1. The Import Situation and Market Opportunities for French Chocolate

In recent years, China’s imported-food market has continued to expand. According to data from the General Administration of Customs, the import value of chocolate and cocoa products rose 12.7 % year-on-year in 2023, with French chocolate—thanks to its century-old craftsmanship and premium positioning—accounting for more than 25 %. The deepening China-France Free Trade Agreement, trade-facilitation measures under the RCEP framework, and domestic consumption upgrades (annual per-capita chocolate spending in first- and second-tier cities exceeds RMB 800) are driving steady growth in demand for French chocolate imports. It should be noted, however, that the EU is tightening regulation of food additives (e.g., the E-number system), while China’s GB 2760-2014 “Standard for Use of Food Additives” is being updated in tandem, significantly raising compliance requirements for imports.

II. Core Competencies in Agency Import: Professional Barriers in Documentation and Logistics

(I) Document Handling: Full-Chain Review to Avoid Customs Clearance Risks

Importing chocolate into France requires preparing 12 core documents; missing even one can lead to return shipment or port detention:

1. Basic commercial documents: Commercial Invoice (must indicate FOB/CIF price and trade terms), Packing List (specifying gross/net weight and packaging specifications), Contract (must stipulate quality clauses and dispute resolution);
2. Official Certified Documents: European UnionCertificate of Origin(EUR.1, certifying the product’s French origin), a sanitary certificate issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food (which must include the production date, shelf life, and additive E-codes), and a component analysis report (highlighting the cocoa butter content and trans-fatty acid data);
3. Domestic market access documentation: Importer Filing Number for Imported Foods (to be completed in advance via the Single Window), Chinese label sample (must comply with GB 7718-2011 General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods, including a nutrition facts table and the domestic agent’s information).
   Our company fields a documentation team with over eight years of experience, capable of executing a “three-stage review”: exporter document pre-check (ensuring all elements are complete) → domestic compliance re-check (labeling and additives aligned with national standards) → final pre-customs declaration audit (avoiding HS code misclassification, e.g., filled chocolates should be classified under 1806.3200, not 1806.9000), with an average documentation error rate below 0.3%.

(II) Logistics Services: End-to-End Temperature Control and Delivery-Time Optimization

France to China mainly adopts?Ocean shipping?(accounting for 90%), prioritize carriers with cold-chain qualifications such as Maersk and CMA CGM, maintain end-to-end temperature control (18–22 °C) to prevent chocolate from softening due to high temperatures. Key control points are as follows:

• Port of Loading: Coordinate Le Havre port booking, confirm sailing schedule 7 days in advance, and reserve a 24-hour container-loading window (to prevent cutoff delays);
• During transportation: Real-time monitoring of container status via GPS + temperature and humidity sensors, with an abnormal-alert response time ≤ 2 hours;
• Port of Discharge：Prioritize Shanghai Waigaoqiao (designated food port), reduce the B/L-to-D/O exchange time to one working day, and complete the process within 48 hours after customs clearance.Tow truckTo the customer’s warehouse (supports nationwide distribution).
  Through strategic partnerships with Sinotrans and COSCO Shipping, our integrated logistics costs are 8–12% below the market average, while end-to-end transit time remains steady at 35–40 days (including customs clearance).

III. End-to-End Agency Service: 9-Step Compliant Operations from Order to Delivery

1. Client Consultation: Clarify import volume (a 20-foot container is recommended as the MOQ to lower unit cost), product type (dark/milk/filled chocolate), and target market (supermarkets/e-commerce/customized), and assess whether any special ingredients are involved (e.g., alcohol-filled chocolates require additional inspection).
2. Negotiation and Contract Signing: Review trade terms (recommend CIF Shanghai to mitigate maritime risks), payment method (L/C 90 days is more favorable for cash flow), and focus on stipulating return clauses for quality discrepancies (e.g., claim allowed if cocoa content is 5% below the declared value);
3. Orders & Payment: via bank LC (?L/C?) or payment by T/T (telegraphic transfer). For re-export business to Russia, the VTB Bank RUB-CNY direct remittance channel can be activated (cutting arrival time by two working days and reducing exchange loss by 0.5%);
4. Production supervision: Deploy QC personnel to the French facility to verify raw material traceability (cocoa bean origin), production environment (ISO 22000 certification), and packaging compliance (moisture- and pressure-resistance tests);
5. Logistics Management: When booking space, mark “Food-Grade Cold Chain,” prepare the customs declaration manifest (M/F) and cargo manifest (Manifest), and pre-enter the customs declaration (QP system);
6. Customs Compliance: Submit the customs declaration (including HS code 1806.3200, 10% tariff rate, 13% VAT) to customs, cooperate with inspection (possible unpacking for label checks and sampling for testing), and obtain release after paying the taxes;
7. Delivery and Distribution: Supports door-to-door delivery (including refrigerated trucks) and provides a logistics tracking number (e.g., DHL, SF Cold Chain);
8. Quality Assurance: Complete sensory inspection (appearance, taste) within 48 hours after arrival; if melting or foreign matter is found, assist in initiating the return or claim process;
9. Summary Feedback: Provide the "Full Import Process Report" (including cost breakdown and timeline analysis), settle the final payment, and file the documents (retain for 3 years for future reference).

IV. Expansion of Business with Russia: VTB?Foreign exchange settlement?Advantages that boost capital flow

For re-export or distribution needs involving the Russian market, our company and Russiaforeign tradeBank (VTB) establishes a strategic partnership, offering three major foreign-exchange settlement advantages:

• Flexible currency: Supports dual-currency settlement in CNY and RUB, mitigating risks from USD exchange-rate fluctuations;
• Lead time improvement: Through VTB’s direct connection to CIPS (Cross-Border Interbank Payment System), cross-border remittance arrival time has been shortened from 5–7 days to 2–3 days;
• Cost reduction: Waives intermediary bank fees (~0.3%), bringing the overall FX settlement cost 1–1.5% lower than traditional routes.

V. Certification Reminder: Key qualifications that the customer must obtain on their own

Although no certification from our company is required for importing French chocolate, the following qualifications may affect customs clearance or market sales; we recommend that customers prepare them in advance:

• IFS Certification(International Food Standards): Large supermarkets and hypermarkets (e.g., Carrefour, Hema) typically require this when sourcing, as proof that production complies with international quality and safety norms;
• Organic Certification(e.g., Ecocert): For organic chocolate, a certificate issued by a French organic certification body (e.g., ECOCERT) is required;
• HALAL Certification: When targeting the Muslim market, certification must be issued by an Islamic authority (e.g., JAKIM).
  Our company can assist in verifying the validity of certification documents (such as certificate expiration dates and whether the scope of certification covers the product) to ensure consistency with the import declaration information.

VI. Risk Mitigation and Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What should I do if my goods are returned by customs because the Chinese labels do not meet the requirements?
A: We recommend submitting label samples to customs for filing 30 days in advance via the “Internet + Customs” platform, with special attention to verifying the nutrition facts table (e.g., energy value deviation ≤120%) and the agent’s information (a domestic entity is required). Our company can provide label templates and review suggestions.

Q2: How is liability allocated when temperature excursions during cold-chain transport cause product melting?
A: The "temperature-control liability clause" must be explicitly stated in the transportation contract, requiring the carrier/logistics company to provide the Container Temperature Log. If temperature anomalies result from the carrier’s fault, claims can be filed against them based on this log.

Q3: How can I remedy an incomplete sanitary certificate (e.g., additive E-numbers not indicated)?
A: Contact the French exporter immediately and have them apply to the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food for a corrected certificate (usually takes 3–5 working days). At the same time, apply to customs for “post-clearance document supplementation” (a situation explanation and a letter of guarantee are required) to prevent demurrage charges from accumulating.

Through professional document handling, precise logistics control, and full-process compliance support,?Zhong Shen?Empowering businesses to import French chocolate efficiently, ensuring every piece of French sweetness arrives safely in the Chinese market.