I.Import Trade Situation and Market Potential of Italian Biscuits

In recent years,China’s imported-food market has kept expanding; 2023 customs figures show that baked-goods imports rose 18.7 % year-on-year,with Italian biscuits—carrying the “hand-crafted + premium ingredients” label—claiming over 22 % of the high-end snack segment.EU-China trade agreements (e.g.the EU-China Geographical Indications Accord) have further cut tariff barriers on select Italian specialty biscuits,and,coupled with China’s domestic consumption upgrade,demand for imported Italian biscuits is climbing steadily.

However,it should be noted that the EU enforces strict SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) protocols on food exports,while China Customs has tightened the “double random” inspection of imported food (random selection of both enterprises and shipments).In 2023,the number of returns caused by documentation discrepancies or non-compliant labeling rose by 12 % year-on-year.Against this backdrop,professionalService has become the key to reducing compliance risks and improving customs clearance efficiency.

II.Core Competitiveness: End-to-End Professional Control of Documentation and Logistics

(I) Document Processing: Dual Assurance of Precision and Compliance

Output:

Importing Italian biscuits requires submitting 10+ core documents; the professionalism of the brokerage service directly affects customs-clearance speed and risk.Key documents include:

• CommercialInvoice:TheHScodeofthegoodsmustbeindicated(usually1905.3100or1905.3200,correspondingtofilled/unfilledbiscuits),thetransactionterms(e.g.CIFShanghai),andthecountryoforigin(Italy);consistencyacrossalldocuments—contract,billoflading,etc.—isthekeypointofcustomsverification.
• EuropeanUnion(EUR.1):AnecessarydocumentforenjoyingMFNtarifftreatment(15%),tobeissuedbytheItalianChamberofCommerce;theagentcanassistinreviewingthecertificateformatandtheorigincriteriaofthegoods(e.g.“whollyobtained”or“substantialtransformation”);
• HealthCertificate:IssuedbyanauthorityauthorizedbytheItalianMinistryofAgricultural,FoodandForestryPolicies(MIPAAF),itmustexplicitlystatethat“theproductcomplieswithChina’sGB29921-2021NationalFoodSafetyStandard—LimitsofPathogenicBacteriainPrepackagedFoods”;theagentmayverifythecertificate’svalidityinadvancetopreventcustomsrejectionduetoambiguouswording.
• Chineselabelsample:MustcomplywithGB7718“GeneralRulesforPre-packagedFoodLabels,”includingcountryoforigin,domesticdistributorinformation,ingredientlist,etc.Theagentcanprovidelabelreviewservices(e.g.fontsize,nutritionfactstableformat)butwillnothandlefilingonyourbehalf.

The agency team must possess end-to-end document-handling capability across the “pre-mid-post” process: in the pre-phase,guiding the client and the Italian supplier to confirm documentary requirements; in the mid-phase,tracking document flow in real time (e.g.accelerating transmission via the TIR Convention e-CMR system); in the post-phase,responding to customs queries (e.g.explaining why “wheat flour” and “l(fā)ow-gluten flour” in the ingredient list refer to the same item).

(II) Logistics Services: The Dynamic Balance Between Cost and Timeliness

Output:

Italian biscuit transportation is based onPrimarily (accounting for 85%),the core ports are Genoa and Naples,while Shanghai Yangshan Port or Guangzhou Nansha Port (with high customs-clearance efficiency) are usually chosen as destination ports.The forwarder must dynamically design logistics solutions according to customer requirements:

• SelectionofTransportationMode:Regularordersarerecommendedtobeshippedbyfull-containerload(FCL)seafreight(costaslowasUSD800–1,200per20GP);urgentorderscanbecoordinated.(Leadtime5–7days,butthecostis8–10timesthatofseafreight);
• TransportationRiskControl:Biscuitsarehygroscopicandfragile;theagentmustrequiremoisture-proofcotton+stretch-filmwrapping.Forsummershipments,booka“VentilatedContainer”andtakeout“AllRisks”insurancetocovertransitloss.
• Customsclearancecoordinationattheportofdestination:Submitthe“ImportCargoDeclaration”toCustoms3–5daysinadvancetoavoiddemurrage(leviedat0.5‰oftheduty-paidvalueperday);coordinatewiththecontaineryard(CY)forprioritypickuptocutdetentioncharges(typicallyUSD150–200perdayfora40GPafterthe3rdoverdueday).

In addition,agents can use logistics tracking systems (such as Maersk’s Remote Container Management) to monitor container location and temperature in real time; abnormal events (e.g.an unclosed door) trigger automatic alerts,ensuring end-to-end visibility of the cargo “from factory to warehouse.”

III.Business Expansion into Russia: VTBAdvantages help funds flow efficiently

If the customer imports Italian biscuits and subsequently involves Russia,or the client is for China and RussiaCompanies/agents can leverage their Russia-related experience and recommend using VTB Bank (RussiaBank) Foreign-exchange settlement,with clear advantages:

• Multi-currencysettlement:SupportsdirectEUR-RUBandCNY-RUBexchange,reducingconversionlosses(saving1–2%onthespreadcomparedwithregularbanks);
• Paymentvalidityperiod:VTBhasestablishedSWIFTdirectconnectionswithmajorChinesebanks(e.g.ICBC,BankofChina),cuttingcross-borderpaymentcreditingtimeto1–2businessdays(versus3–5daysviaconventionalchannels);
• Policyalignment:FamiliarwithRussia’scustoms“SingleWindow”system;canhelpalignforeign-exchangedocumentswithRussianclearancerequirements(e.g.invoicesmustbeartheEAEUHScode).

For example,a client importing biscuits from Italy for re-export to Russia now settles foreign exchange through VTB,cutting the turnaround time for a single transaction from 15 days to 7 and raising annual capital efficiency by 30 percent.

IV.Compliance Reminder: Certification Requirements and the Scope of Agency Services

It should be specifically noted that our company does not directly provide product certification services; however,we can offer compliance consultation and process guidance.Clients are required to complete the following key certifications on their own:

• RegistrationofOverseasFoodProductionEnterprisesforImport:ItalianbiscuitmanufacturersmustcompleteregistrationintheGeneralAdministrationofCustoms’“RegistrationSystemforOverseasFoodProductionEnterprises”(AnnouncementNo.192),selecting“Food”astheregistrationcategory;theagentcanassistincompilingtherequireddocumentation(e.g.enterprisequalifications,productionprocessdescription);
• EUOfficialCertification:Fororganicbiscuits(accountingfor12%ofItaly’sbiscuitexports),theEUorganiccertification(EC834/2007)andaconversioncertificaterecognizedbytheCertificationandAccreditationAdministrationofChina(CNCA)arerequired;
• FoodStatementforSpecialDietaryNeeds:Ifclaimssuchas“l(fā)ow-sugar”or“gluten-free”aremade,atestreportissuedbyanItalianlaboratorymustbeprovided(e.g.oneconformingtoISO21652:2018“Gluten-freefoods—Methodsofdetection”).

Failure to complete the above certification may result in the return of the goods (for example,in 2023,a company had 5,000 cartons of biscuits returned by Shanghai Customs because it had not registered its overseas production facility,incurring a loss of over RMB 800,000).Clients are advised to initiate the certification process 6–8 months in advance.

V.End-to-end agency service: one-stop support from consultation to delivery

Professional agency services cover the entire import cycle,ensuring every step is compliant and controllable:

• CustomerInquiry:Throughneedsresearch(e.g.annualimportvolumeof500/1,000tons,targetchannelsofsupermarkets/e-commerce),clarifytheservicescope(whetherlogisticsandRussiantransitareincluded),andprovideapreliminarycostestimate(coveringcustomsduties,VAT,andlogisticsfees);
• NegotiationandContractSigning:Reviewthecontractclauses(focusonthequalitystandard“subjecttoChina’stestresults”andtheclaimperiod“30daysafterarrivalattheport”);recommendusingCIFterms(risktransfersattheship’srailattheportofdestination)toreducethecustomer’stransportationrisk;
• Orders&Payment:AssistinreviewingtheHScodeoforders(toavoidoverpayingdutiesduetomisclassification),arrangeT/T(30%deposit+70%againstdocuments),or(L/C,applicabletofirst-timecooperativesuppliers);forRussia-relatedbusiness,theVTBBankchannelisrecommended;
• ProductionSupervision:Uponclientrequest,third-partyinspections(e.g.SGS)canbearranged,focusingonverifyingadditives(e.g.potassiumsorbate≤GB2760-2014limit)andshelflife(recommendedresidualshelflifeforimportedbiscuits≥60%);
• CustomsCompliance:Whenpre-enteringthecustomsdeclaration,tick“Self-declarationandSelf-payment”(tospeeduptaxpayment),calculatethecomprehensivetaxrate(15%customsduty+13%VAT=29.95%),andassistinhandlingcustomsinspection(e.g.samplingforlaboratorytestingofmicrobiologicalindicators);
• DeliveryandDistribution:Domesticdistributionishandledbylogisticsprovidersqualifiedforfoodtransport(e.g.JDLogistics,SFColdChain),allocatedtoregionalwarehouses(e.g.EastChina,SouthChina)accordingtocustomerneeds,andoffers“door-to-door”service;
• QualityAssurance:Uponarrival,assistinunpackingandacceptanceinspection(spot-checkbreakagerate≤0.5%).Ifqualityissuesarefound(e.g.mold),theagentcancoordinatewiththeoverseassuppliertoinitiatea“returnforrepair”or“l(fā)ocaldestruction”processandhelpcollectclaimevidence(suchasthird-partytestreports);
• SummaryandFeedback:Providethe"ImportBusinessAnalysisReport,"includingcustoms-clearanceleadtime(average7–10days),coststructure(logistics22%,duties&taxes35%),andasummaryofissues(e.g.numberoflabelrevisions),tosupplydata-drivensupportforoptimizingthenextimportbatch.

In the Italian biscuit import arena,the value of a professional agency service lies not just in “handling paperwork,” but in leveraging accumulated experience and pooled resources to shield clients from hidden risks—such as documentation mismatches or missing certifications—and to cut overall costs (e.g.trimming 15 % off freight through optimized logistics).Choosing an agency team with 20 years of foreign-trade expertise and dual-track command of EU and Chinese regulations is the pivotal move for any company racing to capture market head start.