In-depth Analysis of the Full Process of 2026 Food Import Customs Clearance Agency and Accurate Control of Key Nodes

Food import customs clearance is a key choke point determining whether goods can be launched on the market on time.In 2026,the General Administration of Customs of China further tightened supervision over imported food,and the number of return and destruction cases caused by enterprise self-operation errors increased by 40% year on year.Zhongshen handles more than 800 food import businesses every year,and is familiar with operation key points of all categories including meat,aquatic products,dairy products,wine,snack food,etc.This article divides the process into five core stages,and systematically explains the objectives,actions and risk points of each link.

Stage 1: Pre-examination of Access Qualification and Product Compliance

The goal is to confirm whether the product can be legally imported,so as to avoid demurrage and return loss caused by failure of customs clearance after goods arrive at the port.Key actions include confirming HS code,checking access list,verifying the registration number of overseas production enterprises,and confirming ingredient compliance.Common problems focus on incorrect HS code classification leading to inconsistent supervision conditions,products not included in the access list,and production enterprises not registered in China.

Zhongshen provides pre-classification service in this link,and checks the latest access list of the General Administration of Customs in advance.In March 2026,when Mr.Luo planned to import a batch of Brazilian frozen beef,Manager Xie found that the overseas factory’s registration number was about to expire,and promptly reminded to change the goods source,avoiding the risk of being unable to declare after goods arrived at the port.We also review the product ingredient list to confirm whether it contains unapproved additives or genetically modified ingredients.

Stage 2: Document Preparation and Overseas Shipment

The goal is to ensure complete and accurate documents that meet customs declaration requirements.Key actions cover the preparation and review of certificate of origin,health certificate,ingredient test report,label sample,trade contract,invoice and packing list.Common problems include inconsistent certificate format,missing test items,and non-compliant Chinese labels.

Zhongshen provides document templates and reviews overseas documents in advance.We require that official overseas certificates must include specific information: production enterprise name,address,registration number,product description,production date,expiration date,and official signature and seal.For labels,we review Chinese label samples word by word to ensure compliance with GB 7718 General Standard for Pre-packaged Food Labeling.In January 2026,a batch of Australian wine was detained for inspection because the label did not mark "Excessive drinking is harmful to health",we guided the customer to rectify and the goods were released smoothly.

Core Document List

• Official Certificate of Origin (required for tariff preference)
• Official Health Certificate or Free Sale Certificate
• Screenshot of registration number of overseas production enterprise
• Ingredient Test Report (including heavy metals and microorganisms)
• Chinese label sample and translation
• Trade contract,invoice,packing list
• Bill of lading or air waybill
• Importer filing number for imported food and cosmetics

Stage 3: Customs Declaration after Arrival and Inspection & Quarantine Declaration

The goal is to complete system declaration and coordinate inspection arrangement.Key actions include electronic declaration form filling,receiving inspection and quarantine instructions,and cooperating with on-site inspection.Common problems include incomplete declaration elements,system rejection,and problems found in inspection.

Professional customs brokers from Zhongshen handle the operation and coordinate on-site inspection.We are familiar with the logic of the Single Window system,and can accurately fill in declaration elements: brand,specification,production date,shelf life,storage conditions,etc.In May 2026,a batch of Thai coconut water was rejected by the system for declaring "no brand",we supplemented the overseas factory’s internal brand certificate and successfully re-declared.In the inspection link,we prepare samples in advance,cooperate with sampling,and answer or rectify problems raised by inspectors on site quickly.

Stage 4: Tax Payment and Release & Pickup

The goal is to calculate taxes accurately and pick up goods in time after payment.Key actions involve calculation of customs duty and value-added tax,consumption tax verification,tax payment,and release order printing.Common problems include failure to enjoy preference with certificate of origin,incorrect tax rate application,and tax calculation deviation.

Zhongshen calculates taxes accurately and assists in applying for preferential tax rates.We are familiar with tax rates of various foods: 12% for meat,7-10% for aquatic products,5-12% for dairy products,10-65% for wine (including consumption tax).For goods under free trade agreements,we guide customers to provide qualified certificates of origin to ensure access to zero tariff or preferential tax rates.In April 2026,for a batch of New Zealand milk powder,the customer failed to submit the certificate of origin in time,we assisted in applying for supplementary submission,and finally got a refund of 83,000 RMB overpaid tax.

Stage 5: Post-clearance Traceability and Compliance Archiving

The goal is to complete compliance preparation before sales and archive for inspection.Key actions include issuing Entry Inspection and Quarantine Certificate,confirming label pasting,and file sorting.Common problems include incorrect certificate information,unrectified labels,and missing files.

Zhongshen follows up certificate issuance and guides label rectification.We check product name,specification,production date,shelf life and other information on the certificate to ensure consistency with the sales label.For goods requiring label rectification,we supervise customers to complete label pasting in the warehouse and save photos for archiving.All documents,certificates and rectification records are sorted into volumes and stored for no less than 2 years,for inspection by market supervision authorities.

Core Value of Zhongshen Service

Zhongshen converts fragmented policies into executable paths.We provide full-process services including access pre-examination,document pre-review,accurate system declaration,on-site inspection coordination,tax optimization,and post-clearance compliance archiving.2026 data shows that customers using our service have an average 3.5 days shorter customs clearance lead time,60% lower inspection abnormality rate,and more than 90% reduction in direct economic loss.Mr.Luo feedback: "When we handled a dairy import by ourselves,the goods were detained at the port for 12 days due to document problems,resulting in 24,000 RMB demurrage.After handing over to Zhongshen,the same product was released in 5 days with controllable cost."

The value of a professional agency lies not only in being familiar with the process,but also in risk prediction,rapid response and resource integration.Zhongshen maintains regular communication with customs and inspection authorities at major ports,and obtains policy updates in a timely manner.We have established an internal food import case database covering more than 3,000 practical problems and solutions.Customers do not need to invest manpower to study policy changes,only need to provide basic trade information,and leave the rest to us.

Choosing Zhongshen means converting the uncertain customs clearance link into a planned and controllable standardized service.Customers can focus their energy on core businesses such as product development and channel expansion,instead of spending energy on document processing,declaration,inspection and other transactional work.The tightening of food import supervision in 2026 is a long-term trend,and professional agency is no longer an optional item,but a necessity to ensure supply chain stability.