sufficient time to avoid being unable to clear customs after goods arrive at the port.We recommend that enterprises confirm the application conditions and processing period before signing trade contracts to ensure smooth procedures.

Core Policies & Risk Warnings for Italian Food Import Customs Clearance in 2026

Zhongshitong’s National Port Collaboration Capabilities

As a brokerage with its headquarters in Shanghai,we have the capability for cross-port declaration across national ports,and can assist enterprises in completing Italian food customs clearance at ports such as Shenzhen,Guangzhou,and Tianjin.Meanwhile,our global brokerage network can review documents in advance in Italy to ensure the accuracy of the ENS Entry Summary Declaration and reduce customs clearance risks.For example,when an enterprise imported Italian chocolate at Tianjin Port,we completed customs clearance within 3 days through the cross-port declaration system of our Shanghai headquarters,reducing the time by 50% compared to traditional procedures.

Summary: Italian food import customs clearance requires attention to policy changes and detailed compliance.Choosing a senior broker can effectively avoid hidden costs such as detention fees and label rectification,and ensure rapid release of goods.We recommend that enterprises fully communicate with brokers before importing,complete document pre-audit and policy compliance checks in advance,and avoid unnecessary losses.