I.New Trends in China-Japan Food Trade: Opportunities and Challenges for Importing Japanese Biscuits

In recent years,with the entry into force of the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) and the upgrading of Chinese consumption,Japanese biscuits,with their exquisite craftsmanship,strict quality control,and differentiated flavors,have continued to gain popularity in the Chinese imported food market.Customs data shows that from January to October 2023,the value of biscuit products imported from Japan to China increased by 18.7% year-on-year,and market demand is penetrating from first-tier cities to new first-tier and second- and third-tier cities.

However,opportunities come with challenges.As pre-packaged food,imported Japanese biscuits must comply with China’s "Food Safety Law" and mandatory standards such as GB 7718 (General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods) and GB 2760 (Standard for Uses of Food Additives); at the same time,the export end in Japan is constrained by the "Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS)," and some specialty products (such as wagashi-flavored biscuits) may involve traditional craft certification.Furthermore,fluctuations (such as shipping delays,price fluctuations) and trade compliance risks (such as tariff discrepancies caused by incorrect HS code classification) all place high demands on the professional operational capabilities of importing enterprises.

II.Core Competencies: The Professional Twin Engines of Documents and Logistics

(I) Document Handling: The "Passport" for Full-Chain Compliance

Output:

Importing Japanese biscuits involves over 10 key documents,and the core of agency services lies in precise review,standardized translation,and efficient declaration.Specifically,these include:

• BasicCommercialDocuments:Commercialinvoice(mustspecifytradetermslikeCIF/FOB,valuecomposition),packinglist(listingspecificationspercase,gross/netweight),billoflading(sea/masterandhousebills);
• Officialqualificationdocuments:HealthcertificateissuedbyJapaneseauthorities(mustspecifymanufacturer’sname,productingredients,andmicrobialindicators),CertificateofOrigin(FORMEorgeneralcertificateoforigin,affectingtheapplicationoftariffpreferences),registrationnumberoftheoverseasmanufacturerofimportedfood(validitymustbecheckedontheGACC’s"ImportedFoodOverseasManufacturerRegistrationManagementSystem");
• Technicaldocuments:Ingredientlist(mustspecifythenamesandcontentoffoodadditives),nutritionfactstable(compliantwithGB28050),sampleoftheChineselabel(mustbefiledinadvance,indicatingproductname,countryoforigin,domesticdistributorinformation,etc.).

The agency team needs to conduct a "triple review" of these documents: a first review for completeness (e.g.whether the health certificate is stamped by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries or a recognized body),a second review for data consistency (e.g.whether the weight on the bill of lading matches the packing list),and a third review for compliance (e.g.whether the additives in the ingredient list are within the permissible scope of GB 2760),to ensure "goods consistency" and "document consistency" when declaring to customs.

(II) Logistics Services: The Optimal Balance of Efficiency and Cost

Output:

Logistics for importing Japanese biscuits need to balance timeliness and cost.Agency services achieve precise control through resource integration:

• SelectionofTransportationMode:Forsmallbatchtrialorders(≤200kg),airfreightisrecommended(Tokyo/OsakadirecttoShanghai/Guangzhou,48-hourdelivery)toreducetheriskofdemurrage;forlargerquantities(≥1000kg),LCLseafreight(fromKanto/KansaiportsinJapantomajorChineseports,5-7dayvoyage)orFCL(toreduceunitfreightcosts,suitableforlong-termclients)ispreferred;
• Customsclearancecoordination:DeepcooperationwithAEO-certifiedcustomsbrokerstocompletethe"singlewindow"pre-declarationinadvance,andcoordinatepriorityinspectionforhigh-riskproducts(suchasbiscuitscontainingdairyproducts),shorteningthecustomsclearancetimeto2-3workingdays(comparedtotheregular5-7days);
• Warehousinganddistribution:WehaveconstanttemperaturewarehousesinbondedzonessuchasShanghaiWaigaoqiaoandGuangzhouNansha(temperature18-22℃,humidity≤60%),supporting"clearanceandimmediatedistribution."Throughthird-partylogistics(suchasJDLogistics,SFColdChain),wecanachievedeliverytomajorcitiesnationwidewithin48hours.

III.Breakdown of Full-Process Agency Services: One-Stop Support from Consultation to Feedback

Agency services cover the entire import lifecycle,with key nodes as follows:

• Clientconsultationandneedsconfirmation:Clarifythescopeofservicethroughaquestionnaire(e.g.producttype/specifications,annualimportvolume,targetsalesregion),andpointoutboundariessuchas"wedonothandlenotarization,certification"toavoidinformationgaps;
• Contractnegotiationandriskcontrol:Assistinreviewingthepurchasecontract(focusingonthedivisionofresponsibilityfortradetermslikeCIFShanghai,paymentmethodslike30%advance+70%uponsightofthecopyoftheB/L),andrecommendaddingclausessuchas"goodscanbereturnedifqualitydoesnotconform";
• Orderexecutionandproductionsupervision:SynchronizetheproductionschedulewiththeJapanesesupplier,checkproductspecifications(e.g.whetherpackagingdimensionsmeetChineselogisticsstandards),andifnecessary,commissionthird-partytesting(e.g.forpesticideresidues,heavymetals)andprovidereports;
• Logisticsanddocumentcoordination:Updatethelogisticstrackingsheetbasedonvessel/flightdynamics,andcollectandpre-reviewalldocuments3daysinadvancetoavoiddemurragefees(aboutUSD50/day/case)duetomissingdocumentsuponarrival;
• Customscomplianceandtaxpayment:Completethepre-classificationoftheHScode(e.g."biscuits"correspondtoHS1905.3100,MFNtariffrateof15%),calculatethedutiablevalue(CIFprice)andVAT(13%),andassisttheclientincompletingtaxpaymentsthroughthe"singlewindow";
• Deliveryandqualityacceptance:Coordinatewiththeclienttocompleteanunpackinginspectionwithin3workingdaysofarrival(focusingoncheckingfordamagedpackaging,shelflife(mustbe≥6months)),andinitiateareturnordestructionprocessfornon-conformingproducts,retainingevidence;
• Summary,feedback,anddataarchiving:Providean"ImportBusinessExecutionReport"(includinglogisticstimeliness,customsclearancecosts,asummaryofdocumentissues),andarchiveallprocessdocuments(electronic+paper)for3years(tomeetcustomsauditrequirements).

IV.Compliance Advisory: Boundaries of Certification Handling and Risk Avoidance

It must be specified: agency servicesdo not include handling product certification.However,we will clearly inform the client of the certification matters they need to complete on their own:

• Japaneseexportend:Somespecialtybiscuits(suchas"Meigara-gashi"usingtraditionaltechniques)mayneedtoapplyforJAScertification(JapaneseAgriculturalStandardcertification),submittedbytheJapanesesuppliertotheMinistryofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries;
• Chineseimportend:OverseasmanufacturersmustberegisteredthroughGACCAnnouncementNo.179(registrationtypeis"food"),anddomesticimportersmustcompletetheregistrationofimportedfoodimporters(handledthroughthe"Internet+Customs"platform);
• Labelregistration:TheChineselabelmustbefiledwiththelocalcustomsbeforeimport,withafocusonreviewing"allergenwarnings"(e.g.mustbelabeledifcontainingnuts),"productiondate/shelflife"format,etc.

The agent can assist in reviewing the validity of certification documents (e.g.checking the authenticity of the JAS certification number),but does not directly participate in the certification application process.It is recommended that clients start the certification process 3-6 months in advance to avoid affecting customs clearance.

V.Extended Services: VTB for Russian BusinessAdvantage to Support Diverse Layouts

For clients who also conduct trade with Russia,the agency can provide a special settlement service through VTB Bank (Sberbank of Russia).Currently,local currency settlement in China-Russia trade exceeds 80%,and settling through VTB has three major advantages:

• Lowexchangeraterisk:SupportsdirectexchangebetweenRublesandRenminbi,avoidingexchangeratefluctuationsoftheUSdollar(e.g.theUSDtoRubleexchangeratefluctuatedby12%in2023);
• Fastcreditingtime:RelyingonthedirectSWIFTchannelbetweenVTBandmajorChinesebanks(suchasBankofChina,ICBC),cross-borderremittancescanbecreditedonaT+1basis(comparedtoT+3forregularroutes);
• Preferentialhandlingfees:Settlementfeesareaslowas0.15%(marketaverageof0.3%),andcross-bordertelegraphictransferfeesarewaived(aboutUSD30/transaction).

This service can help clients integrate their China-Japan and China-Russia trade links,reducing the costs of multi-currency settlement.

Conclusion: The core value of Japanese biscuit import agency lies in avoiding compliance risks through professional document handling capabilities,and compressing time costs through efficient logistics management,ultimately helping enterprises focus on market expansion and brand operation.Choosing an agency service provider with full-process control capabilities is key for small and medium-sized importers to break through the bottleneck of "high professional thresholds and large operational costs."