1.The policy background and market opportunities of biscuit trade between New Zealand and China

After the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) officially took effect in New Zealand in 2022,the level of trade facilitation between China and New Zealand has been further enhanced.As one of China’s main sources of imported biscuits,New Zealand continues to gain popularity in the Chinese consumer market with its butter cookies,oat biscuits,and other products,thanks to its strict food safety standards (such as the MPI certification system) and advantages in high-quality dairy raw materials.According to customs data,the value of biscuit imports from New Zealand to China increased by 18.7% year-on-year from January to October 2023,with the majority of imports concentrated in ports such as Shanghai,Guangzhou,and Shenzhen.

Under the current international trade situation,although the global supply chain is still affected by port congestion,Despite the impact of factors such as exchange rate fluctuations,the positioning of China and New Zealand as important trading partners of each other remains unchanged.It’s worth noting that when it comes to transit trade with Russia or tripartite trade scenarios,special attention should be paid to the compliance of international settlements—Relying on cooperation with RussiaThe long-term cooperation with the bank (VTB) can provide more stableThe channel effectively reduces exchange rate fluctuations andDelay risk.

II.The core services of the New Zealand cookie import agent: Dual-driven by documentation and logistics

(I) Document Processing: The “Invisible Line of Defense” for Full-Process Compliance

Output:

As pre-packaged food products,imported biscuits’ compliance with documentation requirements directly affects customs clearance efficiency and the legality of subsequent sales.Zhong Shen International Trade’s documentation team is deeply involved in the following key stages:

• Pre-approval:Wegetinvolvedinthecontractsigningstageandreviewthespecialrequirementsfordocumentsinthetradeterms(suchasThetypesandnumberofdocumentsundertheL/C,withafocusonverifyingtheHScode(suggestedclassificationas1905.3100or1905.3200),theoriginmarking(whichmustbeconsistentwiththeFORMEcertificate),andtheingredientlist(whichmustcomplywiththeGB28050-2011"GeneralGuidelinesforNutritionLabelingofPrepackagedFoods").
• Preparationofkeydocuments:Leadthepreparation/reviewofcommercialinvoices(whichmustreflecttheFOB/CIFpriceterms),packinglists(indicatinggrossweight/netweight/volume),healthcertificatesissuedbytheNewZealandMinistryofPrimaryIndustries(MPI)(whichmuststate"complywithChina’simportfoodrequirements"),andtheRegionalComprehensiveEconomicPartnershipAgreement.Book(FORME,eligiblefor0-5%tariffconcessions)andoceanfreightbilloflading(B/L,whichmustmatchthecustomsclearanceinformationatthedestinationport).
• Post-productionarchiving:Aftercompletingcustomsclearance,wewillsimultaneouslyprovideafullsetofdocumentcopies(includingcustomsdeclarationforms,taxinvoices,andinspectionandquarantinecertificates)tomeetourclients’financialsettlementandsubsequenttraceabilityrequirements.

(II) Logistics Management: Full-Chain Control from New Zealand Plant to China Warehouse

Output:

The professionalism of the logistics process directly determines the import cost and delivery time.Zhong Shen International Trade relies on 15 years of experience in logistics management to provide efficient and cost-effective import and export services.Internet,providing customized solutions:

• SelectionofTransportationMode:Mainlybyfullcontainerload(FCL)(suitablefor20-foot/40-footstandardcontainers.Pleasenotetherequirementsformoisture-proofingbiscuits,and"moisture-sensitive"labelsneedtobeattached).Urgentorderscanbearrangeduponrequest.(aviationembargoclausesmustbeconfirmedinadvance);
• PortCoordination:Preferably,choosethedirectshippingroutefromAucklandPort(NewZealand’smainexportport)toShanghaiYangshanPort/GuangzhouNanshaPort(withanaverageshippingtimeof18-22days),toavoidtheriskofcargodamagecausedbytransshipmentviaSingapore/Busan;
• CustomsClearanceCoordination:3workingdaysinadvance,transferthedeclarationdatatothecustoms(throughtheSingleWindowSystem),andprovidethepre-classificationcertificateandtheingredienttestingreport(iftheclienthasentrustedathird-partytestingagency)whencooperatingwiththecustomsintheinspectionprocess;
• Last-miledelivery:Wehavesignedlong-termagreementswithJDLogisticsandSinotrans,etc.tosupportnationwidedistribution(notetheneedforcoldchainlogistics-regulartemperaturebiscuitsdonotrequireit,butthosecontainingchocolateingredientsneedtobetransportedat4-8°C).

III.A Detailed Explanation of the Entire Process of Agency Services: Nine Key Stages from Consultation to Feedback

• CustomerInquiry(NeedsDiagnosis):Collectinformationsuchasimportvolume(monthly/annual),targetports,andsaleschannels(supermarkets/e-commerce/distribution)throughquestionnairestodeterminewhetherthereisanytransshipmenttoRussiainvolved.Preliminarilyassessthecomplexityofdocumentationrequirements(e.g.whetherHalalcertificationisneeded).
• Negotiateandsignthecontract(lockintheterms):Themainpointsofnegotiationincludeservicefees(usually1-3%ofthevalueofthegoods),liabilityboundaries(forexample,iftheclientprovidesanincorrectHScode,thedemurragefeeincurredinHongKongshallbebornebytheclient),andpaymentmethods(T/Twitha30%advancepaymentanda70%paymentuponarrival,orasightL/C).
• OrdersandPayments(FundManagement):Whenopeninglettersofcreditonbehalfofclients,westrictlyreview"softclauses"(suchas"theimporter’srepresentativemustsignthequalityconfirmationletter");forT/Tpayments,wemonitorthearrivaloffundsthroughbankingchannelslikeVTBtopreventfraudrisks.
• ProductionSupervision(QualityPreventionandControl):Ifrequestedbytheclient,wecancoordinatewiththird-partyorganizationssuchasSGStoconductinspectionsattheNewZealandfactory(attheclient’sadditionalcost),withafocusonverifyingthebatchofrawmaterials(suchasthesourceofbutter)andensuringcompliancewithpackagingrequirements(Chineselabelsmustbedesignedandregisteredinadvance).
• LogisticsManagement(DynamicTracking):Obtainshippositioninformationinrealtimethroughtheshippingcompany’sAPI,andimmediatelyinitiateemergencyplans(suchasswitchingtothenextsailingorsupplementingwithairfreight)intheeventofashippingdelay(e.g.astrikeatthePortofAuckland).
• Customscompliance(taxanddutypayment):Whenpre-enteringthecustomsdeclarationform,accuratelydeclarethe"specificationsandmodels"(e.g.200g/box),the"countryoforigin"(NewZealand),calculatethetariffs(undertheRCEPtariffrate,thetarifffortariffcode1905.3100is0%),value-addedtax(13%),andpossibleconsumptiontax(ifitcontainsalcoholcomponents).
• Deliveryanddistribution(end-userimplementation):Afterthegoodsarereleased,wewillarrangetopickupthecontainerswithin24hours,anddistributethemtothedesignatedwarehouseaccordingtothecustomer’sneeds(thecustomerneedstoprovidetheinventorylisttoverifythequantity),andsimultaneouslyuploadthelogisticstracktothecustomermanagementsystem.
• QualityAssurance(After-salesSupport):Helpclientsapplytothecustomsforsamplinginspection(inspectionitemsincludemicroorganismsandadditives).Ifqualityissues(suchasmold)arise,assistincollectingevidence(suchasunboxingvideosandinspectionreports).Assistininitiatingareturnshipmentorclaimingcompensationfromtheexporter.
• Summaryandfeedback(experienceaccumulation):Providean"ImportFull-ProcessAnalysisReport",coveringtimeefficiencystatistics(withanaverageof45daysfromplacinganordertodelivery),costbreakdown(withoceanfreightaccountingforapproximately20%),andriskpointalerts(suchasthevalidityperiodoftheFORMEcertificatebeingoneyear),toassistclientsinoptimizingtheirnextimportplans.

IV.Special Notes on Certification: Professional Advice but Within Legal Limits of Service Provision

It should be particularly emphasized that Zhong Shen International Trade Co.Ltd.does not directly provide product certification services,but will clearly inform clients of the certification requirements they need to complete on their own:

• Chinamandatesthat.:Theregistrationofforeignproductionenterprisesofimportedfood(FAPC)requiresNewZealandexporterstocompletetheregistrationprocessattheGeneralAdministrationofCustomsunderthecategoryof"importedfood".1.Registeronthe"BusinessRegistrationSystem";2.Submittherequiredmaterialsandcompletetheonlineapplicationprocess;3.Waitfortheapprovaloftheapplicationandreceivethebusinessregistrationcertificate.
• NewZealand’sofficialrequirements:Beforeexporting,itisnecessarytoobtainahealthcertificate(CertificateofFreeSale)issuedbyMPI.
• Optionalcertification:Iftheclient’stargetmarketishigh-endsupermarkets,itisrecommendedtoapplyforISO22000(FoodSafetyManagementSystem)orHACCP(HazardAnalysisandCriticalControlPoints)certification(issuedbythird-partyorganizationssuchasSGSandBV).

Our company can provide compliance review services for certification documents (such as verifying whether the FAPC registration number is valid and whether the health certificate signature complies with the MPI format),ensuring that there will be no rejection of customs clearance due to defects in the certification documents.

5.Conclusion: Professional agents are the "efficiency engine" of New Zealand biscuit imports.

The successful import of cookies from New Zealand relies not only on high-quality products themselves,but also on addressing multiple challenges such as document compliance,logistics fluctuations,and policy changes.With 20 years of foreign trade agency experience,Zhong Shen International Trade Co.Ltd.focuses on its core competence of "zero document errors and full logistics control," combined with in-depth analysis of the international trade situation,to provide clients with a full-cycle service from consultation to feedback,truly realizing the goal of "making import easier."

(Note: The process and policies described in this article are based on current regulations as of January 2024.Specific operations need to be adjusted according to real-time policies.)