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What are the core steps and mandatory compliance requirements for the entire customs clearance process of candy imports?
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TRACKING NO. 20260429 / GLOBAL Zhongshen Trade · 23+ Years of Expert Trade Agency
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I am an e-commerce procurement manager who just transitioned to importing snacks. Last month, I imported a batch of hard candies from Belgium for the first time. Due to incomplete documentation, the goods were detained at the port for 3 days. I spent nearly 20,000 yuan on port storage fees and warehouse rental alone, and delayed the restocking plan for the 618 pre-sale, which made me scolded by my boss. I still have a headache thinking about it now. This week, I will import a batch of dairy-filled candies from Germany. I heard that this type of candy involves special inspection and quarantine requirements, and I am particularly worried about making mistakes again. I want to ask how to standardize the entire operation process from inventory preparation, document preparation to customs clearance and release? In addition, the ingredients of this batch of goods include edible flavors and cocoa butter substitute, will there be additional declaration requirements? Also, are there any compliant cost-saving methods to help me reduce the costs related to customs declaration?
Victor SunYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat
First，the details of pre-document verification: All documents must be verified 7-10 days in advance. Among them，the Certificate of Origin needs to confirm that the official seal of the country of origin is clear and the goods information is completely consistent with the bill of lading，F(xiàn)or dairy-filled candies，the food registration number of the overseas production enterprise for export to China must be provided，and the specific content of cocoa butter substitute and edible flavors must be accurately marked on the ingredient list to avoid audit doubts due to vague ingredient declaration. In addition，the registration of import food consignees and consignors must be completed in advance to ensure the compliance of the main body qualifications.
Core node connection: 3 days before the goods arrive at the port，submit the pre-declaration form and scanned copies of all documents to the customs single window for pre-audit，and arrange the bill of lading exchange only after confirmation，Submit the inspection and quarantine application simultaneously when declaring customs，to realize the integrated operation of customs declaration and inspection，and avoid port detention due to process disconnection. Please note that dairy-containing candies need to additionally upload the sanitary certificate issued by the overseas official to ensure that it is completely consistent with the information on the customs declaration form.
Emergency plan: If the document review returns the application，the documents must be supplemented and corrected within 12 hours，and the customs broker must be contacted simultaneously to submit a statement to the customs，If on-site inspection is triggered，supporting documents such as ingredient composition test reports and factory quality inspection certificates must be prepared in advance to cooperate with the customs to complete the container unpacking inspection，so as to avoid customs seizure due to failure to provide supporting documents.
Final compliance implementation: The inspection and quarantine certificate must be obtained within 10 days after release，and all documents must be archived for at least 3 years to ensure that compliance can be quickly proved during subsequent customs audits，and the listing filing on the e-commerce platform can be completed with the certificate.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
When declaring candy imports, a common mistake in the valuation link is failing to truthfully declare the transaction price, especially the additional costs such as overseas transportation fees and insurance fees included. If you deliberately underreport, the customs will initiate a price questioning procedure and require you to supplement supporting documents such as payment vouchers and purchase and sales contracts. If you fail to provide them within the specified time limit, the customs will levy taxes based on the customs value, which will not only increase costs but also affect the enterprise's credit rating. In addition, incorrect classification of customs codes is also a common problem. The customs codes of dairy-filled candies and ordinary hard candies are different, and the regulatory requirements are quite different. If the classification is incorrect, the documents will not match the goods, triggering customs seizure. You need to confirm the accurate code through the customs code query system in advance, or entrust a professional institution to conduct pre-classification to ensure compliance with the classification.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
The logistics route selection for candy imports needs to balance timeliness and cost. If importing dairy-filled candies from Europe, prefer direct shipping routes to avoid cargo damage risks caused by transshipment. At the same time, you can apply to the shipping company in advance to extend the free detention period. Generally, direct shipping routes can apply for a 7-10 day free detention period, while transshipment routes can only apply for 3-5 days. If the free detention period is exceeded, the daily container detention fee can reach USD50-80. In addition, you need to confirm whether the bill of lading endorsement is standardized before the goods arrive at the port. If it is a straight bill of lading, you need to ensure that the consignee is consistent with the customs declaration entity; If it is an order bill of lading, you need to complete a blank endorsement or named endorsement to avoid being unable to exchange the bill of lading due to bill of lading issues, resulting in port detention of the goods. At the same time, you need to select a warehouse with food transportation qualifications for temporary storage to ensure that the candy storage environment meets the temperature and humidity requirements and avoid cargo value loss.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
The costs of candy import customs clearance mainly include tariffs, value-added tax (VAT), consumption tax (only applicable to candies with sugar content exceeding 70%), customs declaration fees, inspection fees, etc. Among them, VAT can be optimized through the compliant VAT deferral policy. Qualified enterprises can apply for VAT deferral when declaring customs, without paying VAT in the import link, but deducting it in the subsequent tax declaration period, which effectively relieves cash flow pressure. In addition, if the goods are produced in countries that have signed free trade agreements with China (such as Belgium and Germany), you can enjoy tariff reductions with a formal Certificate of Origin. You need to ensure that the issuance process of the Certificate of Origin meets the requirements of the free trade agreement, such as the value-added ratio of the goods in the country of origin meets the standards, otherwise you cannot enjoy the tariff preferences. Please note that VAT deferral only applies to enterprises with general taxpayer qualifications, and the filing application must be completed with the customs in advance.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
The payment and receipt operations for candy imports need to comply with cross-border payment compliance requirements. If importing dairy-filled candies from Europe, prefer the CIPS RMB cross-border payment channel, which can not only avoid exchange rate fluctuation risks but also reduce cross-border payment fees. Generally, the fees of the CIPS channel are only about 60% of those of the SWIFT channel. In addition, you need to ensure that the payment amount is completely consistent with the transaction price on the customs declaration form. If there is an advance payment, you need to note the advance payment amount when declaring customs and provide the corresponding payment voucher to avoid triggering the verification of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange due to the discrepancy between the payment and receipt amount and the customs declaration amount. At the same time, all payment and receipt vouchers and purchase and sales contracts must be retained for at least 5 years for subsequent audits by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
When on-site inspection is triggered during candy import customs clearance, you need to first check whether the goods information on the inspection notice matches the actual goods, such as the container number and seal number. If the seal is damaged, you need to immediately explain the situation to the customs and cooperate with the customs to conduct container unpacking inspection. For dairy-filled candies, the customs focuses on checking whether the ingredient composition matches the declaration. You need to prepare supporting documents such as ingredient test reports and factory quality inspection certificates issued by the manufacturer in advance. If the customs has doubts about the ingredients, they will take samples for inspection, and the inspection cycle is generally 3-7 days. You need to communicate with the logistics supplier in advance to apply for an extension of the goods temporary storage period to avoid additional port detention fees. In addition, you need to ensure that the goods packaging is intact without damage or leakage. If packaging damage is found, you need to take photos on-site and submit a statement to the customs to avoid being judged as unqualified goods.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
The purchase and sales contract for candy imports needs to clearly specify intellectual property protection clauses. If the imported dairy-filled candies have brand logos, you need to ensure that you have obtained the authorization letter from the brand owner to avoid the goods being seized by the customs due to infringement, and the authorization letter must be submitted to the customs as one of the customs declaration documents. In addition, the contract needs to clearly specify force majeure clauses. If the goods are detained at the port due to force majeure factors such as customs policy adjustments and port congestion, the responsibility division of both parties must be agreed to avoid contract disputes. At the same time, the time node for document delivery must be agreed upon, and overseas suppliers need to provide all documents 7 days before the goods are shipped to ensure that there is enough time to review the documents during the customs declaration process and avoid port detention losses caused by document delays.