I.The current situation of Japan’s imported cookie trade and the necessity of agency services

In recent years,Sino-Japanese food trade has continued to heat up.According to 2023 customs data,Japanese biscuits,with their exquisite craftsmanship and unique flavors,account for more than 12% of the imported food market in China,with an annual growth rate steadily at 8%-10%.Influenced by the entry into force of the RCEP agreement,the tariffs on some Japanese biscuits that meet the rules of origin have been reduced to less than 5%,further stimulating import demand.However,the challenges of document compliance,logistics efficiency,and customs supervision in the import process pose difficulties for non-professional enterprises - more than 30% of importers have encountered customs clearance delays due to document errors,and 15% have incurred cost overruns due to improper logistics solutions.Against this backdrop,professional Agent services have become a core choice for reducing risks and improving efficiency.

II.Full-process agency services: Control the key nodes from demand matching to delivery

As a foreign trade agency with 20 years of experience,we have designed a standardized service process for Japanese imported cookies,covering the entire cycle of "consultation - signing contract - execution - delivery - feedback".Our core focus lies on two professional capabilities: document processing and logistics management.

(I) Document processing: Dual guarantees of compliance and timeliness

Output:

The Japanese customs’ review of import documents for food products is extremely rigorous.Any omission at any stage may lead to the return of the goods or high port detention fees.In our agency services,we focus on controlling the following documents:

• BasicCommercialDocumentsCommericalinvoice(whichmustclearlyindicatethecookieingredients,specifications,andthecodeofthefactoryoforigin),packinglist(whichmustcorrespondtotheshippingmarksonthebilloflading),andbilloflading(eitherelectronicororiginal,dependingonthepaymentmethod.Forexample,ifthepaymentisbyT/Twitha30%advancepayment,itisrecommendedtochooseanelectronicbillofladingtoreducerisks).
• SpecialSingleDocumentsforFoodProductsThe"ImportedFoodHygieneCertificate"requiredbytheJapaneseMinistryofHealth,LabourandWelfare(MHLW)(whichmustbeissuedbyanofficialagencyintheexportingcountryandclearlylistthetypesofadditivesandtheircompliancewithJapan’sFoodSanitationLaw),UndertheRegionalComprehensiveEconomicPartnership(RCEP),youcanapplyfortheFormEtoenjoytariffpreferences.However,youneedtonotethatthe"regionalvaluecontent"mustbe≥40%.
• SupplementaryproofdocumentsForexample,ifitinvolvesspecialprocesses(suchaslow-temperaturebaking),adescriptionoftheproductionprocessmustbeprovided;forbiscuitscontainingmilkingredients,anadditional"DairyProductImportLicense"mustbesubmitted.

Our professional team ensures that the documents,actual goods,and customs requirements are consistent through a three-level verification mechanism of "pre-review - re-check - filing".In historical cases,the pass rate of the documents reached 99.6%,and the average clearance time was shortened by 2-3 working days.

(II) Logistics Management: Dynamic Balance between Multimodal Transportation and Cost-Effectiveness and Time-Efficiency

Output:

The transportation of cookies from Japan to China is mainly carried out by(Full Container/LCL) andThere are two approaches.In the agency service,we dynamically match the optimal solution based on the value of the goods,delivery time,and batch quantity:

• FullContainerLoad(FCL)Suitableforlarge-scaleimportsofmorethan500kg,thisoptioninvolvesselectingJapaneseportssuchasKanto(Tokyo/Yokohama)orKansai(Kobe/Osaka)forshipment,followedbycustomsclearanceathubportslikeShanghaiandQingdao.Theentireprocesstakesapproximately10-15days,withunitcosts60%-70%lowerthanthoseofairfreight.
• Less-than-ContainerLoad(LCL)Forsmallbatches(100-500kg),consolidatedshipmentscanhelpreducecosts,butattentionshouldbepaidtotheriskofcargodamageduringunloadingatthedestinationport.Wewillcoordinatewiththeshippingcompanytouse"frameboxes"or"insulatedboxes"(forbiscuitscontainingchocolateingredients).
• AirfreightForurgentorders(suchasnewproductlaunches),youcanchoosetoflydirectlyfromNarita/HanedaAirporttoShanghai/Beijing,withdeliverycompletedwithin48hours.However,thecostisapproximately3-4timesthatofseafreight,andtheclientneedstoconfirmthattheaddedvalueofthegoodscancoverthetransportationcosts.

In addition,we have established long-term cooperation with leading logistics enterprises such as YAMATO Transport in Japan and China Shipping,and can provide "door-to-door" services,including picking up goods from factories in Japan,palletizing and wrapping with film (in accordance with IPPC wood packaging requirements),and so on.The service includes document transfer at the port of destination,domestic delivery to the designated warehouse,and full-process visual tracking throughout the entire process.

III.Special Scenario Response: VTB’s Transit Business with Russia as an ExampleAdvantages

Some clients are involved in tripartite trade involving Japanese biscuits being transshipped from China to Russia.In such business operations,the safety and efficiency of cross-border foreign exchange settlements are the core pain points.Zhong Shen International Trade relies on its cooperation channel with VTB Bank (Russia’s Sberbank,a systemically important bank regulated by the Bank of Russia) to offer the following advantages:

• SettlementefficiencyThroughVTB’s"China-RussiaLocalCurrencySettlementChannel",theRMB-Rubleexchangedoesnotneedtogothroughthird-countrybanksfortransfer,andthearrivaltimeisshortenedtoT+1;
• RiskavoidanceVTBretainssomeinterfacesintheSWIFTsystem,whichcanhandletradethatmeetstheexemptionsfrominternationalsanctions(suchasfoodproducts),reducingtheriskofpaymentdelayscausedbypaymentpathissues;
• ExchangeRateLock-inWeofferspotforeignexchangesettlementandforwardlock-inexchangeoptionstohelpclientshedgeagainstexchangeratefluctuations(forexample,thefluctuationrangeoftherubleagainsttheRMBreached12%in2023,andlock-inexchangecanstabilizecosts).

IV.Certification Tips: Compliance Requirements That Clients Need to Know (Agents Do Not Provide Certification Services)

Although Japanese imported cookies do not require mandatory certification in China (such as CCC),they must meet the following compliance requirements.It is recommended that customers plan ahead:

• Japan’sexportsectorTheproductionplantneedstocompletethe"RegistrationofForeignFoodManufacturers"withtheJapaneseMinistryofHealth,LabourandWelfare,andtheregistrationnumbermustbereflectedinthehealthcertificate;
• ChinaImportTerminalImportorsneedtocompletethe"ImportFoodImporterRegistration"(bysubmittingmaterialssuchasenterprisequalificationsandqualityandsafetymanagementsystemsthroughthe"Internet+Customs"platform);
• AdditionalCertificationSomehigh-endcustomersmayrequiresupplierstoprovideFSSC22000(FoodSafetySystemCertification)orJAS(JapanAgriculturalStandardsCertification,forbiscuitsmadewithJapanese-producedingredients).Itisrecommendedthatcustomersconsultwithmanufacturerstoarrangeforthemtohandlethesecertifications.

It should be clearly stated that Zhong Shen does not directly provide the aforementioned certification services,but can assist in reviewing the validity of certification documents or recommend compliant third-party certification agencies.

5.The value of choosing a professional agent: reducing costs,increasing efficiency,and assuming full responsibility for risks

Compared with importing goods on one’s own,the core value of professional agency services lies in the following aspects:

• ProfessionalsupportBycentralizingbookingandusinglong-termagreementfreightrates,logisticscostscanbereducedby15%-20%;bypre-reviewingdocuments,portdetentionfeescanbeavoided(withanaveragedailyportdetentionfeeofabout500-1000yuanpercontainer);
• RiskControlThe"JapaneseFoodImportRiskDatabase",accumulatedover20yearsofexperience,canprovideearlywarningsforcommonissuessuchas"additivesexceedingJapanesestandards"and"unclearmarkingofcountryoforigin".
• PolicyresponseReal-timetrackingofchangesinSino-Japanesecustomspolicies(suchasJapan’samendmentofthe"PositiveListSystemforResidualAgriculturalChemicalsinFood"in2023),anddynamicadjustmentofdocumentsanddeclarationplans.

Conclusion: The Japanese imported cookie market holds great potential,but the "professional threshold" is the key to enterprises’ large-scale expansion.Choosing a foreign trade agent with dual core capabilities in document processing and logistics is not just about cost reduction,but also about "risk coverage" and "efficiency investment" throughout the entire import process.Zhong Shen International Trade will continue to leverage its 20 years of experience to provide clients with more precise and efficient agency services.