First,an analysis of the import trade situation and opportunities of Italian biscuits in 2024

Currently,the global food trade is showing a trend of "quality improvement and diversification".Italian biscuits,with their traditional handmade craftsmanship,high-quality raw materials (such as Sicilian pistachios and Amalfi lemons) and the EU’s strict food safety standards,continue to gain increasing demand in the high-end snack and gift market in China.From a policy perspective,China’s import expansion strategy and the mutual recognition of AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) status between China and the EU have provided customs clearance convenience for Italian food imports - AEO enterprises can enjoy preferential inspections,reduced inspection rates,and an average 30% improvement in customs clearance efficiency.

However,attention should be paid to the challenges in the supply chain: due to the fluctuations in energy prices and the impact of the efficiency of the Suez Canal,the Mediterranean-to-Far East shipping route in 2024 may face difficulties.The price is expected to fluctuate by 15%-20%; meanwhile,China’s customs authorities are tightening their supervision of imported food.According to the 2023 "Regulations on the Registration and Management of Overseas Food Manufacturers for Imported Food" (Decree No.248),Italian biscuit manufacturers must complete the registration process in China (FSC) before they can export their products.Goods from unregistered enterprises will face the risk of being returned to the sender.

II.Core Competency: Professional Control over Documentation and Logistics

(I) Document Processing: Key to Full-Process Risk Prevention

Output:

The import of Italian biscuits involves 12 core documents,which must strictly adhere to the principle of "document matching the order and invoice".

• BasicCommercialDocuments:Commericalinvoice(whichmustreflectthetransactionmethod,unitprice,andorigin),packinglist(indicatingthenet/grossweightandspecificationsperbox),billoflading(forseafreight,attentionshouldbepaidtotherequirementofa"cleanbilloflading"toavoid"uncleannotations").
• SpecialCertificateforFoodProducts:The"HealthCertificate"issuedbytheItalianhealthdepartment(whichmustspecify"incompliancewithChinesefoodsafetystandards")(FORMAoranofficialcertificateoforiginissuedbyItaly,whichdeterminestheapplicationofthemost-favored-nationtariffrate),acompositionanalysisreport(listingthetypesandcontentsofadditives,suchasleaveningagentE450andpreservativeE202),andanallergendeclaration(whichmustindicatethepresenceofallergenicingredientssuchasglutenandnuts).

The agent service provider needs to pre-review the documents before booking a shipping space.For example,it was once found that the validity period of a batch of health certificates was only 15 days left (normally it should cover 30 days after arrival at the port),so the agent promptly requested the supplier to reissue the certificates to avoid the certificates becoming invalid after arrival at the port,resulting in the return of the goods.

(II) Logistics Management: Precise Balance of Cost and Timeliness

Output:

The main mode of transportation is maritime (accounting for more than 90%),and the choice of full container (FCL) or less-than-container load (LCL) depends on the cargo volume: for small batches (15 cubic meters),LCL is recommended to reduce costs; for large quantities (≥20 cubic meters),FCL is chosen to reduce the risk of cargo damage.The containers should be ordinary dry cargo containers (since biscuits are food stored at room temperature),and moisture-proof paper should be laid during loading to avoid mold caused by condensation water during maritime transportation due to temperature differences.

When planning shipping routes,it is recommended to prioritize the Mediterranean-Far East main route (such as Genoa-Shanghai),and shipping companies like Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) are suggested as top-tier enterprises with high schedule stability (on time delivery rate ≥85%).For insurance,if using the CIF term,it is necessary to require the seller to insure against "All Risks + War Risk" (covering risks such as theft and freshwater damage).Under the FOB term,agents can assist clients in obtaining insurance from companies like China Ping An and People’s Insurance Company of China,with premiums typically ranging from 0.15% to 0.2% of the cargo value.

III.Business Expansion into Russia: VTBAdvantages as a driving force

Russia is the second-largest cookie consumption market in Europe (with an annual import volume of over 1.2 billion euros).Some Chinese companies export Italian cookies to Russia through re-export trade.In this scenario,VTB (Russia) is chosen as the bank for settlement.Bank foreign exchange settlement can significantly improve the efficiency of capital utilization:

• Settlementefficiency:VTBhasestablisheddirectconnectionchannelswithmajorEuropeanbanks(suchasIntesaSanpaoloofItaly),enablingRUB-EURsettlementstobecreditedwithinT+1days(comparedtoT+3daysunderthetraditionalSWIFTsystem);
• Professionalsupport:Directsettlementreducesthefeeschargedbyintermediarybanks,andthetransactionfeesare3-5percentagepointslowerthanthoseofordinarycross-borderremittances(forexample,a1millioneuroremittancecansave3,000-5,000euros).
• ExchangeRateHedging:VTBofferstoolssuchasspotforeignexchangesettlementandforwardlock-in(upto6months),allowingclientstolockincostsbasedonexchangeratetrends(forexample,iftheyexpecttherubletodepreciate,theycansignforwardforeignexchangepurchasecontractsinadvance).

It is necessary to pay attention to the compliance of re-export trade: you need to provide complete proof of "goods flow - capital flow - document flow" (such as bills of lading of third-party transit countries and re-export invoices),to avoid being identified by the customs as "pseudo re-export" and subject to penalties.

IV.Guidelines for Compliance with the Entire Import Process: Key Stages from Order Placement to Delivery

(I) Pre-preparation: Qualification and Terms Confirmation

Output:

The client needs to first confirm that the Italian supplier has completed the FSC registration with the Chinese Customs (which can be verified through the "Imported Food Overseas Production Enterprise Registration Information Inquiry System").It is recommended to select CIF (cost,insurance and freight) as the trade term,with the seller responsible for transportation and insurance to reduce the buyer’s logistics risks.If FOB (free on board) is chosen,it is necessary to clarify the "demarcation of responsibility at the ship’s rail" to avoid disputes over cargo damage before loading onto the ship.

(II) Payment and Production Supervision

Output:

We highly recommend the following payment methods(Letter of Credit),the agent can assist in reviewing the terms of the letter of credit (e.g.the "latest shipping deadline" needs to allow for a 15-day buffer period,and the "documentary requirements" must match the certificates that can actually be provided),to avoid "soft clauses" (such as "payment requires the buyer to confirm the quality first").Production supervision is not a mandatory service,but if the client requests it,we can entrust third-party organizations such as SGS and Bureau Veritas to conduct factory inspections,with a focus on verifying the traceability of raw materials (e.g.whether the flour comes from non-GMO production areas) and the operation of the HACCP system.

(III) Customs Declaration and Subsequent Supervision

Output:

The product classification must be accurate (HS code 1905.3100 or 1905.3200,depending on whether it is filled with chocolate or not,and the cocoa content),as incorrect classification may lead to differences in tariff rates (15% Most-Favored-Nation tariff vs 80% general tariff).When declaring,you need to submit the "Importer Food Consignee Registration" (completed in advance through the Single Window system) and truthfully declare the transaction price (if it is a related-party transaction,you must provide an independent third-party price certificate).

After importation,the sales records must be kept for at least two years (including the distributor’s name,sales quantity,and batch number).If any quality issues arise (such as microbial exceedance),the importer must cooperate with the customs to complete the recall process (initiated within 24 hours and a recall plan submitted within 72 hours).

5.Customer Notice: Explanation of the Boundaries between Certification and Testing

The import of Italian cookies must meet the following certification requirements,but the agent does not directly provide processing services:

• OverseasCertification:ProducingenterprisesmustholdanEU"FoodProductionLicense"(issuedbytheItalianhealthdepartment),andtoexporttoChina,theymustcompleteFSCregistration(whichrequiressubmittingmaterialssuchasenterpriseinformation,productionprocesses,andqualitycontroldocuments).
• Domestictesting:Afterthegoodsarriveattheport,thecustomsconductsrandomsamplinginspectionsatarateof10%(theitemsincludetotalcoliformcount,aflatoxinB1,cyclamate,etc.).Aftertheinspectionpasses,thecustomswillissuethe"InspectionandQuarantineCertificateforImportedGoods"(anecessarydocumentforsales),andtheinspectionperiodisabout5-7workingdays.
• AssistedProxyItems:WecanprovideanFSCregistrationinformationlisttemplate,recommendcertificationagencies(suchasChinaInspectionandCertificationGroup),andassistinorganizingtestsamples(whichneedtobesentbytheclientthemselves).

VI.Case Review: Practice of Improving the Import Efficiency of Italian Biscuits in a Certain Enterprise

In 2023,a food trading company imported Italian handmade biscuits for the first time (with a value of 500,000 euros),but due to a lack of experience,they were worried about delays in customs clearance.The agent service provider took the following measures:

• Pre-reviewthesupplier’sdocuments30daysinadvanceandfindthatthevalidityperiodofthe"HealthCertificate"isonly20daysleft(ittakes45daystoarriveattheport),soweimmediatelyrequesttoreissueanewversionofthecertificate;
• UsingLCLshipping(withacargovolumeof12cubicmeters),thecostis25%lowerthanthatofFCLshipping;
• ByapplyingfortheAEOcertification,youcanenjoytheprivilegeof"priorityinspection",whichshortensthecustomsclearancetimefromtheusual7daysto3days.
• Helpclientscompletetheregistrationofimportersofimportedfood,toavoidthegoodsbeingdelayedattheportduetothelackofregistrationafterarrival.

The final goods were delivered to the warehouse on time,and the client successfully completed the Mid-Autumn Festival sales target.The comprehensive cost (logistics + customs clearance) was 8% lower than that of self-operated operations,and the subsequent repeat order rate reached 100%.

Conclusion: The core value of an Italian biscuit import agent lies in helping enterprises avoid risks such as customs clearance delays,document errors,and excess tariffs through professional document processing,logistics planning,and compliance control,transforming "complicated import" into "efficient channels".Choosing an agent with extensive experience in food imports is a key support for enterprises to explore the Italian high-quality food market.