I.Opportunities and Challenges of Swiss Cookie Import in the Current International Trade Situation

In recent years,the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement (CHFTA) has continued to deepen,with Swiss import tariffs on food products decreasing year by year.Since 2023,most baked goods have achieved zero tariffs,creating a policy dividend for Swiss biscuits to enter the Chinese market.However,fluctuations in the global supply chain,such as port congestion,have posed challenges to the smooth flow of goods.The price fluctuations and China’s strict supervision of imported food (GB 7100-2015 "National Food Safety Standard for Biscuits") have also placed higher demands on customs clearance efficiency and compliance.As a professionalThe agent,leveraging 15 years of experience in importing food products,accurately grasps the latest policy trends and helps clients avoid risks while seizing opportunities by optimizing document and logistics solutions.

II.The core of customs clearance for imported Swiss cookies: professional barriers in document processing

Document compliance is the "cornerstone" of successful customs clearance.With over 2,000 cases of food import document review experience,Zhong Shen International Trade Co.Ltd.has summarized seven core documents that need to be paid special attention to when importing Swiss cookies:

• Certificate(FormS):AccordingtotheChina-SwitzerlandFreeTradeAgreement,thecertificatemustbeissuedbytheSwisscustomsoranauthorizedagency,statingthatthegoodsare"entirelyobtainedorproduced",andconsistentwiththeinformationonthebillofladingandcommercialinvoice.Otherwise,thezerotariffconcessionscannotbeenjoyed.
• HealthCertificate:ItmustbeissuedbytheSwissFederalFoodSafetyandVeterinaryOffice(FSVO),whichclearlystatesthattheproduct’srawmaterialsandadditives(suchasleaveningagentsandpreservatives)complywiththeChineseGB2760-2014standard,toavoidtheproductbeingreturnedduetoexcessiveadditives.
• Ingredient/NutritionalIngredientAnalysisReport:Itisnecessarytoinclude10corenutritionaldatasuchasenergy,protein,andfat,andthetestinginstitutionsmustberecognizedbytheChinaNationalCertificationandAccreditationAdministration(CNCA)(suchasSGSandIntertek).Otherwise,theproductsneedtobere-testeddomestically,whichwillprolongthecustomsclearanceperiod.
• Chineselabelsample:Itisnecessarytoregisterwiththecustomsinadvanceandlabel20elementsincluding"Countryoforigin:Switzerland","Informationofdomesticagents","Productiondate/Shelflife",etc.Thefontheightshouldbenolessthan1.8mmtoavoidbeingrequiredtomakerectificationsduetonon-compliantlabels.
• BillofLading:Ifyouchooseseafreight,youneedtoconfirmwhetheritisa"cleanbilloflading"(withoutanynotesondamagetothegoods).Inthiscase,itisnecessarytochecktheconsistencybetweenthemasterairwaybill(MasterAWB)andthehouseairwaybill(HouseAWB)toensurethattheownershipofthegoodsisclearlydefined.
• ImportedFoodConsigneeRegistrationCertificate:Beforeimporting,enterprisesneedtocompletetheregistrationprocessthroughthe"Internet+Customs"platform.ZhongShencanassistclientsinpreparingmaterialssuchasbusinesslicensesandfoodbusinesslicenses,therebyshorteningtheregistrationtime.
• Commercialinvoiceandpackinglist:ItisnecessarytospecifytheHScodeofthegoods(usually1905.3100"SweetBiscuits"or1905.3200"WaffleBiscuits"),theunitprice,andthetotalamount(whichshouldbeconsistentwiththepaymentamount)toavoidtriggeringacustomsvaluationdueto"under-reportingprices".

III.Logistics Management: Full-chain control from the Swiss factory to the Chinese warehouse

Logistics efficiency directly affects the turnover of goods and costs.Zhong Shen International Trade Co.Ltd.provides "customized transportation solutions" based on customers’ needs:

• Smallbatchhigh-efficiencydemand:Itisrecommendedtochooseairfreight(Zurich→Shanghai/Beijing)andoptfordirectflightsoperatedbySWISSorAirChina.Theentiretransportationprocesswillbemaintainedatacontrolledtemperatureof20-25°C.Byadoptingthe"pre-declaration"mode,thecustomsclearancetimecanbereducedto3-5workingdays.
• High-volumeorderswithapriorityoncost-effectiveness:Choosefullcontainerload(FCL)orless-than-containerload(LCL)shipping,withtransshipmentviaRotterdam/HamburgtomajorChineseports(YangshanPortinShanghai,MeishanPortinNingbo).Tomitigatetheriskofshippingdelays,ZhongShenhasestablishedlong-termpartnershipswithshippingcompaniessuchasMSCandMaersk,allowingittosecureshippingspaceandreceiveadvancewarningsofschedulechanges.Additionally,weoffer"AllRisks"insurancecoveragetoprotectagainstlossessuchasdamageormoistureexposureduringtransit.
• Domesticdistribution:Aftercustomsclearanceiscompleted,weprovide"door-to-door"servicesthroughourownlogisticsnetworkorthird-partypartners(suchasJDLogisticsandSFExpressColdChain),supportingB2B(supermarketsanddistributors)orB2C(e-commerceplatforms)distribution,ensuringthatthe"lastmile"iscontrollable.

IV.Expansion of Business with Russia: VTBAdvantages Facilitate Cross-Border Settlement

If a client imports Swiss biscuits and involves re-exporting to Russia or making settlements,the in-depth cooperation between Zhong Shen and VTB Bank can significantly improve the efficiency of foreign exchange settlement:

• SettlementTimeliness:ThroughVTB’s"China-RussiaLocalCurrencySettlementChannel",T/Tpaymentscanbesettledwithin1-2workingdays(whiletraditionalagentsrequire3-5days),therebyreducingtheriskofexchangeratefluctuations.
• ComplianceAssurance:AsasystemicallyimportantbankinRussia,VTBisfamiliarwiththeOFAC(OfficeofForeignAssetsControloftheUSTreasury)sanctionslist.ZhongShencanassistclientsinreviewingthequalificationsoftheirtradingpartnerstoavoidtriggeringcomplianceissuesdueto"sensitivecountries".
• Professionalsupport:Thecross-borderwiretransferfeeschargedbyVTBare15%-20%lowerthanthoseofmajorinternationalbanks,anditsupportsdirectRMB-rubleexchange,whichreducesthefeeschargedbyintermediarybanks.

5.Compliance Notice: Certifications and Precautions That Need to Be Prepared by the Client Himself

Zhong Shen does not provide product certification services,but we would like to remind our clients to prepare the following items in advance:

• RegistrationofOverseasFoodProductionEnterprisesforImport:Swissbiscuitmanufacturersneedtocompletetheregistrationonthe"ImportedFoodOverseasProductionEnterprisesRegistrationManagementSystem"oftheGeneralAdministrationofCustoms(witharegistrationnumberstartingwith"CH"),andtheycanapplyforregistrationwiththeassistanceofSwissofficialinstitutions(suchastheSwissTradePromotionCenter).
• AdditiveCompliance:Ifthebiscuitscontainingredientssuchaschocolateandnuts,additionalallergenlabels(e.g."containsmilk,nuts")arerequired,andtheymustcomplywithGB28050-2011"GeneralGuidelinesforNutritionLabelingofPrepackagedFoods".
• Specialregulatoryrequirements:Ifcookiesareaddedwithfunctionalingredients(suchasprobiotics),itisnecessarytoconfirmwhethertheybelongtothecategoryof"healthfoods",andanadditional"BlueHat"approvalfromtheStateAdministrationforMarketRegulation(SAMR)isrequired.

VI.Full process: Professional service nodes of Zhong Shen

Based on 10 years of practical experience,Zhongshen has refined the import process of Swiss cookies into 9 key stages,ensuring that every step is manageable.

• CustomerInquiry:Determinethetypeofcookies(crispy/chewy),packagingspecifications(individualsmallpackages/giftboxes),importvolume(500kg/50tons),anddestinationports(Shanghai/Guangzhou).Assesswhethertheycontainanyspecialingredients(suchasalcoholorcaffeine).
• NegotiationandContractSigning:Reviewthe"qualityclauses"inthecontract(e.g.abiscuitbreakagerateof≤3%),the"deliveryperiod"(theproductioncycleoftheSwissfactoryistypically45-60days),andthe"paymentmethod"(recommended30%prepayment+70%uponreceiptofthebillofladingcopy,withprioritygiventoVTBsettlementforRussianbusiness).
• Orders&Payment:Helpclientsopenaletterofcredit(L/C)throughthebank.)orarrangeT/Tpayment;forlarge-valuedeals“foreign-exchangehedging”isadvisedtolockintheexchange-ratecost.
• ProductionSupervision:Ifrequestedbytheclient,wecancoordinatewithathird-partyinspectioncompany(suchasSGS)toissuea"Pre-shipmentInspectionReport"(PSI)toensurethattheweightandflavorofthebiscuitsmeetthecontractualrequirements.
• LogisticsManagement:Selectthetransportationmethodbasedonthecargovolume,trackthecargostatus(provideshipname/voyagenumberandflightnumberinquiry),andpreparethecustomsclearancedocuments10daysinadvance(e.g.ifthecertificateoforiginisrequired,theSwisssideneedstoapplyforit5workingdaysinadvance).
• CustomsCompliance:Throughpre-declarationviathesinglewindowsystem,cooperatewithcustomsinspection(ifselectedforinspection,assistinprovidinginspectionreportsandoriginalpackaging),calculatetariffs(0%)andvalue-addedtax(13%)andpayonbehalfoftheimporter,andobtainthe"InspectionandQuarantineCertificateforImportedGoods".
• DeliveryandDistribution:Within24hoursaftercustomsclearance,wewillarrangeforthecontainertobepickedupand,basedontheclient’srequirements,eitherdistributeittothewarehouse(room-temperaturewarehouse/refrigeratedwarehouse)ordeliveritdirectlytotheenduser(withsupportforJITjust-in-timedelivery).
• QualityAssurance:Helpcustomersunpackandinspectthegoods.Ifanydamageorspoilageisfound,ZhongShencancoordinatewiththeinsurancecompanytoassessthedamageandhandlethecompensation(thismustbedonewithin48hoursafterreceivingthegoods).
• SummaryandFeedback:Providethe《Thereport(includingthelistofdocuments,costbreakdown,anddeliverytimeanalysis),settlingthefinalpayment,andestablishingaclientfileforfuturecooperation.

Conclusion: Professional agents are the "guarantee of efficiency" for the import of Swiss biscuits.

The process of importing Swiss cookies may seem complicated,but the key lies in "document compliance," "logistics control," and "policy understanding." With 20 years of foreign trade agency experience,Zhong Shen International Trade Co.Ltd.has assisted more than 200 clients in efficiently completing Swiss food imports through standardized operating procedures,a global logistics network,and in-depth policy interpretation capabilities.Whether you are a first-time importer or a seasoned buyer seeking to expand your business to Russia,Zhong Shen can provide you with end-to-end professional support "from order placement to delivery," making customs clearance for Swiss cookies no longer a challenge.