Cakes under the New Trend of Sino-French Food TradeImport Agent Services?Opportunities?

In recent years, withChina-Europe Railway ExpressWith the normalization of operations and the deep implementation of the "China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement," the penetration of high-quality French food in the Chinese market continues to increase. According to data from the General Administration of Customs in 2023, China's food imports from France grew by 18.7% year-on-year, with the import value of bakery products (HS code 1905) increasing by 22%. French cakes, with their process advantages and brand premium, have become a popular category in the imported food sector. However, as perishable goods, cakes involve multiple compliance requirements such as cold chain logistics, animal and plant quarantine, and EU export controls, posing extremely high challenges to enterprises' supply chain management capabilities.Zhong Shen International Trade Co., Ltd.As a senior consultant with 20 years of experience in theExport Agent ServicesAs a professional service provider in the field, relying on 20 years of industry experience, we focus on the two core areas of document processing and logistics services, providing enterprises with a full-chain solution from order to delivery.

The Core Documentation System and Agency Service Value for French Cake Imports

Document compliance is the "lifeline" of foodImport Customs Clearance. The core documents required for French cake imports include:

• Basic commercial documents: Commercial Invoice (must specify cargo description, unit price, total amount, and origin), Packing List (listing packaging specifications, gross/net weight, shipping mark information), Bill of Lading (Maritime transport/Air freightmaster and house bills);
• Officially certified document: Official French Health Certificate (issued by the DGAL agency under the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food, must state "complies with EU food hygiene regulations (EC 852/2004) and Chinese import requirements"),Origin Certificate(if applying for China-EU agreement tariff preferences, an EUR.1 format Certificate of Origin is required);
• Product-specific documents: Component Analysis Report (must list main raw materials, types and content of additives, complying with GB 2760-2014 "Standards for Uses of Food Additives"), Shelf Life Declaration (must indicate production date, shelf life, and storage conditions, matching the cold chain transport plan);
• Domestic declaration documents: Consignee filing number for imported food, Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit (required to be applied for from customs in advance if the cake contains animal-derived ingredients), safety certificate for food contact materials from the importer and overseas manufacturer.

Our document agency service focuses on the entire process of "pre-audit, translation, and correction": we intervene 30 days in advance to review the validity of overseas documents (such as the signatory's qualifications on the health certificate, the style of the seal on the certificate of origin), provide professional translation of French documents with a dedicated translation seal, and offer correction solutions for potential customs queries such as "inconsistent component content" or "contradiction between storage conditions and transport records," ensuring "document-cargo consistency" and avoiding demurrage fees (typically $200-500 per day) or the risk of return shipment due to document errors.

Full-Chain Management of Cold Chain Logistics: Temperature Control Guarantee from Normandy to the Chinese Table

French cakes often use a "central factory production + quick-freezing to lock in freshness" process, requiring the entire import transportation to maintain a cold chain environment below -18℃. Our logistics service team, based on a three-dimensional model of "transport mode - temperature control equipment - node monitoring," customizes the optimal solution for clients:

Selection of transportation methods: Sea freight reefer containers are a priority recommendation (a 40-foot high cube can load about 8 tons of cargo, with unit costs 60% lower than air freight), with a voyage of about 35 days; if the client has high timeliness requirements (such as for seasonal promotions), we use all-cargo aircraft transport from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport directly to Shanghai/Guangzhou (total journey about 36 hours), combined with the airport's "advance declaration + inspection upon arrival" model to shorten customs clearance time.

Temperature control equipment configuration: We cooperate with shipping companies like Maersk and CMA CGM, as well as Airbus cold chain, to select reefer containers equipped with the TracKing system (real-time monitoring of temperature, humidity, and door openings). We require the container to be pre-cooled to -20℃ before loading, and record the "pre-cooling temperature - loading time - seal number" triple data during loading to ensure traceable temperature control data throughout the transport.

Node monitoring service: Through a logistics tracking system (such as Descartes MacroPoint), we provide real-time updates on the status of "loading at port of origin - D/O exchange at transit port - arrival at destination port." We complete the "Single Window" pre-declaration 3 days before the goods arrive at the port and simultaneously coordinate with the customs inspection department to schedule an inspection time, reducing the goods' dwell time at the terminal (average dwell time for general cargo is 48 hours, which can be compressed to within 24 hours with our optimization).

Handling Special Scenarios: VTB for Russia Re-export BusinessConvert foreign exchange into RMBAdvantages

Some enterprises are involved in re-exporting French cakes to RussiaRe-export Services(e.g., radiating to the CIS market through a Moscow distribution center). Such business requires special attention to the compliance of cross-border settlement. We have established long-term cooperation with Russia'sforeign tradeVTB Bank and can offer the following settlement advantages:

• Multi-currency settlement support: Supports settlement in Euro, Ruble, and RMB, avoiding the risk of single currency exchange rate fluctuations;
• Sanctions compliance screening: Through VTB's automatic OFAC/SWIFT sanctions list screening system, we ensure that counterparties are not on international sanctions lists;
• Improved settlement timeliness: Relying on VTB's clearing network in Europe, the time for cross-border Euro/Ruble remittances to arrive is shortened to T+1 day (conventional banks require T+3 days).

It should be specially noted that business with Russia requires additional documents such as a "re-export trade contract" and an "end-user statement." We can assist in reviewing the completeness of these documents, but the client remains the subject of the settlement; the agency only provides channel support.

Customer Notice: Certification Requirements and the Scope of Agency Services

French cake imports involve two key certifications, but we do not directly provide certification services. Clients need to complete them on their own or through a third-party agency:

1. Registration of overseas production enterprises: According to Announcement No. 28 of the General Administration of Customs in 2022, French cake manufacturers must register with the GACC's "Management System for Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food" (registration type: "pastries"). Enterprises need to contact the French DGAL agency in advance to submit their registration application;
2. Chinese label filing: Imported cakes must have a Chinese label that complies with GB 7718-2011 "General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods" (must indicate the name, address, and contact information of the domestic agent, as well as storage conditions). The label sample needs to be filed through the "Imported FoodCosmeticsSubmit the "Tag Registration System" for review.

We can provide a label review template, registration process guidance, and a list of common questions (such as "materials for applying for a registration system account," "calculation logic for the nutrition facts table on the label") to help clients efficiently complete their certification preparations.

Full-Process Agency Service: A 9-Step Closed Loop from Consultation to Feedback

Considering the special nature of cake imports, we have broken down the agency process into 9 key nodes to ensure each step is controllable and traceable:

1. Client Consultation: Preliminary judgment of regulatory conditions (e.g., whether an animal and plant quarantine permit is required) based on the HS code (1905900090) and product ingredient list;
2. Negotiation and Contract Signing: Clarify the scope of services (whether it includes logistics, whether it involves re-export to Russia), and agree on terms such as the allocation of demurrage fees and responsibility for document delays;
3. Orders & Payment: Assist in reviewing the "quality clause" in the purchase contract (e.g., "sensory indicators after thawing"), and recommend using?L/C?(L/C) or D/P at sight payment methods to reduce risk;
4. Production supervision: Commission a third-party inspection agency in France (e.g., BV, SGS) for pre-shipment inspection, focusing on checking the "center temperature of frozen products" and "packaging integrity";
5. Logistics Management: Choose the mode of transport based on cargo value and timeliness, sign a reefer container booking agreement to secure space, and simultaneously arrange for cargo insurance (it is recommended to purchase all-risks insurance + refrigerated cargo rider);
6. Customs Compliance: Submit the customs declaration through the "Single Window," cooperate with customs inspection (e.g., drawing samples for laboratory testing of microbiological indicators), and pay customs duties (MFN tariff rate 15%, VAT 13%) on behalf of the client;
7. Delivery and Distribution: Arrange for a fleet with a "Road Transport Operation Permit (Refrigerated Vehicle)" to deliver to the client's designated warehouse, with full GPS tracking and temperature records retained;
8. Quality Assurance: Assist the client in completing arrival inspection (e.g., taste test after thawing). If cargo damage is found, assist in initiating a claim with the insurance company or carrier;
9. Summary Feedback: Provide a "Full-Process Import Cost Analysis Report" (including details of sea freight, customs duties, inspection fees, etc.), and establish a client service file for future cooperation optimization.

Against the backdrop of continuously warming Sino-French food trade, choosing a professional import agency is essentially choosing "risk transfer capability" and "efficiency improvement space." With 20 years of industry experience, we use documentation and logistics as dual drivers to clear the "last mile" for French cake imports, helping high-quality French flavors reach Chinese consumers efficiently.