New Trends in 2025 Coffee Bean Import Policy

According to GACC Announcement No.68,starting January 2025,the import tariff for raw coffee beans will be adjusted from 9% to 7.5%,while roasted coffee beans remain at 15%.Inspection and quarantine departments are strengtheningAflatoxin B1andOchratoxin Adetection standards,requiring imported coffee beans to be accompanied by bothCIQ Sanitary CertificateandPhytosanitary Certificate of Originfor double protection.

Breakdown of Core Import Process Steps

• InitialQualificationPreparation
  • ApplyforAutomaticImportLicense(additionalapprovalrequiredfortariff-ratequotas)
  • VerifyChinaregistrationstatusofoverseassuppliers
• Preparation before cargo arrival at port
  • CreateChineselabelscompliantwithGB7718standards
  • VerifyHSCodeclassification(0901.11/0901.21)
• Key Port Customs Control Points
  • Declarationelementsmustinclude9indicatorssuchasroastingdegreeandprocessingmethod
  • Fulltraceabilityofcontainertemperaturerecordsisrequired

Response Strategies for Typical Clearance Issues

In March 2025,a Yunnan trading company’s Colombian coffee beans were delayed due tomissing nutritional fact tables on labelsleading to demurrage; clearance was completed by applying for a third-party test report and paying a deposit.Enterprises are advised:

• Pre-packagedfoodmustcompleteChineselabelfilinginadvance
• Humiditychangesduringtransitmaycausequalitydisputes
• Mixed-origincoffeebeansmustdeclareblendingratiosseparately

Analysis of Professional Agency Service Value

ExcellentThe agency should possess:

• Real-timeupdatedCustomsCommodityClassificationDatabase
• NegotiationcapabilitieswithinspectionagenciesatmajorportsregardingFast-trackinspectionchannels
• Applyforexemptionfromcertification(meetingtheconditionsoftheImplementationRulesforExemptionfromCompulsoryProductCertification)Customsvaluationdispute.
• CountermeasureTechnicalBarrierstoTradeEmergencycontingencyplans

2025 List of Key Monitored Production Areas

Based on China Customs risk monitoring data,focus on:

• Vietnam:Strengthenmoisturecontenttesting(Standard≤12.5%)
• Brazil:Verifymoisture-proofmeasuresduringtransport
• Ethiopia:Verifybiodiversitycertificationdocuments

Cost control and time efficiency management

Using professional agents can save15-20% in demurrage costs:

• Advancedeclarationcanshortenclearancetimeby2businessdays
• Electronictariffpaymentenjoysa0.5%feereduction
• Choosingdesignatedlabtestingsaves3daysinthesamplingcycle