In-depth Analysis of Full Process of 2026 Candy Import Customs Declaration and Summary of Key Compliance Points

1.2026 Candy Import Market Background and Operational Difficulties

In the first quarter of 2026,the import declaration volume of candy products at Shanghai Port increased by approximately 18% year-on-year,among which Southeast Asian tropical fruit candies and European functional gummies account for more than 60%.Behind market expansion,compliance thresholds are also rising simultaneously.The General Administration of Customs of China has recently strengthened monitoring of excessive use of artificial synthetic pigments and preservatives in candies,and launched special inspection on the standardization of imported labels.The actual obstacles encountered by most enterprises are concentrated in three aspects: whether formula ingredients comply with GB 2760 National Food Safety Standard for Uses of Food Additives,whether Chinese labels meet the requirements of GB 7718 National Food Safety Standard for Labeling of Prepackaged Foods,and whether qualified quarantine treatment certificates can be provided.These technical details directly determine whether goods can be released smoothly.

When undertaking candy import business,Zhongshen found that about 30% of customers have classification errors in the first declaration: sugar candies that should be classified under tax code 1704 are mistakenly classified as 1806 chocolate products,leading to tax rate application deviation.In addition,some customers failed to check the usage scope of pigments such as carmine and brilliant blue in the ingredient list in advance,and were required to return or destroy the goods in the quarantine inspection stage.Such problems not only generate additional container detention fees,but also may delay sales schedules.

2.Core Role of Zhongshen in the Candy Import Chain

As a foreign trade service institution deeply rooted in Shanghai for more than 20 years,Zhongshen mainly plays three roles in the candy import customs declaration process: compliance reviewer,process coordinator and risk early warning officer.The team led by Manager Huang is familiar with the classification rules for candy products issued by the General Administration of Customs,and can identify high-risk ingredients in the formula in advance.In the document pre-audit stage,Zhongshen will check the certificate of origin,health certificate,ingredient analysis report and label sample one by one to ensure consistent information across all documents.

In terms of port operation,Zhongshen maintains daily collaboration with core port areas including Wusong,Waigaoqiao and Yangshan,and can obtain inspection updates in real time.When goods enter the quarantine inspection link,Zhongshen will assign dedicated staff to cooperate with customs sampling and follow up the laboratory testing progress synchronously.This on-site service reduces the average inspection cycle from 5-7 working days to within 3 working days.For cases requiring label rectification,Zhongshen can complete the re-labeling work in the port warehouse,avoiding additional costs caused by secondary cargo transfer.

3.Step-by-step Breakdown of Full Candy Import Customs Declaration Process

1.Document Pre-audit and Formula Compliance Assessment

The document system for candy import includes certificate of origin,health certificate,ingredient list,production process description,label sample and importer business license.After receiving documents,Zhongshen first checks whether the health certificate is issued by the official competent authority of the exporting country,and whether it contains batch number,production date and expiration date information.Second,for the ingredient list,we focus on reviewing the type and limit of sweeteners,pigments and preservatives.For example,Allura Red,which is common in Thai mango gummies,is only allowed to be used in specific candy categories in China,with a maximum usage of 0.05g/kg.If this ingredient exceeds the standard in the formula,Zhongshen will advise customers to adjust the formula or abandon the import.

• Verify whether the certificate of origin is eligible for China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement tariff preference to reduce tariff costs
• Compare the ingredient list with GB2760 standard to identify prohibited or restricted additives
• Check whether the label sample marks the word "candy",ingredient list,net content,production date,shelf life,storage conditions,name,address and contact information of the importer
• Confirm whether the product contains allergenic substances,which require a warning statement at the prominent position of the label

2.Port Customs Declaration and Classification & Price Verification

Candy products are mainly classified under tax code 1704 (chewing gum,sugar confectionery) or 1806 (chocolate and other cocoa-containing food products).Zhongshen makes accurate classification based on product cocoa content to avoid subsequent compliance risks caused by classification errors.In the declared price link,customs will verify the price with reference to the transaction price of similar goods in the same period.Zhongshen assists customers to prepare purchase contracts,foreign exchange payment certificates and freight invoices to build a complete evidence chain,ensuring that the declared price conforms to the actual transaction logic.For goods imported under CIF terms,Zhongshen will reasonably allocate freight and insurance premiums to the dutiable value to avoid supplementary tax risk caused by under-reporting.

3.Commodity Inspection and Label Rectification

Candy is a legally inspected commodity and must undergo sampling testing by port customs.Testing items include microbial indicators,heavy metal residues,food additive content,etc.Zhongshen pre-fills the Imported Food Compliance Guarantee before goods arrive at the port to speed up release.If the label does not meet requirements,customs will issue a Notice of Inspection and Quarantine Treatment requiring rectification within the specified time.Zhongshen usually completes label re-pasting in the port warehouse,and applies for re-inspection after rectification.The whole process can be controlled within 2 working days.For candies requiring quarantine treatment,Zhongshen will arrange fumigation or disinfection in advance and obtain the official treatment certificate.

4.Warehouse Management and Distribution Connection

Candy has strict requirements for storage temperature and humidity,which generally need to be controlled below 25℃,with relative humidity no more than 65%.Zhongshen operates food storage compliant warehouses in all districts of Shanghai,equipped with temperature and humidity monitoring and automatic alarm systems.After customs clearance is completed,goods can be directly transferred to Zhongshen’s warehouse for sorting and coding,then distributed to distributors or retail terminals in East China according to customer instructions.This integrated mode avoids multiple transfers between port areas and external warehouses,reducing the risk of packaging damage and quality deterioration.

4.Practical Case: Risk Avoidance for Hard Candy Import of a Trading Company

In March 2026,a trading company led by Supervisor Cheng imported a batch of peppermint hard candy from Germany,with a total value of approximately 120,000 euros.After the goods arrived at Yangshan Port,customs found during document review that the label did not mark the warning statement "This product contains menthol,not suitable for infants and young children",and ruled it non-compliant.According to the conventional process,the goods would need to be returned or destroyed,and Supervisor Cheng would face huge losses.

After Zhongshen intervened,we first communicated with customs and applied for label rectification in the port warehouse.Zhongshen’s design team produced a compliant Chinese label overnight and arranged workers for pasting.At the same time,Zhongshen submitted the Label Rectification Guarantee to customs,promising that the rectified product meets domestic sales standards.The entire rectification process took 1.5 working days,and the goods were released smoothly.Compared with the return plan,it saved the customer approximately 80,000 RMB in logistics costs and potential penalty fees.Supervisor Cheng feedback later that without entrusting a professional agent,such detailed problems can easily lead to loss of the entire batch of goods.

5.Practical Value of Professional Brokerage for Import Efficiency and Risk Control

Candy import customs declaration is not a simple document submission,but a comprehensive work involving technical standards,regulatory interpretation and port operation.Through pre-shipment compliance review,Zhongshen solves most problems before goods arrive at the port.In terms of process connection,Zhongshen achieves full chain coverage from international transportation,document processing,port customs clearance to warehousing and distribution.Customers do not need to coordinate with multiple suppliers,and communication costs are greatly reduced.

In terms of risk control,Zhongshen has established a special database for candy import,which includes customs return cases and inspection key points in the past five years,forming a reusable knowledge base.When customers consult the import feasibility of new products,Zhongshen can quickly provide a risk assessment report,including ingredient compliance,label rectification cost and estimated customs clearance cycle.This data-driven service model allows customers to formulate procurement plans based on accurate information,avoiding inventory backlog caused by blind ordering.

In 2026,as the General Administration of Customs promotes the construction of "Smart Customs",electronic documents and paperless inspection have become mainstream.Zhongshen has completed system docking,and can submit declaration data online,receive inspection instructions and download release notices.Customers can check real-time cargo status through exclusive accounts,and transparency and controllability are significantly improved.For trading companies that import candy frequently,Zhongshen also provides monthly settlement and batch declaration services to further simplify the operation process.

Choosing an agent with long-term industry experience like Zhongshen is essentially outsourcing non-core customs declaration affairs to a professional team,allowing enterprises to focus on market development and channel construction.At a time when compliance requirements are increasingly refined,the value of a professional agent is not only reflected in customs clearance speed,but also in ensuring each batch of candy enters the domestic market safely and on time through systematic risk prevention and control.