The current situation of Sino-Japanese food trade and the opportunities and challenges of importing eggs

Under the background of the deepened implementation of the RCEP agreement in 2023,the total volume of Sino-Japanese food trade increased by 12.7% year-on-year.Among them,the demand for imported baked goods continued to rise due to consumption upgrading.Japanese cakes are widely favored by the domestic high-end market for their "natural ingredients and exquisite craftsmanship",but the import process faces strict compliance requirements.Chinese customs implements a dual-track supervision system for imported foods,including "access + conformity assessment".Any omission in any link from the registration of overseas production enterprises to product ingredient testing may lead to the return of the goods.At the same time,issues such as the timeliness of cold chain logistics,temperature control standards,and document consistency have become major bottlenecks for enterprises to independently import goods.Choosing a professional service provider can help overcome these challenges.An agent can effectively reduce operational risks and focus on core business activities.

Core Competencies: Professional Control of Documents and Logistics

I.Document Processing: The "Passport" for Full-Chain Compliance

Output:

The import of Japanese cakes requires the submission of 12 core documents.The document processing capabilities of the agent company directly determine the efficiency of customs clearance.Key documents include:

• OfficialdocumentThehealthcertificateissuedbytheJapaneseMinistryofHealth,LabourandWelfare(provingthattheproductcomplieswiththeFoodSanitationLaw),andthe"RegisteredListofOverseasFoodManufacturersforImportedFood"announcedbytheGeneralAdministrationofCustomsofChina(theenterpriseneedstocompletetheregistrationinadvance);
• CommercialdocumentsCommericalinvoice(whichmustindicatethecountryoforiginandadetailedlistofingredients),packinglist(specifyingtherefrigerationtemperaturerequirements),andbilloflading(showingtheshippingdetails).Ashippingcompanywithcold-chainqualificationsmustbeselected,(Priorityuseofspecificcargoterminals);
• AuxiliaryDocumentsIngredientdetectionreport(focusingonverifyingwhethertheadditivescomplywithGB2760).(ApplicantscanapplyforpreferentialtariffratesundertheRegionalComprehensiveEconomicPartnership(RCEP).ThetariffrateforHScode1905.9000hasbeenreducedfrom15%to12%.)Chineselabelsamples(mustcomplywiththeGeneralPrinciplesfortheLabelingofPrepackagedFoods(GB7718-2011)).

With 10 years of experience in food-related documentation,we have established a "three-review and three-proofreading" mechanism: 1.Initial review checks the completeness of essential elements (e.g.validity of health certificates).2.Second review verifies the logical consistency of data (e.g.ensuring that invoice amounts match the weight specified in the bill of lading).3.Third review integrates with the customs system’s pre-entry process (to avoid errors in HS code classification),ensuring that all documentation passes inspections on the first attempt.

II.Logistics services: Dual guarantees of cold chain and timeliness

Output:

Most Japanese cakes are perishable products containing milk fat and fresh cream,and their logistics needs to meet the temperature control requirements of "-18°C to 5°C".The logistics capabilities of the agency companies are reflected in three aspects:

• CustomizedTransportationSolutionsAccordingtothecargovolume(forsmallbatches,chooseairfreight,suchasfromNaritatoShanghai,withadeliverytimeof48hours;forlargeshipments,chooseseafreightrefrigeratedcontainers,fromKobetoDalian,withavoyageof7days),andtheshelflife(giveprioritytoairfreightforproductswithashortshelflife),theoptimalrouteisselected.
• TemperaturecontrolmonitoringThecooperatinglogisticsprovidersareequippedwithGPSandtemperaturesensors,whichcantransmitdatainrealtime.Theresponsetimetoabnormalalertsislessthan15minutes.
• CustomsClearanceCoordination24hoursinadvance,transferthe"manifestinformation"tothecustoms,andcompletethecustomsdeclarationwithinoneworkingdayafterarrivaltoavoidportdetentionfees(thedetentionfeeforrefrigeratedcontainersisapproximatelyUSD150perday).

We have established long-term cooperation with leading logistics companies such as Sinotrans and Nippon Express,which allows us to secure refrigerated cargo space.In 2023,we handled the import of 32 containers of Japanese cakes,with an average customs clearance time of 48 hours and a damage rate of less than 0.3%.

Extension of re-export business to Russia: VTBUnique advantages

Some customers involved in importing Japanese cakes have been implicated in doing business with Russia.Due to the restrictions of the SWIFT system,traditional US dollar settlement has become increasingly difficult.Zhong Shen International Trade relies on its strategic cooperation with the Russian Foreign Trade Bank (VTB) to provide two major foreign exchange settlement facilitation services:

• Multi-currencychannelSupportdirectsettlementinrublesandRMBtoavoidtheriskofexchangeratefluctuations;
• FastcreditingThroughVTB’s"China-RussiaLocalCurrencySettlementLine",thetimerequiredforcross-borderremittancestoarrivehasbeenshortenedfrom3-5daysto1-2days,improvingtheefficiencyofcapitalturnover.In2023,VTBassistedfiveclientsincompletingre-exportsettlementstoRussia,withatotalamountexceeding20millionyuanandzerodelays.

Detailed Explanation of the Entire Import Process: Key Steps from Consultation to Delivery

1.Customer Inquiry: Requirement Confirmation and Risk Prediction

Output:

Before acting as an agent,it is necessary to clarify four core pieces of information: the type of cake (room temperature/refrigerated),ingredients (whether it contains allergenic substances such as nuts/dairy products),import volume (determines the transportation method),and the destination port (which affects customs clearance efficiency).At the same time,please remind clients that Japanese exporters must complete their registration in China in advance (which can be checked on the official website of the General Administration of Customs),otherwise,the goods will not be allowed to be imported.

2.Negotiation and Contracting: Specifying Terms and Allocating Responsibilities

Output:

The key provisions of the contract include: agency service fees (usually 1-3% of the value of the goods),cost sharing (such as inspection fees and storage fees),and the point of risk transfer (under the FOB clause,the risk transfers after the goods are loaded onto the ship).Special note: If the client chooses toFor payment via Letter of Credit (L/C),please allow 5-7 days for the issuance of the L/C to avoid affecting the production schedule.

3.Orders and Payments: Balancing Fund Safety and Timeliness

Output:

The agency assists in reviewing Japanese supplier contracts to ensure that terms such as "delivery period" and "quality standards" are clearly defined.For payment methods,it recommends "30% prepayment + 70% upon presentation of the bill of lading",which not only ensures the Japanese supplier’s production enthusiasm but also controls the client’s funding risk.For high-value orders (over $500,000),the agency can coordinate with banks to handle "import letter of credit",alleviating the client’s funding pressure.

4.Production supervision: third-party factory inspections and quality control

Output:

Although they are not directly involved in production,agents can assist clients in commissioning SGS and other organizations to conduct factory inspections,with a focus on verifying the following aspects: raw material traceability (e.g.ensuring that the cream used is non-GMO),production environment (requiring cleanliness to meet ISO 22000 standards),and packaging labels (ensuring that the original Japanese labels align with subsequent Chinese labeling information).In 2022,a factory temporarily halted production due to an error in packaging temperature labeling (indicating "room temperature" when it should have been "refrigerated"),avoiding a potential loss of 120,000 yuan.

5.Customs Compliance: Pre-classification and Tax and Fee Estimation

Output:

Before importation,complete the pre-classification of the HS code (1905.9000 "Other bread and pastries") and calculate the comprehensive tax rate (tariff 12% + VAT 13%,totaling 26.56%).When declaring,you need to submit the "Importer of Food Registration" (which the client needs to handle in advance) and upload the "Application for Inspection and Quarantine of Imported Goods".In case of customs inspection (with a probability of about 15%),the agent can assist in accompanying you on-site,explaining the product characteristics (such as the proportion of cream ingredients) to shorten the inspection time.

6.Delivery and Quality: End-user delivery and after-sales guarantee

Output:

After customs clearance,the agent coordinates the delivery of the goods by cold chain trucks to the client’s designated warehouse (the warehouse’s temperature control qualifications must be confirmed in advance).Upon delivery,the agent simultaneously provides the "Inspection and Quarantine Certificate for Imported Goods",and the client is required to complete the sampling and inspection within 7 working days (inspection items: microorganisms,additives).If the inspection results are unsatisfactory,the agent can assist in handling the return or destruction of the goods (which must be carried out under the supervision of the customs).

Customer Notice: Certification Matters and Risk Warning

Please note: Zhong Shen does not directly provide product certification services,but can assist in reviewing the completeness of the materials.Clients are required to complete the following certifications on their own:

• JapaneseexportersregisterinChina(applythroughthe"RegistrationManagementSystemforOverseasFoodProductionEnterprises"),withaprocessingtimeofapproximately30days;
• Chineselabelregistration(requiressubmittingasampleofthelabelandatranslation,andthelabelcanonlybeaffixedafterthecustomsapproval);
• Specialingredientpermits(forexample,cakescontainingalcoholrequireanadditional"LiquorImportPermit").

Risk Warning: In 2023,customs authorities intensified inspections on "misdeclared product names" and "underreported prices",and have investigated multiple cases where "milk-containing cakes" were misdeclared as "biscuits" (different HS codes lead to different tax rates).Enterprises are required to declare truthfully to avoid criminal liability.

Conclusion: Professional agents empower imported cakes

The import of Japanese cakes is a trade activity with high requirements in both compliance and operational efficiency.Any oversight in any aspect,from document details to logistics temperature control,could lead to a sharp increase in costs.Choosing an agent company with capabilities in "document professionalization,logistics customization,and compliance refinement" can help clients focus on market expansion and achieve "low risk,high efficiency" import.With 20 years of food-related agency experience,Zhong Shen International Trade has served over 200 clients,leveraging professional expertise to safeguard the "freshness" and "compliance" of every bite of Japanese flavors.