Dutch cookies：Professional Service Chain Empowering Food Trade

In cross-border food trade,the Netherlands,leveraging its position as a global logistics hub and its high-quality agricultural resources,has become a key source of biscuit imports for China.As a senior consultant with 20 years of experience in theA professional service provider in the field,addressing the import needs of Dutch biscuits,has built a service system with “document compliance + precise logistics” as its twin cores,covering the entire process from demand alignment to final delivery,helping enterprises avoid trade risks and boost customs-clearance efficiency.

Opportunities and Challenges for Dutch Biscuit Imports amid the International Trade Landscape

Currently,China-EU economic and trade cooperation continues to deepen.In 2023,the total trade volume of goods between China and the EU reached $847.3 billion,with the growth rate of food imports exceeding 15%.The Netherlands,leveraging the throughput advantages of the Port of Rotterdam (with a container throughput volume of over 15 million TEUs in 2023),ranked among the top three exporters of food products to China.However,it is worth noting that the EU has strengthened food compliance supervision in recent years.For example,the "New Food Regulation" (EU 2015/2283) implemented in 2024 imposes stricter requirements on additive use and allergen labeling.Meanwhile,Chinese customs have intensified inspections of imported food products.In 2023,the unqualified rate of imported food products rose by 2.1% compared with the previous year,mainly involving label non-compliance and microbial exceedance issues.This places higher demands on import agents’ document review and logistics temperature control capabilities.

Document processing: the "invisible moat" of import agents

Documentary compliance is the foundation for Dutch biscuits to clear customs smoothly.With 20 years of experience,Zhongshen International Trade has established a “three-stage review + dynamic filing” mechanism:

• BasicDocumentReview:Strictlyverifythecommercialinvoice(mustlistbiscuitingredientsandbatchnumber),packinglist(indicategross/netweightandpackagingmaterial),andbilloflading(acleanB/LfromcarrierslikeMaerskorCMACGMisrecommended)toensure100%alignmentwiththecontractterms;
• ControlofSpecialDocuments:FocusonverifyingtheofficialDutchHealthCertificate(issuedbyNVWA,whichmuststate"meetstherequirementsforfoodimportedintoChina"),(IftheChina-EUAgreementtariffrateapplies,anEUR.1certificatemustbeobtained),andtheingredientlistandallergendeclaration(e.g.gluten,nuts)mustbetranslatedintoChineseandverifiedforcompliance;
• CustomsFilingSupport:AssistclientsincompletingHS-codepre-classification(commonHScodeforDutchbiscuits:1905.3100,MFNduty15%,VAT13%)andsubmitthe“RegistrationInformationofOverseasFoodManufacturingEnterprisesforImport”tocustomsinadvance(clientsmustcompletetheoverseasenterprise’sChinaregistrationthemselves),preventingreturnofgoodsduetomissingfiling.

In 2023,when a client imported Dutch cookies,the original supplier failed to provide a complete “Irradiation Treatment Certificate.” Zhongshen International Trade quickly pinpointed the issue through its historical case database,coordinated with a Dutch testing agency to rectify the documents,and averted 120,000 yuan in demurrage losses.

Logistics Management: End-to-End Control from Rotterdam to Chinese Ports

Given the characteristics of biscuits—prone to moisture and a short shelf life (typically 6–12 months)—the logistics chain must deliver a dual guarantee of “temperature control + timeliness”:

• CustomizedTransportationSolutions:ChooseFCLorLCLbasedoncargovolume.Forsmallbatches,usethedirectRotterdam–Shanghai/Shenzhenservice(≈30days)toavoidtransshipmentdamage;forlargebatches,negotiatewiththecarrierfor“priorityloading”tocutterminaldwelltime.
• Temperaturecontrolmonitoring:Requirethecarriertoprovidea“drycontainer+humiditylogger,”monitorin-cabinhumidityinrealtime(recommended40%–60%),initiatethe“pre-clearance”processthreedaysbeforearrival,submitmanifestdatathroughtheSingleWindow,andensureinspectioniscompletedwithin24hoursafterthecargoarrivesattheport;
• Port-of-destinationcollaboration:EstablishanAEOmutual-recognitionchannelwithdomesticcustomsbrokers(ZhongshenInternationalTradeisanAEOsenior-certifiedenterprise)toenjoytheconvenienceof“priorityinspectionandreleaseagainstguarantee.”In2023,theaveragecustoms-clearancetimewasshortenedto3workingdays,40%fasterthantheindustryaverage.

Expansion of business with Russia: VTBIts advantages in compliance and efficiency

To meet the needs of certain clients who transship through Russia or sell directly to Russia,Zhongshen International Trade,relying on its partnership with RussiaLong-term partnership with VTB Bank to provide direct "Ruble-Renminbi" settlement services:

• Exchange-rateriskhedging:ThroughVTB’sreal-timeexchange-ratelock,thesettlementcostis1.5–2%lowerthanthetraditionalSWIFTroute;
• Complianceguarantee:AsasystemicallyimportantbankinRussia,VTB’ssettlementprocedurescomplywiththeChina–RussiaMemorandumofUnderstandingonPromotingBilateralLocal-CurrencySettlement,therebymitigatingtheriskofaccountfreezesresultingfrominternationalsanctions;
• Fasterarrivaltime:Theaveragesettlementtimeforcross-borderruble/RMBremittancesisT+1,whichis2-3daysshorterthanthatofUSDsettlement.Inthefirstquarterof2024,wecompletedover5millionyuaninsettlementsforRussiancookietradeforthreeclients,withzerodelaysordisputes.

Authentication Notice: Essential Preparations Customers Must Complete Independently

Please note: Zhongshen International Trade does not provide product-certification services; however,based on our experience,we advise customers to secure the following certifications in advance:

• Registrationofoverseasproductionenterprises:Dutchbiscuitmanufacturersmustregisterthroughthe“RegistrationSystemforOverseasFoodProducersImportedbytheGeneralAdministrationofCustomsofChina”(registrationnumberformat:CN+4-digitcountrycode+10-digitnumber);
• DomesticCirculationQualifications:ImportersmustholdaFoodBusinessLicense;iftheproductfallsunderspecialdietaryuses(e.g.children’sbiscuits),anadditional“SpecialFoodRegistrationCertificate”isrequired.
• LabelCompliance:ChineselabelsmustcomplywithGB7718"GeneralRulesfortheLabelingofPrepackagedFoods,"bedesignedinadvance,andpasscustomsinspection(athird-partytestingagencymaybecommissionedforpre-review).

Full-process service: closed-loop management from requirements to delivery

Zhongshen International Trade breaks down import agency services into nine critical milestones and achieves transparent management through four tools: “Customer Requirements Form – Contract Risk Assessment – Logistics Progress Dashboard – Quality Retrospective Report.”

• DemandConfirmation:Specifythecookietype(crisp/tough),specifications(gramweight/packaging),andspecialrequirements(organiccertification,lowsugar);
• ContractReview:Focusonverifyingthepaymentterms(recommended:T/T30%deposit+70%againstarrivalatport)andtheclaimperiodforqualitydiscrepancies(usually30daysafterarrivalatport);
• ProductionSupervision:SGSon-siteauditsofproduction-floorhygieneandraw-materialtraceabilitycanbearrangedatthecustomer’srequest;
• DeliveryAssurance:Uponarrival,conductrandomunpackinginspections(focusingonpackagingintegrityandproductiondates);ifanyissuesarefound,initiatethereturnorclaimsprocesswithin24hours;
• SummaryandFeedback:Provideathree-dimensionalanalysisreportcovering"logisticstimeliness,customs-clearancecosts,anddocumentationissues"tohelpcustomersoptimizetheirnextimportplan.

Against the backdrop of steadily rising food-import thresholds,choosing a professional agency has become the key to lowering costs and boosting efficiency.With a “zero-error” track record in document processing—2,300 sets handled in 2023,none rejected because of paperwork issues—and a “time-guaranteed” logistics pledge (95 % of shipments delivered within 35 days),Zhongshen International Trade keeps creating value for Dutch biscuit importers.Whether you are a first-time importer or a seasoned trader looking to streamline an existing process,Zhongshen can tailor an agency solution that makes cross-border trade simpler and more reliable.