Is it mandatory to entrust an agency company for exporting food?

According to the regulations implemented in 2025,"Food Safety Management Measures",food export enterprises may chooseSelf-declarationorEntrusting an AgentTwo modes.However,it is recommended to entrust a professional agent in actual operations:

• CustomsAEO-certifiedenterprisesarerequiredtohaveaprofessionalcustomsdeclarationteam.
• Specialcertificationsforthetargetmarket(suchasEUFVOinspections)requireagentregistration.
• Specialtransportationmethodssuchascoldchainlogisticsinvolvemulti-partycoordination.

How to judge the professional qualifications of an agency company?

The latest verification standards for 2025 should focus on three dimensions:

• Legalqualifications:
  • Customs-registeredcustomsdeclarationenterprise
  • PossessingaFoodDistributionLicense
  • Internationalfreightforwardingqualification(FIATAcertificationpreferred)
• Industry experience:
  • Exportcasesofsimilarfoodproductsinthepast3years≥20.
  • ColdchainfoodrequiresATPcertificateoperationexperience.
• Service Network:
  • QualificationsoftheDestinationPortCustomsClearancePartner
  • OverseasWarehouseTemperatureControlSystemCertificationDocuments

What necessary expenses are included in the agency fees?

In the 2025s,there were significant changes in the composition of agency service fees:

• Basicservicefee(Accountfor60-70%):
  • Customsdeclarationpre-entryandsubmission
  • Applicationforthe.
  • Compliancedocumentreview
• • PresentationofL/Cdocuments:800-1500yuanperorder
  • Agencyforexporttaxrebate:5%-8%ofthetaxrebateamount
  (Recommended choice):
  • Overseasmarketaccessconsulting(e.g.U.S.FDAregistration)
  • TransportationPlanOptimization(ReducingCargoDamageRate)
  • Tariffplanning(applicationofRCEPagreementrates)

How to Apply for Common Export Food Certifications?

The certification requirements vary significantly across different target markets:

• BasicAuthentication:
  • ChinaCustomsExportFoodProductionEnterpriseRegistration(Validfor5Years)
  • HACCPCertification(Newmandatoryrequirementforfrozenfoodsin2025)
• Regional certification:
  • EU:BRCGSCertification+OrganicFoodEC834/2007Certification
  • UnitedStates:FSMARegistration+USDAGradingCertification
  • Japan:JASCertification+PositiveListSystemComplianceStatement

Which stages are prone to causing goods to be detained by customs?

The cases reported by the General Administration of Customs in 2025 revealed the main risk points:

• LabelProblemAccountingfor35%:
  • NutritionFactstableuniterror(e.g.mixingkilojoulesandkilocalories)
  • Allergeninformationmissing(EUrequireslabelingof14categories)
• Certificate defectAccount for 28%:
  • Thesignatoryofthehealthcertificatehasnotbeenregistered.
  • Thetestreporthasexceededitsvalidityperiod(mostcountriesrequire≤6months).

What legal risks should be considered when selecting an agency company?

It is recommended to clearly specify the following terms in the agency agreement:

• ClauseonJointandSeveralLiabilityforDocumentAuthenticity
• TradeSecretProtectionClause(IncludingFormulaConfidentialityAgreement)
• ForceMajeureExemptionClause(referringtothe2023revisedversionofINCOTERMS)
• Disputeresolutionclause(recommendspecifyingChinaInternationalEconomicandTradeArbitrationCommission)