I.CookiesWhat qualifications does the company need to have?

When selecting an agency,it is necessary to carefully verify the following qualification documents:

• CustomsAEOcertification:Provethattheenterprisemeetsthecustomscreditmanagementstandards(by2025,thecustomsclearanceinspectionrateofChineseAEOenterpriseswillbe40%lowerthanthatofregularenterprises).
• FoodCirculationLicenseandExportFoodRegistrationCertificate
• InternationalFreightForwardingAgentQualification(FIATAmembershipoffersevengreateradvantages)
• RecordofInternationalTradeInsuranceCooperation

It is recommended that the agency provide similar products from the past three years.Single sample,verify its operational normality.

II.What are the steps involved in the standard operating procedure for cookie exports?

The typical export process is divided into five stages:

• Thepreparationstageofthecontract
  • Definethetradeterms(itisrecommendedtouseEXWorFOBforthefirstcooperation).
  • Developaproductspecificationdocument(whichmustincludekeyindicatorssuchasmoisturecontentandadditivestandards).
• Logistics execution stage
  • Containertemperaturecontrol(suggestedtemperatureforcrispybiscuits:18-22°C)
  • Doubleinspectionofmoisture-proofpackaging(dualmonitoringwithhumidityindicatoranddesiccant)
• Customs declaration and inspection stage
  • Applyfor(theregionalpreferentialtaxratecanbereducedbyupto15%)
  • HealthCertificateProcessing(Thetestingperiodisusually5-7workingdays)

III.What international certifications must be obtained for exporting cookies?

In addition to the basic HACCP and ISO 22000 certifications,different target markets have specific requirements:

• EuropeanandAmericanmarkets:FDAfoodregistration,allergenlabeling,andnutritionlabeling
• MiddleEastmarket:Halalcertificationandproofofextendedshelflife
• TheJapaneseandKoreanmarkets:PositiveListSystemTesting(over500pesticideresidueitems)

An export case of soda crackers shows that the entire container was returned due to the failure to obtain the KFDA certification in South Korea,resulting in losses exceeding 120,000 US dollars.

What items usually are included in the agency service fees?

A standard quotation should include:

• Basicservicefee(accountingforabout1.2-2.5%ofthevalueofthegoods)
• Specialservicefee
  • Certificatehandlingfee(variesfrom$200to$800forsingledocuments)
  • Inspectionassistancefee(500-2000yuanpertime)
• Emergency response reserve fund (it is recommended to set aside 3% of the total value of the goods as a reserve fund)

5.How to avoid common customs clearance issues?

According to the customs data for 2024,the main customs clearance obstacles for biscuit products include:

• Theingredientlabelingdoesnotcomplywithregulations(accountingfor43%ofthedisputedcases).
• Calculationerroroftheshelflife(theproductiondateformatmustcomplywithlocalregulations).
• Thewoodenpackaginghasnotbeentreated(IPPCmarkingisrequired).

It is recommended that the agency provide pre-confirmation services from the customs of the target country and review the declaration documents in advance.

Sixth,how to handle special transportation requirements?

Special handling solutions for different product categories:

• Sandwichcookies:Requirecontainerstobeequippedwithdehumidificationequipment(humidity≤65%)
• Fermentedbiscuits:Pleaseprovidethedocumentprovingtheactivityofthefermentationbacteria
• Wafflebiscuits:TheshockproofpackagingmustpasstheISTA3Etest.

7.How to evaluate an agency’s emergency response capability?

It can be examined from three dimensions:

• Thecoverageofoverseasservicenetworks(itisrecommendedtochooseanagentwithitsownofficeinthetargetcountry)
• Crisisresponsetime(qualityagentspromisetoinitiateemergencyprocedureswithin2hours)
• Thehistoricaldisputeresolutionrate(pleaseprovidecasesofdisputehandlinginthepasttwoyears)