The Opportunities and Challenges of German Biscuit Imports amid the Heating Up of Sino-German Food Trade

In recent years,Sino-German bilateral trade has continued to deepen.In 2023,China’s total food imports from Germany increased by 18% year-on-year,with baked goods (including cookies) accounting for more than 30% of the total.German cookies are widely favored by domestic consumers for their rigorous production processes and high-quality ingredients.However,the dual constraints of the EU’s strict food regulations (such as the EC 1169/2011 labeling standard) and China’s import food supervision requirements (GB 7718-2011 labeling guidelines) have made the customs clearance process highly complex.Against this backdrop,professional The agent’s ability to handle documents,coordinate logistics,and ensure compliance has become a key factor for importers to reduce costs and shorten delivery cycles.

German biscuitThe core of it is the professional construction of the single document system.

Documentation is the "passport" for import customs clearance,and its integrity and accuracy directly determine the efficiency of customs clearance.As a professional agent,we focus on controlling the following seven core documents in the import of German biscuits:

• BasicCommercialDocuments:Businessinvoice(whichmustlisttheproductspecifications,unitprice,andcountryoforigin),packinglist(indicatinggross/netweightandpackagingtype),andbilloflading./(MainOrderandSub-Orders).Theagentneedstoverifythattheinvoiceamountisconsistentwiththecontracttoavoidcustomsqueriescausedby"under-reportingprices".
• Certificate:GermanyisamemberstateoftheEuropeanUnion,andcompaniescanapplyforEUR.1certificatesoforigin(applicabletotheChina-EUPreferentialTradeAgreement),whichenablethemtoenjoyMost-Favored-Nation(MFN)tariffrates(forbiscuits,theHScodeis2008.1100,withanMFNtariffof15%andageneraltariffof90%).AgentsneedtoguideexporterstoapplytoGermancustomsorchambersofcommerceinadvance,ensuringthatthecertificate’sstampisclearandtheproductdescriptionmatchestheactualgoods.
• Health/HealthCertificate:The"FoodHygieneCertificateforExporttoChina"issuedbyGermanauthoritiesisamandatorydocument,whichmustspecifytheproductingredients,theproductionenterprise’sregistrationnumber(whichmustberegisteredinChina),andstorageconditions(suchas"roomtemperature≤25°C").Theagentneedstocheckthecertificate’svalidityperiod(usually12months)toavoidthegoodsbeingreturnedduetoexpiration.
• Testreport:Includingingredientanalysis(sugarcontent,additivecontent),microbialtesting(totalcolonycount,E.coli),andheavymetaltesting(lead,arsenic).TheagentadvisedclientstorequestSGSorTüVcertificationreportsfromtheGermansideinadvancetoreducetheriskoffailingdomesticcustomsspotchecks.
• PackagingDeclaration:Itisnecessarytospecifythat"thepackagingmaterialscomplywiththesafetystandardsforfoodcontactmaterials(EUEC1935/2004)"andattachasampleoftheChineselabel(includingproductname,ingredients,productiondate,shelflife,andimporter’sinformation).TheagentcanassistinreviewingwhetherthelabelmeetstherequirementsofGB7718,butthelabelregistrationmustbecompletedbytheclientthemselvesorbyentrustingathirdpartytodoso.
• Specialdocuments:Ifitinvolvesgeneticallymodifiedrawmaterials(suchascornstarch),anadditional"AgriculturalGeneticallyModifiedOrganismSafetyCertificate"isrequired;forproductscontainingalcohol(suchasrumcookies),an"AlcoholImportLicense"isnecessary.
• PowerofAttorneyforCustomsDeclarationAgency:Theclientneedstosignanauthorizationletter,whichclearlydefinestheauthorityoftheagenttohandlecustomsdeclarations.Thisisamandatorydocumentforcustomsdeclaration.

By conducting a pre-review of all documents in the entire process (3 to 5 working days in advance),Zhong Shen International Trade Co.Ltd.can control the error rate of documents to less than 2%,which is 60% lower than the industry average.

Logistics Coordination: Full-chain control from the Port of Hamburg to Chinese ports

Most German cookies are shipped by sea (accounting for 85%) from the Port of Hamburg,transited via Rotterdam or the Mediterranean Sea to ports such as Shanghai and Qingdao in China.A small number of high-efficiency demand items are airfreighted from Frankfurt to Beijing/Guangzhou.The key points of the agent’s logistics management are as follows:

• CustomizedTransportationSolutions:Accordingtothecargovolume(selectLCLforsmallbatchesandFCLfororders≥15cubicmeters),deliverytime(35-45daysforseafreightand7-10daysforairfreight),andcost(about$800/cubicmeterforseafreightand$8-12/kgforairfreight),werecommendtheoptimalsolution.Forexample,forholidaypromotionorders,itisrecommendedtobookshippingspacetwomonthsinadvancetoavoidcapacityshortagesduringpeakseasons.
• In-transitmonitoring:Throughtheshippingcompany’sEIRsystem(EquipmentHandoverNote),wecantrackthereal-timemovementsofcontainers.Ifthereareanydelays(suchascongestionintheSuezCanal),wewillimmediatelycoordinatewiththeportorarrangeforrailtransport(forexample,toanotherport).tominimizetheriskofcargodamage.
• Operationsafterarrivingattheport:1.Completethedocumentexchange(exchangethebillofladingforthepickupnotewiththeelectronicreleaseguaranteeortheoriginalbilloflading);2.Submittheinspectiondeclaration(submittheelectronicinspectiondeclarationtothecustomsandobtaintheCIQnumber);3.Submitthecustomsdeclaration(thetaxinvoicewillbeissuedwithin1-2workingdaysaftertheelectronicdeclaration).4.Theagentcanassistclientsinapplyingforthe"two-stepdeclaration"(outlinedeclaration+completedeclaration),reducingthepickuptimefrom5-7daysto2-3days.
• HandlingSpecialLogisticsScenarios:Forsandwich/creambiscuitsrequiringcoldchaintransportation(storagetemperature≤10℃),theagentshallcoordinatewithrefrigeratedtruckfleetsthathavepassedGSPcertificationtoensure"door-to-door"temperaturemonitoring(temperatureloggerdatamustbesubmittedtocustomsalongwiththegoods).

Compliance and Risk: From Tariff Calculation to Business Operations in RussiaAdvantages

Customs compliance is the bottom line for import customs clearance.The import tariff for German biscuits = declared value × 15% (most-favored-nation tariff rate),and the value-added tax = (declared value + tariff) × 13%.Agents need to pay special attention to the following points:

• PriceDeclaration:IftheFOBHamburgclauseisadopted,thecustomsvalue=valueofthegoods+internationalfreight+insurancepremiums(invoicesforfreightandinsurancepoliciesarerequiredassupportingdocuments);ifit’sCIFShanghai,thecustomsvaluewillbedirectlybasedontheCIFprice.
• TariffDispute:Thecustomsinspectionrateisapproximately8-12%.Theagentshouldpreparesamples(500g/variety),originalpackaging(includingforeignlanguagelabels)andinspectionreportsinadvance,andcooperatewiththecustomstocompletethesensoryinspection(appearance,odor)andlaboratorysampling(sendthesamplestothecustomstechnicalcenterfortesting,withacycleof7-10days).

It’s worth noting that some importers optimize their costs through re-exporting to Russia or conducting related-party transactions.Zhong Shen International Trade,relying on its long-term cooperation with VTB Bank (Russia’s foreign trade bank),can provide the following services:

• Double-currencysettlementofrublesandeuros,reducingtheriskofexchangeratefluctuations(forexample,whenthemonthlyfluctuationoftheeuroagainsttheRMBexceeds3%,youcanchoosetosettleinrublestolockincosts);
• Thetimelinessofcross-borderpaymentshasbeenimproved(withfundsarrivinginT+1days,whichis2-3daysfasterthannormalbankingtransfers);
• Anti-moneylaunderingcompliancesupport(assistinginverifyingtheauthenticityoftransactionbackgroundstoavoidbeingaddedtotheOFACsanctionslist).

Customer Notice: Certification and Responsibility Boundaries

The certifications involved in the import of German cookies include:

• TheproductionenterprisemustregisterinChina(andapplythroughtheGeneralAdministrationofCustoms’"RegistrationManagementSystemforOverseasFoodProductionEnterprises").
• Chineselabelregistration(requiressubmittingalabelsample,atranslation,andanexplanatorylettertothelocalcustomsauthority);
• Specialingredientapproval(e.g.ifusingnewfoodrawmaterials,itisnecessarytoobtainthe"NewFoodRawMaterialSafetyReviewApproval"fromtheNationalHealthCommission).

It should be clarified that Zhong Shen International Trade does not directly provide the above-mentioned certification services,but can provide process guidance (such as a list of documents required for registration and key points for label review).It is recommended that clients start the certification process 3-6 months in advance to avoid customs clearance delays due to incomplete qualifications.

Full-Process Agency Service: Closed-Loop Management from Consultation to Feedback

Zhongshen International Trade willThe process is broken down into nine major nodes,with professional controls embedded into each stage:

• CustomerInquiry:Throughpre-classificationbyHScode(e.g.2008.1100correspondingto"otherediblepartsoffruits,nuts,andplantsnotlistedunderotherheadings,preparedorpreservedbyothermethods"),tariffcalculation(simulatedduty-paidprice×15%+value-addedtax),andclarificationofthescopeofservices(whetheritincludeswarehousinganddistribution).
• NegotiationandContractSigning:Reviewthequalityclausesinthecontract(suchas"thedamagerateshallbe≤0.5%"),disputeresolution(selectingtheChinaInternationalEconomicandTradeArbitrationCommission),andpaymentmethods(recommendinga30%advancepaymentplus70%uponreceiptofthebillofladingcopytoreducetheriskofadvancepayments).
• Orders&Payment:AssistinopeningaWhenreviewingLettersofCredit(L/Cs),payattentionto"softclauses"(suchasrequiringexporterstoprovideinspectioncertificatessignedbyimporters),toavoidlosingcontroloverpaymentinitiation.ForT/Tpayments,useVTBBanktocompletecross-bordertransactionstoensurethesafetyoffunds.
• ProductionSupervision:Ifrequestedbytheclient,wecanentrustalocalthird-partyinspectionagencyinGermany(suchasBV)toconductafactoryinspectiontoverifythetraceabilityofrawmaterials(wheat/milkpowderorigin),productionenvironment(GMPcertification),andpackagingsealing(compressiontest).
• QualityAssuranceandFeedback:Aftercustomsclearanceiscompleted,providethe"ImportCustomsClearanceSummaryReport"(includingcustomsclearancetime,taxdetails,andinspectionresults),andassistclientsinhandlingafter-salesissues(suchaspackagingdamagecausedbytransportation,forwhichtheagentcancoordinatewiththeinsurancecompanyforcompensation).

Conclusion: A professional agent is the “efficiency engine” for importing German biscuits.

The import and customs clearance of German cookies involves multiple challenges in terms of policies,documentation,and logistics.Through pre-audit of documents,logistics coordination,and compliance control,professional foreign trade agents can shorten the overall customs clearance period from the industry average of 25-30 days to 15-20 days,reducing hidden costs such as port detention fees (about $50/day/container) and storage fees (about $3/cubic meter/day).Choosing an agent with 20 years of experience is essentially purchasing "risk hedging" and "efficiency insurance" for import business.