I. Trade Situation and Policy Background for the Import of German Biscuits

In recent years, China-Europe food trade has continued to heat up. As the EU’s second-largest food exporter, Germany’s biscuits are favored by Chinese consumers for their rigorous craftsmanship and high-quality ingredients. According to data from the General Administration of Customs, from January to October 2023, China’s imports of food products from Germany rose 18.7% year on year, with baked goods accounting for more than 30%. It should be noted, however, that the EU’s General Food Law (EC 178/2002) and China’s Administrative Provisions on the Registration of Overseas Food Manufacturers for Imported Food (GACC Decree No. 141) impose strict requirements on the traceability of raw materials, use of additives, and label compliance for imported biscuits. Meanwhile, affected by global supply-chain fluctuations,?Ocean shipping?Increased uncertainty in pricing and lead times—choose professionalismforeign tradeagency becomes key to mitigating import risks.

II. Core Points of Document Handling Throughout the Entire Import Process

Documents areImport customs declarationThe "pass," whose completeness and accuracy directly affect customs clearance time and tariff costs.?Zhong Shen?As a professional agent, we have established a standardized operating system in the document processing phase:

1. Basic commercial documents: A commercial invoice signed by the German exporter is required (it must itemize FOB price, freight, insurance, and other components), a packing list (indicating the gross weight, net weight, and specifications of each carton), and an ocean bill of lading (B/L, which must match the booking information to avoid “cargo-document discrepancies”). Special attention: the invoice must state the HS code (common HS codes for German biscuits are 1905.3100 or 1905.3200); the agent will simultaneously verify against China’sImport and exportTax Regulations to ensure accurate classification and avoid supplementary tax payments or order rejections caused by incorrect tariff codes.

2. Official and inspection documents: A Hygiene Certificate officially issued by German authorities must be submitted, certifying that the product complies with EU food hygiene standards (EC 852/2004); if geographical indications are involved (e.g., Nuremberg Lebkuchen), an additional document is required.Certificate of OriginBook (EUR.1 format); component analysis report (must list main ingredients, additive types and content), allergen declaration (nuts, dairy products, etc., must be clearly indicated) are the key documents for customs sampling inspection. The agency team will pre-check the validity of document signatures and seals—for example, a German health certificate must be signed by the BfR (Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) or a state-level food regulatory authority—to prevent customs from questioning it due to non-compliant signatures.

III. Professional Selection of Logistics Collaboration and Transportation Solutions

German biscuits are hygroscopic and fragile, with a typical shelf life of 6–12 months; the logistics plan must balance cost and speed. Drawing on 20 years of experience, Zhongshen International Trade offers differentiated shipping strategies:

• Full Container Load (FCL): Suitable for large orders (a 20' container holds roughly 18 tons). Use reefer containers operated as dry by carriers such as Maersk and CMA CGM to prevent biscuits from softening in high temperatures. When booking, specify “no co-loading with chemicals.” Transit time is about 35–45 days (Hamburg–Shanghai). The forwarder tracks sailings in real time, receives arrival forecasts via the carrier’s EDI system, and files the summary declaration of the “two-step declaration” with customs three days in advance to shorten cargo release time.

• ?Air freight?: For small-lot or rush orders (e.g., new-product testing), choose Lufthansa or Air China’s scheduled flights; transit time is only 5–7 days. The forwarder will coordinate with a local German agent to load the goods in insulated containers, preventing packaging condensation from high-altitude cold. Note that the air waybill (AWB) must match the “Consignee” on the commercial invoice; otherwise, destination customs clearance may be delayed.

Moreover, the “l(fā)ast mile” in logistics is critical. Based on client requirements, the agent coordinates domestic warehousing resources—such as the Waigaoqiao Bonded Warehouse in Shanghai and the Nansha Bonded Warehouse in Guangzhou—to enable distribution to nationwide distributors or direct integration with e-commerce platforms’ cloud-warehouse systems, achieving seamless “import–customs clearance–delivery” connectivity.

IV. Expansion of Business with Russia: VTB?Foreign exchange settlement?Synergy with Cross-Border Payments

If a client’s import operations involve transshipment to Russia (e.g., distribution via a Russian distributor) or require settlement in rubles, Zhongshen International Trade—leveraging its long-standing partnership with Russia’s VTB Bank—can provide a more efficient foreign-exchange solution. Against the backdrop of SWIFT-system restrictions, VTB’s “China-Russia local-currency settlement corridor” supports direct CNY-RUB conversion, cutting exchange-rate volatility risk by roughly 3 % and shortening payment receipt to T+2 (versus T+5 for conventional channels). It must be stressed that this service applies only to Russia-related special scenarios; for routine German biscuit imports, settlement in USD or EUR through mainstream banks such as Bank of China or Bank of Communications remains recommended to ensure fund compliance.

V. Certification Prompts and Compliance Risk Mitigation

Although Zhongshen International Trade does not directly provide certification services, clients are specifically advised to pay close attention to the following certification requirements to avoid customs clearance delays:

• Registration of Overseas Food Production Enterprises for Import: German biscuit manufacturers must complete registration in the GACC “Registration System for Overseas Food Manufacturers for Import” (registration number format: DE + 6 digits). The agent can assist in checking the registration status, but the client must contact the German party in advance to complete the application.

• Voluntary certification: If the product is positioned for the high-end market, consider obtaining IFS (International Featured Standards) certification (issued by bodies such as SGS or BV) or Halal certification (targeting the halal consumer segment). Although these certifications are not mandatory, they can enhance market competitiveness. We recommend that the client confirm the certification progress with the German side before placing an order.

• Label Compliance: Chinese labels must comply with GB 7718 “General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods” and must display 11 items, including “Country of Origin,” “Name and Address of the Domestic Agent,” and “Production Date/Shelf Life.” The agent can provide a label-review template, but printing and application must be handled by the customer or a third party.

VI. Typical Case Study: A Post-Mortem of the Import Operation for a German Brand of Biscuits

In June 2023, a client commissioned the import of 500 cartons of organic biscuits from Germany with a goods value of €120,000; Zhongshen International Trade precisely avoided two major risks during the operation:

1. Document correction: The initial review found that the sanitary certificate did not state “additives comply with China’s GB 2760 standard” (the German side issued it according to EU standards). The agent immediately contacted the German party to obtain a supplementary declaration and, in parallel, submitted the “Declaration of Conformity for Imported Food Additives” to Customs, preventing rejection due to “non-compliant standards.”

2. Logistics Emergency: The originally scheduled sailing was delayed by 10 days due to congestion in the Suez Canal. The agent assessed the biscuits’ remaining shelf life—only 45 days upon arrival—and urgently arranged for 20 % of the cargo to be shifted to air freight (Frankfurt–Beijing). For the rest, the shipping line was asked to grant “free time at destination.” In the end, the customer completed shelf stocking before the Mid-Autumn Festival, averting any sales loss.

VII. Core Considerations When Choosing a Professional Agent

The complexity of importing German biscuits demands that an agent possess three key capabilities:

• Accuracy of document review: Familiar with regulatory differences between China and Germany, able to quickly spot “hidden discrepancies” (e.g., the hierarchical level of the issuing body for sanitary certificates);
• Synergy of the logistics network: Establish deep cooperation with shipping companies, airlines, and domestic warehouses to realize multimodal transport integrating sea, land, air, and rail.
• Timeliness of policy response: Track the latest policies of the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Commerce in real time (such as the adjustments to the "Imported Food Conformity Assessment Procedures" effective January 2024), and develop contingency plans in advance.

With 20 years of experience in foreign-trade agency services, Zhongshen International Trade has already helped more than 200 companies import food products from Germany. We have built a well-honed system covering document processing, logistics coordination, and risk mitigation, enabling our clients to open an efficient trade corridor from “premium European products to the Chinese consumer market.”