Complete Process Analysis and Precautions for Ginkgo Nut Import Customs Clearance Agency

Core Status and Process Sorting of Ginkgo Nut Import Customs Clearance

As an agricultural product with both edible and medicinal value,China’s import demand for ginkgo nuts continues to grow in 2026.According to industry data,the import volume of ginkgo nuts in East China in the first 8 months of this year increased by 12% year-on-year.However,ginkgo nut import customs clearance involves multi-dimensional regulatory requirements such as quarantine access,tariff calculation,and warehouse temperature control,making it a link with concentrated risks and high operation difficulty in the entire import chain.Many practitioners have problems such as cargo detention at the port and incorrect tariff calculation due to insufficient control of process details,which directly affects business progress.Combining the practical experience of Zhongshen,this article systematically sorts out the core process and precautions of ginkgo nut import customs clearance.

I.Pre-Import Qualification and Document Preparation Stage

Stage Goal: Avoid Access Risks from the Source and Ensure Document Compliance

The core of this stage is to confirm the legal qualification for ginkgo nut import,prepare all documents that meet regulatory requirements,and avoid import obstruction caused by qualification or document problems.

• Key Action 1: Verify the 2026 list of approved countries/regions for ginkgo nut import (needs to be confirmed through the latest announcement of the General Administration of Customs of China,and some countries may adjust access temporarily due to quarantine issues)
• Key Action 2: Complete import quarantine approval (if ginkgo nuts come from some Southeast Asian countries,a quarantine permit needs to be applied to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in advance)
• Key Action 3: Prepare core documents (commercial documents include contract,invoice,packing list,bill of lading; quarantine documents include certificate of origin,phytosanitary certificate,health certificate)

Common Problems: Some practitioners fail to pay attention to the update of the 2026 access list,resulting in inability to declare after the cargo arrives at the port; or the variety name on the quarantine certificate does not match the actual cargo,and they are required to re-provide the certificate.

Role of Zhongshen in this link: The access verification team led by Ms.Tian will obtain the latest 2026 access data from the General Administration of Customs 1-2 weeks in advance,and check the origin of ginkgo nuts to be imported by the customer one by one; assist customers to sort out quarantine approval materials,connect with the designated window of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,and reduce the approval time from the conventional 10 days to less than 5 days; provide document pre-audit service,focus on checking the variety description on the quarantine certificate and the qualification of the issuing authority of the certificate of origin,so as to avoid delays in subsequent links caused by document defects.

II.Declaration and Quarantine Stage Before Cargo Arrival at Port

Stage Goal: Complete Pre-Declaration in Advance and Shorten the Quarantine and Inspection Cycle

Completing pre-declaration and pre-quarantine review before cargo arrival at port is the key to reducing port detention time.The "advance declaration" policy implemented by Chinese customs in 2026 requires enterprises to submit declaration information 3-5 days before cargo arrival at port,which puts forward higher requirements for operation timeliness.

• Key Action 1: Submit pre-declaration information through the single window (need to accurately fill in the HS code,weight,origin of ginkgo nuts,etc.)
• Key Action 2: Cooperate with the quarantine department to conduct cargo sampling inspection (focus on testing indicators such as pesticide residues,heavy metals,and harmful organisms)
• Key Action 3: Rectify the problems raised by the quarantine department (such as no Chinese ingredients marked on the label,storage temperature does not meet the requirements)

Common Problems: Incorrect filling of pre-declaration information leads to system rejection,and repeated declaration increases time cost; unqualified sampling inspection requires re-inspection or cargo return.

Role of Zhongshen in this link: The pre-declaration team led by Manager Mou is familiar with the latest operating specifications of the single window in 2026,which can ensure 100% accuracy of declaration information; we communicate with the quarantine laboratory of Shanghai Port in advance about the sampling process,arrange a dedicated person to follow up the inspection progress,and generally reduce the inspection time from 5 days to 3 days; if the label does not meet the requirements,we can assist customers to rectify on site (such as providing compliant Chinese label printing service) to avoid cargo return.

III.Tariff Calculation and Payment Stage

Stage Goal: Calculate Tariff Accurately and Avoid Late Payment Fine

Tariff calculation of ginkgo nuts needs to be combined with HS code,origin and free trade agreement policies.The tariff adjustment of some free trade agreements in 2026 directly affects import costs.

Common Problems: Incorrect HS code classification leads to overpayment or underpayment of tariff; failure to pay tariff within the specified time results in a late payment fine of 0.05% per day.

Role of Zhongshen in this link: We have established a tariff payment reminder mechanism to notify customers to pay 3 days in advance; if customers have tight capital turnover,we can assist in applying for tariff deferral (qualified small and micro enterprises can enjoy a 30-day deferral period) to avoid late payment fines.

IV.Customs Clearance,Release and Warehouse Distribution Stage

Stage Goal: Complete Release Safely and Ensure Freshness of Goods

After customs clearance and release,the goods need to be transferred to compliant warehouse in time.As a perishable agricultural product,temperature control is the key for ginkgo nuts.In 2026,Shanghai Customs requires that warehouses for imported agricultural products provide real-time temperature control data,which puts forward higher requirements for warehouse management.

• Key Action 1: Check that the release information is consistent with the actual goods (focus on checking weight,quantity and origin)
• Key Action 2: Arrange warehousing (fresh ginkgo nuts need to be stored in 0-4℃ cold chain warehouse,dried ginkgo nuts need to be stored in 15-20℃ dry warehouse)
• Key Action 3: Customize distribution plan (choose road cold chain transportation or railway container transportation according to customer needs)

Common Problems: After release,the goods do not match the document information,and are detained during random inspection; warehouse temperature does not meet the requirements,resulting in deterioration of ginkgo nuts.

Role of Zhongshen in this link: The warehouse and distribution team led by Ms.Zuo will check the cargo information again before release to avoid detention after release; we have cold chain warehouses that meet the 2026 food storage standards (equipped with real-time temperature control and monitoring system),which can ensure that the freshness of fresh ginkgo nuts remains for more than 7 days; we provide customized distribution solutions,such as next-day cold chain distribution for customers in East China,and railway container refrigerated transportation for customers in North China,with full-process temperature traceability.

Summary of Core Value of Zhongshen Agency Service

Ginkgo nut import customs clearance involves multi-link compliance requirements and practical details,and self-operation is prone to delays or increased costs due to unfamiliarity with the process.Zhongshen has been deeply engaged in the foreign trade agency industry for more than 20 years,and has mature operation experience in every link of ginkgo nut import customs clearance: we can help customers avoid access risks,and shorten customs clearance time to 5-7 days (the industry average is 10-15 days); through tariff preference application and cost control,we save customers more than 10% of import costs on average; we provide full-process dedicated follow-up service to solve unexpected problems in time.If you have demand for ginkgo nut import,you can contact our professional agency team to improve your business efficiency.