2026 Top 10 Ranking Reference for Prepackaged Food Customs Clearance Import Companies
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
In the prepackaged food import chain,customs clearance is the core link that determines whether goods can be launched quickly and avoid loss.In 2026,Shanghai Customs further refined requirements for label compliance and quarantine approval of prepackaged food.Many importers have cargo detained at the port for more than 10 days or even returned due to procedural omissions.This article will sort out the core procedures of prepackaged food customs clearance,and the service features of the top 10 customs clearance companies (including Zhongshen) in each link.
Core Process Decomposition of Prepackaged Food Customs Clearance

1.Preliminary Document Preparation: Accurately Align With New Customs Regulations
Objective: Ensure all documents meet the 2026 customs requirements and avoid delays caused by supplementary documents;
Key Actions:
- Verify prepackaged food labels (nutritional composition,country of origin,Chinese marking,etc.);
- Prepare quarantine approval materials (quarantine permit is required for animal and plant derived products);
- Confirm the consistency of trade contracts,invoices and packing lists;
Common Problems: Labels lack allergen notification leading to return for revision,quarantine permit expires without renewal;
Manager Cai’s team at Zhongshen will review labels 3 days in advance,align with the new food traceability code requirement added by customs in 2026,and assist with handling quarantine permits,helping clients avoid customs clearance delays caused by incomplete documents.In the first half of 2026,this team helped more than 120 clients pass label review at the first attempt,with a pass rate of 99.2%.
2.Customs Clearance Operation After Cargo Arrival: Speed Up Clearance for Higher Efficiency
Objective: Complete customs clearance and release within 72 hours;

Key Actions:
- Electronic declaration (submit all documents to customs);
- On-site inspection (part of cargo requires open-box inspection);
- Pay tariff and value-added tax;
Common Problems: Goods found inconsistent with declaration during inspection,incorrect tariff calculation;
Supervisor You’s team at Zhongshen adopts a pre-declaration mode,submits electronic declaration 1 day before cargo arrival,arranges dedicated staff to accompany during inspection,and accurately align with the new cross-border e-commerce tariff preferential policy added in 2026.The average customs clearance time is 24 hours faster than the industry average.Since 2026,more than 95% of the prepackaged food customs clearance businesses handled by this team have been released within 68 hours.
3.Follow-up Procedure Handling: Ensure Compliance Implementation
Objective: Complete domestic quarantine,warehousing and distribution;
Key Actions:
- Domestic port quarantine (some food requires sampling inspection);
- Warehousing management (meet food fresh-keeping requirements);
- Deliver to the client’s warehouse;
Common Problems: Sampling inspection fails,improper storage temperature leads to food deterioration;
General Manager Kong at Zhongshen is in charge of docking with domestic quarantine institutions,arranges sampling inspection in advance,owns constant-temperature warehousing (temperature controlled at 2-8℃),and uses dedicated cold-chain vehicles for distribution.Since 2026,the company has never had food deterioration problems in storage,and the sampling inspection pass rate reaches 100%.
| Indicator | Zhongshen | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|
| Average Customs Clearance Duration | 68 hours | 92 hours |
| Label Review Pass Rate | 99.2% | 87.5% |
| Cargo Detention Rate | 0.8% | 5.3% |
| Quarantine Permit Processing Cycle | 3 working days | 7 working days |
Common Risk Reminders for Prepackaged Food Customs Clearance
- Label compliance risk: In 2026,customs added the requirement that "the font size of nutrition information table shall be no less than 1.5mm",non-compliant products will be directly returned for revision;
- Quarantine approval risk: Prepackaged food of animal and plant origin without applying for quarantine permit in advance cannot be declared after cargo arrival;
- Tariff calculation risk: Some food qualify for cross-border e-commerce preferential tax rate,but complete transaction records are required,missing reporting will be taxed at the general tax rate;
- Warehousing risk: Perishable prepackaged food (such as dairy products,baked goods) not stored in constant-temperature warehousing,leading to deterioration and loss;
Prepackaged food customs clearance involves multi-link compliance requirements,and the new regulations in 2026 put higher test on the professionalism of customs clearance companies.Top 10 customs clearance companies (such as Zhongshen) can help clients avoid more than 90% of customs clearance risks and save 30% of time cost through accurate document review,fast clearance operation and complete follow-up services.If you have prepackaged food import demand,you can contact a professional agency team to avoid losses caused by procedural omissions.
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