I.The situation of German biscuit import trade and its core challenges

As a core hub of the European Union’s food industry,Germany is globally renowned for its biscuit products,which are characterized by rigorous manufacturing processes and high-quality ingredients (such as Black Forest honey and Bavarian oats).In recent years,German biscuits have accounted for an increasingly large share of China’s imported food market.However,due to changes in the international trade environment,the import supply chain has faced multiple challenges: the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) strict regulations on food additives (e.g.E-code compliance),adjustments to cross-border document rules after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU,and fluctuations in Baltic shipping costs caused by the 2023 Russia-Ukraine conflict (which increased by 25-30% compared to 2021) have all placed high demands on importers’ professional operational capabilities.Additionally,China’s customs authorities have implemented stricter inspections of imported food products (with a "double random" inspection rate of 18% in 2023) and labeling reviews (which must comply with GB 7718-2011),further amplifying the risks of non-professional operations.

II.Core competencies: Document processing and end-to-end logistics management

(I) Document processing: The "passport" for compliant customs clearance

Output:

The document system for importing German cookies needs to strictly comply with the requirements of Chinese customs and inspection and quarantine authorities.The core documents include:

• CommercialInvoiceItisnecessarytoindicatetheHScodeofthegoods(e.g.1905.3100,correspondingto"sweetbiscuits"),thetransactionmethod(CIF/FOB),andthepaymentterms(T/T30%prepayment).Ourcompanyconductsapre-audittoensurethattheamountisconsistentwiththecontract,avoidingcustomsqueriesdueto"under-reportingprices".
• HealthCertificate:IssuedbytheGermanOfficialVeterinaryAuthority(BVL),itmustspecifytheproductingredients(e.g.wheypowdercontent≥20%),productiondate,andshelflife(whichmustcoverthesalesperiodwithinChina).Weonceassistedaclientindiscoveringthatthe"shelflifeuntil2024.03"statedinthecertificatedidnotmatchtheactualgoods’"2024.01"date.WepromptlycontactedtheGermansidetore-issuethecertificatetoavoidproductreturns.
• (CO/O)IfitinvolvespreferentialtaxratesoftheEuropeanUnion(e.g.theChina-ChileFreeTradeAgreementisnotapplicable,butGermanyisamost-favorednation),itisnecessarytoconfirmthecertificateformat(FormE/EUR.1)andthevisaissuingauthority(theGermanChamberofCommerceandIndustry).Inacertaincasein2022,thecustomsclearancewasdelayedby15daysbecausethecertificatewasnotstampedwiththechamber’sstamp.Ourcompanyavoidedsuchproblemsthroughthe"doublereviewsystem"(agent’sinitialreview+customspre-recordingreview).

(II) Logistics services: Control of the delivery time from the Port of Hamburg to the Chinese warehouse

Output:

The main export ports for German cookies are Hamburg (accounting for 65%) and the Port of Bremen (accounting for 30%).The transportation plan needs to be tailored to the cargo volume and delivery time requirements.

• FullContainerLoad(FCL)Suitablefor20-foot/40-footcontainers(a20-footcontainercanholdabout18tons,anda40-footcontainercanholdabout26tons).Theadvantageisalowcargodamagerate(0.5%).OurcompanyhassignedannualagreementswithshipownerssuchasMaerskandCMACGM,whichallowustosecureshippingspaceandobtaina10%-15%discountonfreightrates.
• LessthanContainerLoad(LCL)Applicabletosmallbatches(15cubicmeters),pleasenotetheunboxingfeeatthedestinationport(aboutUSD200/CBM).Ourcompanyreducesthelossesfromsecondaryhandlingbyusingdesignatedcooperativewarehouses(suchastheShanghaiWaigaoqiaoBondedLogisticsCenter).
• ColdChainTransportation:Cookieproductswithcreamandchocolatecoatingsrequiretemperaturecontrol(0-4°C).Itisnecessarytoconfirmthemodelofthecontainerrefrigerationunitinadvance(suchasCarrierPrimeLINE),andmark"REEFERCARGO"onthebillofladingtoensurethatthetemperaturerecords(ReeferLog)meettherequirementsoftheCustomsInspectionandQuarantineBureau(CIQ)uponarrival(temperaturedifference≤±2°C).

III.Business Expansion into Russia: VTBAdvantages of Multi-Currency Settlement Solutions

Some enterprises export their products to Russia through Saint Petersburg port or cooperate with Russian companies to distribute German biscuits.At this time,VTB Bank (Russia) provides financial services to these enterprises.The bank’s foreign-exchange settlement advantages are significant:

• Multi-currencychannelSupportdirectsettlementineuros,rubles,andRMB,circumventingtherestrictionsoftheUSdollarSWIFTsystemandshorteningtheforeignexchangesettlementperiodto3-5workingdays(thetraditionalUSdollarroutetakes7-10days);
• ExchangeRateLock-inItispossibletolockintheruble/euroexchangeratethroughVTB’s"forwardexchangesettlementagreement".In2023,weassistedaclientinlockingintheexchangeratebeforetherubledepreciated,savingabout8%oftheexchangecost.
• PolicyalignmentInlinewiththeguidelineintheSino-Russian"JointStatementonDeepeningtheComprehensiveStrategicPartnershipofCoordinationintheNewEra"that"theproportionoflocalcurrencysettlementsshouldbeincreasedto80%",thismeasureaimstoreducethecompliancerisksofcross-borderpayments.

IV.Practical Operations of the Entire Import Process: Nine Key Stages from Contract Signing to Delivery

(1) Client Consultation and Requirement Confirmation

Output:

In the first stage,the following points need to be clarified: 1.The composition of the goods (whether they contain nuts/dairy products,which affects the CIQ classification) 2.The cargo volume (determines FCL/LCL) 3.The target port (Shanghai/Qingdao/Guangzhou,with a difference in customs clearance timelines of approximately 3 days) 4.The payment method (L/C requires credit assessment by the issuing bank,while T/T requires agreement on the payment deadline for the balance).

(2) Negotiation and signing of contracts,and contract review

Output:

The key points of the review include trade terms (recommending CIF,with the agent controlling the transportation risks),quality clauses (specifying "sensory indicators: no burnt or smoky taste; microorganisms: total colony count ≤ 10^4 CFU/g"),dispute resolution (agreeing to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission),and our company providing a "contract risk assessment form" highlighting 12 high-risk clauses (such as "delivery based on samples"),which are prone to quality disputes.

(3) Order and payment execution

Output:

If we use a letter of credit (L/C),the payment will be made after the goods are delivered and inspected by the buyer.However,the buyer may refuse to accept the goods or raise objections to their quality,which may lead to disputes over the payment.In this case,the seller will face the risk of non-payment,and the buyer may also refuse to accept the goods and claim compensation for the losses caused by the quality problems.Therefore,the seller should carefully evaluate the buyer’s creditworthiness and negotiate with the buyer to ensure that the payment is made on time and in full.Under the letter of credit payment method,the agent assists in reviewing the beneficiary’s (Deutsche Bank) qualifications to ensure "document consistency" (e.g.the bill of lading consignor must be the same name as the L/C beneficiary); under the T/T payment method,the agent pays the advance payment through an overseas account (Hong Kong/Singapore) to reduce the domestic foreign exchange purchase quota restrictions.

(4) Production supervision and quality control

Output:

For customized products (such as low-sugar/gluten-free biscuits),the agent can coordinate third-party inspections (SGS/BV) to conduct on-site supervision,with a focus on verifying the traceability of raw materials (wheat from non-GMO production areas in Baden-Württemberg,Germany) and the use of additives (e.g.ammonium bicarbonate ≤ 0.3g/kg,in accordance with GB 2760-2014).

(5) Logistics management and coordination with shipping documents

Output:

After loading the goods onto the ship,obtain a "Clean Bill of Lading" (B/L) and simultaneously send the "Manifest" to the Chinese customs.Ensure that the "Single Window" pre-declaration is completed before the goods arrive at the port.In 2023,this operation reduced the customs clearance time from 7 days to 3 days.

(6) Customs compliance and tax payment

Output:

When declaring,you need to provide the "Importer Registration Number" (the enterprise needs to register with the General Administration of Customs in advance),and the HS code classification (1905.3100) must match the "Customs Tariff of the People’s Republic of China".According to the "Customs Tariff",the tariff rate is 15% (most-favored-nation tariff rate) and the value-added tax is 13%.The agent can assist in applying for "Duty Deferral",which can alleviate the financial pressure on enterprises.

(7) Delivery,distribution,and warehouse management

Output:

After arriving at the port,complete the "sampling inspection" (CIQ extracts 5% of the cargo volume and sends it to the laboratory).After the inspection passes,arrange for distribution to the client-specified warehouse (which must comply with GB 14881-2013 General Hygiene Standards for Food Production).Cold-chain products must be stored in the warehouse within 2 hours (with a temperature ≤ 4℃).

(8) Quality Assurance and Problem Handling

Output:

If the inspection reveals that the labels do not comply with GB 7718 (e.g.failure to indicate "Production Date: See Packaging Spray Code"),the agent will assist in contacting the labeling service providers (there are 10 compliant labeling enterprises in Shanghai Waigaoqiao Bonded Zone).After rectification,the goods will be re-inspected.If the issue is related to quality (e.g.mold contamination),the applicant can initiate the "Return for Refund" or "Destruction Certificate" procedures.

(9) Summarize feedback and implement closed-loop management

Output:

Provide the "Full-Process Import Report",which includes logistics efficiency (Hamburg-Shanghai: 28 days),cost breakdown (shipping fee + port surcharge + agency fee),risk point records (such as no abnormalities this time),and assist clients in optimizing their next import plan (e.g.increasing the cargo volume by 20% to secure FCL discounts).

5.Certification Prompts and Compliance Boundaries: Key Steps That Enterprises Need to Complete Independently

Importing German cookies requires meeting the following certification requirements (the agent does not provide processing services,but can assist with document review):

• RegistrationofOverseasFoodProductionEnterprisesforImportGermancompaniesneedtocompletetheregistrationinthe"RegistrationandManagementSystemforOverseasFoodManufacturersImportedintoChina"oftheGeneralAdministrationofCustoms(registrationnumberformat:DE+6digits),andthecompaniesneedtocontacttheGermansidetoprovidetheregistrationcertificatebythemselves;
• ImporterRegistrationinChinaImportenterprisesneedtocompletethe"ImporterRegistrationforImportedFood"(validfor5years)atthelocalcustomsoffice,andcanapplyonlinethroughthe"Internet+Customs"platform;
• OtheroptionalcertificationsForexample,ifacompanyhasorganiccertification(EUEC834/2007orChinaGB/T19630)orkoshercertification,thecompanycanhandlethecertificationindependentlybasedonmarketdemand,andtheagentonlyverifiestheconsistencybetweenthecertificationdocumentsandthegoods.

ConclusionThe key to importing German cookies as an agent lies in "professional documentation,precise logistics,and compliance control".With 20 years of foreign trade experience,we have deeply integrated German supplier resources,optimized logistics chains,and strictly controlled the risks of documentary evidence,helping enterprises break through trade barriers and efficiently complete the entire delivery process from the "German workshop" to the "Chinese shelf".