Guide to Full Process Operation Details and Risk Mitigation for Snack Food Import Agency at Shanghai Port

Key Operation Points of the Full Process for Snack Food Import Agency

1.Customs Valuation: Avoid Price Disputes and Exchange Loss Risks

In 2026,the General Administration of Customs (GACC) has further refined the valuation rules for imported food,focusing on verifying the authenticity of transaction prices,especially for related party transaction declarations.I once encountered a client who imported nuts from Southeast Asia.Due to failure to provide complete supporting documents for related party transactions,the dutiable value was increased by 30% during customs valuation,resulting in additional customs duty and value-added tax of nearly RMB 200,000.For such cases,the agency shall assist the client in sorting out materials such as proof of ownership,purchase contracts,and third-party valuation reports in advance.Meanwhile,combined with the preferential tariff policies of RCEP member states,the agency shall review the conformity of the certificate of origin in advance to ensure the client enjoys the preferential tariff rate.

In addition,attention shall be paid to hidden cost traps under FOB terms.Some clients ignore the truthful declaration of ocean freight and insurance premiums,leading to failure in customs valuation.ZST’s operation team will sort out trade terms in advance,clarify the declaration scope of various costs,and avoid penalties and delays caused by false declarations.

2.Pre-Inspection: Avoid Label and Compliance Risks

The Chinese label of pre-packaged snack food is the core of customs inspection.In 2026,the latest revised version of GB 7718-2011 was officially implemented,with stricter requirements for the labeling of ingredient lists,food additives,and nutrition facts tables.For example,the specific content of aspartame,which is commonly found in imported puffed food,must be clearly marked and comply with domestic food additive use standards.

I once handled a case of imported biscuits from Europe.The Chinese labels printed by the client themselves did not indicate the specific category of edible flavor,so the customs required the goods to be returned for rectification,which delayed the Christmas sales window.The agency shall pre-review the label samples of overseas manufacturers in advance,check them one by one against national standards,and assist the client in completing food import filing to ensure the labels meet requirements.

3.Animal and Plant Quarantine: Special Requirements for Fresh Snack Foods

If the imported snack food includes categories requiring animal and plant quarantine such as nuts,dried fruits,and preserved fruits,the Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit shall be obtained in advance,and overseas manufacturers shall be included in the registration list under GACC Decree No.248.In 2026,the return rate of imported food from unregistered enterprises increased to 82%,so the agency shall verify the registration status of overseas enterprises in advance to avoid goods being detained due to qualification issues.

In addition,snack foods from some countries such as Australia and New Zealand require an official Phytosanitary Certificate.It is necessary to ensure that the product name and quantity on the certificate are consistent with the actual goods,otherwise the goods will be detained by the quarantine department.

4.Import License and Foreign Exchange Settlement Compliance

Some special snack foods such as pre-packaged coffee and chocolate products require import licenses.The agency shall confirm the supervision conditions corresponding to the product’s HS Code in advance and assist the client in submitting applications through the Ministry of Commerce system.In 2026,foreign exchange settlement rules have been further simplified,but the authenticity of trade background still needs to be ensured.The agency shall assist the client in completing foreign exchange payment verification to avoid foreign exchange control risks caused by inconsistent documents.

Core Risk Warning List

• Demurrage Trap: Some freight forwarders may hide hidden costs such as terminal storage fees and bill of lading exchange fees.The agency shall list all charging details in advance to avoid additional expenses.
• Label Non-Compliance Risk: Labels that do not mark ingredients and additives in accordance with national standards will be required to be rectified or returned,which directly affects the sales cycle.
• Qualification Non-Conformity Risk: If overseas manufacturers are not registered with the GACC,the goods will be directly returned,resulting in heavy losses.
• Valuation Dispute Risk: Inconsistency between the declared price and the customs valuation will lead to tax supplementary payment,late payment penalties,and even administrative penalties.

Comparison of Customs Clearance Efficiency of Major Domestic Ports (2026)

Practical Case Review

In 2025,a Zhejiang-based client imported South Korean snack biscuits.When declaring on their own,the goods were returned by customs because the labels did not include the nutrition facts table,delaying the Mid-Autumn Festival sales season.After ZST took over the case,we completed the label pre-review and rectification within 3 working days,assisted the client in resubmitting the declaration,and finally the goods arrived at the domestic warehouse 7 days ahead of schedule,catching up with the peak sales season,and the client’s sales increased by 40%.

Relying on a linked declaration network covering 12 direct customs offices across China,ZST provides one-stop services such as off-site customs clearance and local inspection.We have also established cooperation with compliance institutions in over 30 countries worldwide to ensure the authenticity and compliance of overseas documents.No matter whether your snack foods come from Southeast Asia,Europe or North America,we can provide standardized import agency services to help you avoid all compliance risks and quickly introduce high-quality global products to the Chinese market.