Japanese Imported Cookies: Why Have They Become a "Hot Sector" in Cross-Border Food Trade?

In recent years,Chinese consumers’ demand for Japanese baked goods has continued to rise.From White Lovers,Royce chocolate biscuits to Morinaga’s specialty snacks,Japanese imported biscuits have seen an annual sales growth rate of over 25% on e-commerce platforms and high-end offline supermarkets,thanks to their unique flavors and strict quality control.However,the seemingly simple term "import" involves issues such as document compliance,logistics efficiency,and other challenges behind the scenes.Many challenges,such as security,etc.— this is precisely why professionalism is so important.The value of an agent lies in.

Document Processing: The "Digital Lifeline" for Imported Biscuits to Clear Customs

The document system for Japanese imported cookies can be described as "meticulous to the last detail".Any slight oversight could lead to customs clearance delays or even the return of the goods.Take,for example,the case of Taking the 100+ cases we’ve handled as an example,the following three key documents require special attention:

• Commercialinvoiceandpackinglist:Itisnecessarytoclearlyindicatethespecifictypesof"biscuits"(suchaschocolate-coated/uncoated),theingredientlist(withspecialmentionofmilkfat/nuts),andtheHScode(usually1905.31or1905.32).Therewasacasewhereacustomerwasrequiredbythecustomstoprovideanallergendeclarationbecausetheinvoicedidnotindicate"containsalmondingredients",whichdelayedthecustomsclearanceby7days.
• (CO)andhealthcertificate:Japan’sofficialrequirementsstipulatethatcookie-typefoodsmustbeaccompaniedbyacertificateoforiginissuedbytheMinistryofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheriesoftheexportingcountry(Japan)oranauthorizedagency,whilethehealthcertificatemustexplicitlystatethatit"complieswithArticle68ofJapan’sFoodSanitationLaw".ZhongShenInternationalTrade’sdocumentteamwillpre-reviewthedocumentsthreeworkingdaysinadvancetoensurethatkeyinformationsuchas"ingredientdescription"and"manufacturer’sregistrationnumber"areconsistentwiththerecordsinthecustomssystem.
• Chineselabelfiling:AccordingtoChina’s"GeneralGuidelinesfortheLabelingofPrepackagedFoods",importedbiscuitsmustcompletetheregistrationofChineselabelsbeforeenteringthecountry,whichincludesthelistofingredients,theproductiondate(whichmustcorrespondtothe"manufacturingdate"ontheJapaneselabel),andstorageconditions(suchas"roomtemperature/refrigeration").ZhongShenInternationalTradeprovideslabeltemplatereviewservicesandhasassistedclientsincorrectingissuessuchas"non-compliancewiththeformatofshelflifemarking",therebyavoidingtheadditionalcostsofrelabelingafterarrivalattheport.

Logistics Arrangement: The "Addition and Subtraction Method of Delivery Time" from Tokyo Port to Chinese Warehouse

The logistics route of Japanese imported cookies may seem simple (Tokyo Port/Osaka Port → major Chinese ports),but in reality,it requires meticulous planning based on the characteristics of the goods:

• SelectionofTransportationMode:Forsmallbatches(lessthan500kg),itisrecommendedtousethismethod.(NaritaAirport→ShanghaiPudong),withadeliverytimeof3-5days,suitableforhigh-endcustomizedproducts;forlargequantities(over5tons),itishighlyrecommendedtochoosethisoption.LCL(LessthanContainerLoad)orFCL(FullContainerLoad)shipmentsfromYokohamaPorttoShanghaiYangshanPorttakeapproximately7days,andtoShenzhenYantianPortabout10days.Pleasenote:Cookiesaremoisture-sensitiveproducts,sowhenshippingbysea,itisnecessarytorequesttheshippingcompanytoprovide"drycontainers+moisture-proofpaper".TheshippingcompaniescooperatingwithZhongShengInternationalTradecancommitto"freereplacementofcontainersifthehumidityexceedsthestandard".
• Controlofcustomsclearancepoints:24hoursbeforearrival,thepre-declarationthroughthe"SingleWindow"systemmustbecompleted.ZhongShenInternationalTrade’slogisticsteamwillsimultaneouslytrackthestatusof"customscontrol".Ifthereisaninspection(withaprobabilityofabout15%),wecancoordinatewiththecustomstoprioritizethereleaseoffood-relatedgoods,reducingtheaverageinspectiontimefrom48hoursto24hours.Once,aclientfailedtodeclareinadvance,resultinginthegoodsbeingdetainedattheportfor3days,incurringportdetentionfeesexceeding5,000yuan.
• Domesticdeliveryoptimization:FortheEastChinaandSouthChinamarkets,ZhongShenInternationalTradeCo.Ltd.hasestablishedan"ImportedFoodGreenChannel"withJDLogisticsandShunfengColdChain.Thegoodscanbedeliveredtofirst-tiersupermarketwarehouseswithin48hoursaftercustomsclearance,andthewholeprocessoftemperaturecontrol(below25°C)ensuresthecrispnessofthebiscuits.

Opportunities and Challenges in the Trade Situation: The Interconnectedness of Japanese,Russian,and Southeast Asian Markets

The current international trade environment is complex and volatile,and Japanese imported cookies face three major challenges:

• OntheJapaneseside:In2023,Japanrevisedthe"FoodContactMaterialsRegulation",requiringbiscuitpackagingtoprovidea"BPA-free"testreport,andproductsthatfailtomeetthestandardswillberestrictedfromexport.ZhongShenInternationalTradecanobtainregulatoryupdatesthreemonthsinadvancethroughitslocalpartnersinJapan,andadviseclientstoadjusttheirpackagingsuppliersaccordingly.
• OntheRussianside:AlthoughthisarticlefocusesonJapan,manyclientsarealsoexpandingintotheRussianmarket.However,duetointernationalsettlementrestrictions,doingbusinessinRussiaposescertainchallenges.Weoftenfacetheproblemof"slowaccountsettlementandsignificantexchangeratelosses".TheVTBforeignexchangesettlementchannelofferedbyZhongShenInternationalTradehassignificantadvantages:bydirectlyconnectingwithVTB,thesettlementtimeforforeignexchangereceiptsisshortenedfrom7-10daysintraditionalchannelsto3-5days,anditsupportsdirectRMB-RUBsettlement,avoidingtheriskofUSDexchangeratefluctuations(in2023,theaverageexchangeratecostsavingswere2.3%astested).
• South-EastAsia:ComparedwithJapan,theprocessofimportingcookiestoSoutheastAsia(suchasThailandandVietnam)ismoresimplified.ThankstotheRCEPagreement,thetariffsforsomecategorieshavebeenreducedfrom15%to5%.However,itshouldbenotedthatIndonesiarequires"importerstoholdAPIPlicenses",andMalaysiarequires"HALALcertification".ZhongShenInternationalTradehasaccumulated10yearsofexperienceintheSoutheastAsianmarketandcanassistclientsinmeetingtherequirementsforapplyingfor"RCEPCertificatesofOrigin".In2023,thecompanyhelpedthreeclientsenjoytariffreductionsexceeding120,000yuan.

Certification Assistance: We do not handle applications on behalf of others,but we are more knowledgeable about "how to handle them efficiently".

The certifications required for Japanese imported cookies include:

• ChinaCIQ(CustomsImportFoodConsigneeRegistration):Companiesneedtocompletetheregistrationbeforeimporting.ZhongShenInternationalTradeCo.Ltd.willprovidea"listofmaterialsrequiredforregistration"(suchasbusinesslicenses,foodbusinesslicenses,andqualityandsafetymanagementsystems)andguidetheminfillingoutthe"ImportedFoodInformationRegistrationForm".
• JapanJFRL(FoodResearchLaboratory)testing:Forsomehigh-sugar/high-fatbiscuits,a"ComplianceTestReportforIngredients"isrequired.ZhongShenInternationalTradeCo.Ltd.canassistincontactingJapanese-approvedtestinginstitutionstoclarifythe"TestingItemList"(suchasaflatoxinandmicrobiologicalindicators),therebyavoidingclientshavingtoresubmitsamplesfortestingdueto"missingtestingitems".
• Notetheboundaries:ZhongShenInternationalTradedoesnotdirectlyhandlecertificationservices,butitreducesclients’timecoststhrough"pre-audit+processguidance".Forexample,therewasaclientwhomistakenlymarkedthe"shelflife"as"12months"(whiletheactualJapaneseinspectionreportshowed"10months").ZhongShenInternationalTradediscoveredandadvisedtheclienttomakecorrectionsbeforefilingtherecord,thusavoidingafailedcertification.

Conclusion: The core of professional agency is to make the "complex" into the "simple".

From the perspective of the entire process of importing cookies from Japan,the accuracy of documents,the controllability of logistics,the security of foreign exchange settlement,and the adaptability to multi-market regulations together constitute the "success triangle" of import business.Zhong Shen International Trade Co.Ltd.has been specializing in import and export for 15 years.We focus on document processing and logistics services,leveraging VTB’s foreign exchange settlement advantages to cover the Russian market,utilizing our Southeast Asian operational experience to enable cross-regional expansion,and adhering to the clear principle of "assisting with certification rather than acting as an agent" to provide clients with "professional yet within boundaries" agency services.In the highly competitive import biscuit market,choosing an agent who understands the process,controls risks,and understands the market is the key to efficient customs clearance for enterprises.