I.Current situation and policy background of Japanese biscuit import trade

In recent years,China’s imported food market has continued to expand.In 2023,the import value of baked goods (including cookies) increased by 12% year-on-year.Among them,Japanese cookies,with their advantages of "high quality and strong brand",account for more than 20% of the market share in China.This growth is attributed to the fact that after the RCEP agreement came into effect,more than 90% of the trade in goods between China and Japan has gradually achieved zero tariffs.Taking HS code 1905.3100 (cookies,including waffle cookies and communion wafers) as an example,Japanese-origin products can enter the Chinese market with valid certificates.They can enjoy further concessions under the Most-Favored-Nation tariff rate (15%),with some product categories having their tariffs reduced to 5%.

However,it should be noted that after the nuclear wastewater discharge incident in Japan in 2023,China’s customs authorities have strengthened the inspection and quarantine of Japanese food products,requiring importers to provide more detailed reports on the detection of radioactive substances.The customs clearance process may be extended by 3-5 working days.In addition,Japan’s Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare strictly regulates exported food products,requiring companies to comply with the "Food Hygiene Law" and obtain an official health certificate (Certificate of Health) before exportation.This certificate is one of the core documents verified by Chinese customs authorities.

II.Documentation Processing in Core Processes: Key Value of Professional Agents

The document system for importing Japanese cookies can be divided into three categories: "basic commercial documents","official compliance documents",and "domestic filing documents".The accuracy of each type of document directly affects the efficiency of customs clearance.

1.Basic commercial documents: direct proof of the authenticity of trade transactions

It includes the Commercial Invoice,Packing List,and Bill of Lading.The agent needs to carefully review the "transaction method" in the invoice (for example,CIF Shanghai must include the freight and insurance premiums; FOB Tokyo requires the client to bear the transportation costs themselves),ensuring that it complies with the contract terms.The contract terms must be consistent; the packing list must indicate the net weight,gross weight,and cookie specifications per box (e.g.100g/box × 20 boxes/box),to avoid discrepancies with the actual goods that may lead to customs inspections; the bill of lading must verify the information of the "notifying party" and the "consignee".If it is a telex release bill of lading,it is necessary to confirm the telex release fee and process with the shipping company in advance.

2.Official Compliant Documents: The "Passport" to Break Through Regulatory Barriers

• JapaneseCertificateofOrigin:YoucanchoosebetweenFORME(RCEPCertificateofOrigin)oranofficiallyissuedCertificateofOriginfromJapan(suitableforsmall-scaletrade).Theagentneedstoverifythe"originqualification"-forexample,iftheproportionofimportedwheatinthebiscuitrawmaterialsexceeds40%,itmaynotbeeligiblefortariffpreferences.
• HealthCertificate:IssuedbytheJapaneseMinistryofHealth,LabourandWelfareoritsauthorizedagencies,itmuststatethat"theproductcomplieswiththeJapaneseFoodSanitationLawanddoesnotusefoodadditivesprohibitedinChina(suchasbenzoicacid)",andthevalidityperiodshallnotexceed6months.
• Ingredients/NutritionLabels:AJapaneseoriginallabelandaChinesetranslationmustbeprovided.ThetranslationmustcomplywithGB7718-2011"GeneralGuidelinesfortheLabelingofPrepackagedFoods"(e.g.mandatorylabelingof"productiondate","shelflife",and"storageconditions").Theagentcanassistinreviewingthelabel’scompliance,butthelabelregistrationmustbecompletedbytheclientthemselves.

3.Domestic filing documents: a prerequisite for import access

According to the requirements of the General Administration of Customs,Japanese biscuit manufacturers need to complete the "Registration of Overseas Food Manufacturers for Import" at the GACC (General Administration of Customs of China),and importers need to verify in advance whether the manufacturing enterprises are on the registration list (which can be verified through the "Registration Information Inquiry Platform for Overseas Food Manufacturers for Import").This registration is applied for by overseas enterprises or their domestic agents.The agents can assist in providing the "translated documents of enterprise qualifications" required for registration,but they do not directly handle the registration process.

III.Logistics Management: A Comprehensive Optimization Strategy for the Entire Supply Chain from Japan to China

Japanese biscuits are classified as "easy to get damp and crushed" goods,so the logistics solution needs to balance cost and cargo safety.The logistics coordination capabilities of professional agents are reflected in the following aspects:

1.Choice of transportation mode:Mainly,we should flexibly meet the requirements of timeliness

• FullContainerLoad(FCL):Suitableforasingleimportvolumeof≥15tons(aboutone20-footcontainer).Theadvantageisthatthe"door-to-door"transportationiscontrollable,avoidingthelossofcargofromtheunpackingofLCLcontainers.TheoceanfreightfeeisaboutUS$300-500/20GP(Tokyo-Shanghai).
• LCL(LessthanContainerLoad):Suitableforsmall-scaleimports(5-15tons),butyouneedtopayattentiontothe"unboxingfee"atthedestinationport(about200-300yuan/cubicmeter),andyouneedtoconfirmwiththeshippingcompanythatthegoodswillnotbemixedwithliquidsorchemicalproducts.
• :Thisappliesonlytourgentorders(suchasnewproductlaunches).Theshippingfeeisapproximately8-12yuanperkilogram(fromTokyotoShanghai),butadditionalfees,including"distributionfees"and"storagefees"(chargedforstorageattheairportformorethan48hours),willbechargedseparately.

2.Key node control: Reduce the risk of goods being detained at the port

• Beforeloadingtheship:Theagentneedstoconfirmthatthe"shippingmarks"onthegoodsareconsistentwiththebillofladingtoavoidcustomsclearanceproblemsatthedestinationport.Atthesametime,theagentshouldsupervisethepackingprocess,requiringtheuseofmoisture-proofpaperandpalletfixing,andensuringthatthestackingheightofbiscuitsisnomorethan5layers(topreventcrushing).
• Afterarrivingattheport:Submitthe"ImportGoodsDeclarationForm"tothecustomsviatheSingleWindowSystemthreedaysinadvance,andsimultaneouslypreparethe"InspectionEntrustedLetter"andthe"ImportFoodConsigneeRegistration"(whichrequirescompletingtheenterpriseregistrationatthecustomsinadvance).Ensurethatthegoodsaredeclareduponarrivaltoavoidincurringdemurragecharges(about500-800yuan/day/20GP).
• InspectionProcess:Ifthecustomsconductsrandominspections(withaprobabilityofabout10-15%),theagentneedstoassistinopeningtheboxes,providethe"GoodsList",andcooperatewiththesamplingprocess(about500gwillbesenttothelaboratoryfortesting).Thetestingitemsincludemicroorganisms(suchastotalcolonycount),additives(suchassaccharin),andradioactivesubstances.Thetestingperiodis5-7workingdays.

IV.Expansion of Business with Russia: VTBPractical advantages

Some enterprises import Japanese cookies and then resell them to Russia,or transfer them through Russian ports (such as Vladivostok).In this case,cross-border foreign exchange settlement needs to consider "efficiency and compliance".With our experience in Russian trade,we can assist clients in conducting transactions through VTB Bank (Russia).Bank) to complete settlement,advantages include:

1.Circumvent SWIFT restrictions and improve the efficiency of fund settlement

VTB Bank has established correspondent banking relationships with major Chinese banks (such as ICBC and BOC),adopting direct "RMB-Ruble" settlement to avoid the delays caused by the SWIFT system,and the arrival time can be shortened to 2-3 working days (compared with 5-7 days for traditional USD settlement).

2.Lock in the exchange rate to reduce the risk of volatility

The agent can assist clients in signing a "forward exchange settlement agreement" with VTB Bank to lock in the RMB-ruble exchange rate in advance (for example,agreeing to settle at a rate of 1:11.5 after 60 days),thereby avoiding profit losses due to exchange rate fluctuations (the fluctuation range of the ruble against the RMB exceeded 15% in 2023).

3.Match the documents to ensure compliance

For VTB foreign exchange settlement,it is necessary to provide four consistent documents: "contract,invoice,customs declaration form,and bill of lading".The agent can assist in reviewing the logical consistency of the documents (e.g.ensuring that the invoice amount matches the "total price" on the customs declaration form),to avoid the bank rejecting the payment due to "inconsistent documents".

5.Full-process agency services: A value-added closed loop from risk control to efficiency improvement

The core value of professional foreign trade agents lies in "reducing uncertainties through experience".

• PreliminaryConsultation:Accordingtotheclient’simportvolume(e.g.5tonsforthefirstimportvs50tons/monthforlong-termcooperation),wedesigna"fullcontainer+LCLcombination"ora"monthlyfixedsailingschedule"solutiontobalancecostanddeliverytime.
• Middle-termexecution:Throughthe"DocumentPre-ReviewSystem",alldocumentsarecheckedthreedaysinadvance(ifthehealthcertificateisfoundtobeexpired,theJapanesesidecanbepromptlyrequestedtoreissueit),therebyreducingthecustomsclearancetimefromtheindustryaverageof7daysto3-5days.
• Post-eventsupport:Weprovidea"feedbackwithin24hoursafterdelivery"service.Ifanypackagingdamageisfound(suchasthecartonsofteningduetohumidityduringseatransportation),wewillassistclientsincommunicatingwithinsurancecompanies(suchasPICC)tohandleclaims,withtheappraisalprocesscompletedwithinthreeworkingdaysattheearliest.

Special note: The agent does not provide product certification (such as China’s CMA test reports and Japan’s JAS certification),but can recommend compliant third-party testing institutions and assist in reviewing the "validity" of the test reports (e.g.whether the testing items cover China’s GB 7100-2015 standard).

In summary,the key to importing Japanese biscuits lies in "document compliance + accurate logistics + efficient foreign exchange settlement".Professional foreign trade agents can help enterprises save 30% of customs clearance time and reduce 15% of hidden costs (such as port detention fees and duplicate inspection fees) through full-process control.It is the best choice for small and medium-sized importers to break through the "experience barrier".