Detailed Explanation of Shenzhen Biscuit Import Customs Clearance Agent Procedures and Precautions

Detailed Explanation of Core Procedures of Shenzhen Biscuit Import Customs Clearance Agency

In 2026,as a core foreign trade hub in South China,Shenzhen’s biscuit import volume has increased by 32% compared with five years ago.Many food trade clients such as Mr.Tang and Mr.Chang often experience cargo delays due to unclear customs clearance procedures.As a pre-packaged food,biscuit import customs clearance involves not only port declaration,but also connection with commodity inspection,tariff calculation and other links.It is a core node connecting international transportation and domestic distribution in the entire import chain.If there is a negligence in the process,port storage fees will be incurred at the least,and the risk of cargo return will be faced at the worst.This article systematically sorts out the core procedures and key precautions of Shenzhen biscuit import customs clearance agency based on the practical experience of Zhongshen.

1.Compliance Preparation Stage Before Import: Laying a Solid Foundation for Customs Clearance

Stage Goal: Ensure that the goods meet China’s import food regulatory requirements,avoid core risks such as qualification and label issues in advance,and prevent the situation that goods cannot be declared after arriving at the port.

Key Actions:

• Confirm the HS Code of biscuits: Biscuits are classified as pre-packaged foods,common HS codes are 1905310000 (sweet biscuits) or 1905900000 (other biscuits),which need to be accurately classified according to ingredients (such as whether they contain cocoa or nuts);
• Complete consignee and consignor filing: Submit business license,food business license and other materials to Shenzhen Customs to complete the filing of importers and exporters of imported food (the validity period of filing is 3 years in 2026,which needs to be checked in advance);
• Verify the qualification of overseas suppliers: Suppliers need to provide production license issued by overseas official authorities,health certificate (which needs to be authenticated by the Chinese embassy in the local country),and product test report (which needs to comply with food safety standards such as GB2762);
• Pre-declare Chinese label: The Chinese label must include product name,ingredient list,nutrition facts table,production date,shelf life,country of origin,dealer information,etc.It needs to be produced and pre-declared in advance in accordance with GB7718-2011 standard.

Common Problems:

• Incorrect HS code classification: For example,misclassifying cocoa-containing biscuits as ordinary sweet biscuits increases the tariff rate from 10% to 15%,leading to increased costs;
• Missing nutrition facts table on Chinese label: In 2026,Shenzhen Commodity Inspection Bureau requires all pre-packaged foods to mark the nutrition facts table.If missing,on-site rectification will be required,resulting in a delay of 3-5 days;
• Uncertified supplier qualification: The overseas health certificate has not been authenticated by the Chinese embassy,so it cannot pass the commodity inspection review,resulting in the inability to declare the goods.

Role of Zhongshen:

Zhongshen has a professional pre-classification team for HS codes,which can perform accurate classification according to the 2026 latest tariff schedule to avoid tariff errors; it assists clients to connect with Shenzhen Customs filing system and complete consignee and consignor filing within 3 working days; when reviewing the qualification of overseas suppliers,it points out non-compliance items (such as unauthenticated health certificates) in advance to avoid clients submitting materials repeatedly; it provides guidance for Chinese label production,reviews label content in accordance with GB 7718 standard,and ensures one-time approval of pre-declaration.

2.Declaration Stage Before Cargo Arrival: Seize the Advantage of Customs Clearance

Stage Goal: Complete electronic declaration before cargo arrival to ensure that the cargo can enter the inspection link immediately after arrival at the port,reducing port storage time.

Key Actions:

• Organize declaration materials: Need to prepare bill of lading (original or telex release bill of lading),commercial invoice,packing list,trade contract,health certificate,Chinese label sample,certificate of origin (if you need to enjoy tariff preference);
• Submit electronic declaration: Submit the import cargo declaration form through the "Single Window" system of the General Administration of Customs,and submit the inspection application form to Shenzhen Inspection and Quarantine Bureau at the same time;
• Calculate import taxes and fees: In 2026,the import tariff rate of biscuits is 10%-15% (depending on ingredients),value-added tax is 13%,consumption tax is 0 (for non-alcoholic biscuits),the amount of taxes and fees needs to be calculated accurately;
• Book inspection: If customs or commodity inspection requires inspection,book the inspection time in advance to avoid congestion at the port inspection.

Common Problems:

• Incomplete declaration materials: Lack of certificate of origin leads to inability to enjoy tariff preference,or lack of health certificate leads to failure of inspection application;
• Incorrect tax calculation: Incorrect HS code or untimely tariff update leads to overpayment or underpayment of taxes and fees,which affects cargo release;
• No advance booking of inspection: No inspection is booked after cargo arrival,so it takes 1-2 days to arrange,which increases port storage fees.

Role of Zhongshen:

Zhongshen can organize a complete set of declaration materials according to the actual situation of the goods,ensuring that the materials are complete and meet the requirements of Shenzhen port in 2026; it submits declarations quickly through the "Single Window" system,and the average declaration time is shortened to within 1 hour; it calculates taxes and fees according to the latest tariff policies to avoid calculation errors; it communicates with port departments such as Shenzhen Yantian Port and Shekou Port in advance to book inspection time,ensuring that inspection can be arranged within 24 hours after cargo arrival.

3.Port Inspection and Release Stage: Control the Key of Customs Clearance

Stage Goal: Pass the inspection of customs and commodity inspection,complete tax payment,obtain release order,and pick up the goods from the port.

Key Actions:

• Customs inspection: Unpack and check whether the goods are consistent with the declaration (such as quantity,specification,brand) and whether there are any contraband goods;
• Commodity inspection: Sampling and testing biscuit microbial indicators (such as total bacterial count,mold),heavy metal content (such as lead,arsenic),additive use (such as whether preservatives comply with GB2760 standard);
• Tax payment: Pay tariffs,value-added tax and other taxes and fees through the payment channel designated by customs;
• Obtain release order: After both customs and commodity inspection approve the release,you will receive the "Release Notice",and the goods can be picked up from the port.

Common Problems:

• Too long inspection time: If the goods are stored in the port supervision warehouse,port storage fees are charged per day,with an average of 10-20 yuan per cubic meter per day;
• Unqualified sampling test: If the microbial index of biscuits exceeds the standard,the goods will be required to be destroyed or returned,and losses include cargo cost,transportation cost,etc;
• Delayed release order: Due to system problems or material problems,the release order is delayed,resulting in the inability to pick up the goods on time.

Role of Zhongshen:

Zhongshen arranges a dedicated person to follow up the inspection process,coordinate with inspectors,provide supporting materials (such as product test reports),and improve the inspection passing rate; if there is a slight excess in the sampling test (such as total bacterial count slightly higher than the standard),it assists clients to provide supplementary test reports from overseas and strive for exemption from destruction; it follows up the release status in a timely manner,and if there is a delay,it communicates with customs to solve the problem immediately,ensuring that the goods are released within 3 working days.

4.Domestic Distribution and Follow-up Stage: Complete the Last Mile

Stage Goal: Deliver the goods safely to the location designated by the client,provide follow-up procedure support,and ensure the closed loop of the import process.

Key Actions:

• Arrange domestic transportation: Connect with local logistics providers in Shenzhen with food transportation qualifications,and transport the goods from the port supervision warehouse to the client’s warehouse (refrigerated trucks are required for biscuits that need cold chain transportation);
• Provide foreign payment certificate: Apply to customs for the foreign payment certificate copy of the import declaration form for clients to handle foreign exchange receipt and payment;
• Follow up cargo status: Feed back the cargo transportation track to clients to ensure the safe delivery of goods;
• Follow-up consulting service: Regularly push 2026 imported food policy changes (such as tariff adjustment,label standard update) to clients.

Common Problems:

• Damage in domestic transportation: Biscuits are fragile.If improper packaging during transportation leads to cargo damage,clients need to bear the loss by themselves;
• Delayed foreign payment certificate: Delay of the foreign payment certificate copy leads to the client’s inability to pay foreign exchange on time,which affects cooperation with suppliers;
• Untimely policy update: Clients do not know the latest policies,leading to problems in subsequent imports.

Role of Zhongshen:

All logistics providers connected by Zhongshen have food transportation qualifications,provide customized packaging solutions (such as cushioning packaging),and reduce cargo damage rate; it applies for the foreign payment certificate copy to customs in a timely manner and provides it to clients within 3 working days; it establishes a policy update mechanism,pushes the latest 2026 imported food policies to clients every month,and helps clients adjust import plans in advance.

Self-Customs Clearance vs Agent Customs Clearance: Comparison of Advantages and Disadvantages

Core Value of Zhongshen: Making Shenzhen Biscuit Import Customs Clearance Easier

Shenzhen biscuit import customs clearance involves multi-link compliance requirements,and self-operation is prone to delays or risks due to unfamiliarity with procedures.As a professional company that has been deeply engaged in foreign trade agency for more than 20 years,Zhongshen has created a full-process one-stop solution for biscuit import business at Shenzhen Port:

• More than 20 years of industry experience: Familiar with the 2026 latest policies of Shenzhen Port biscuit import customs clearance,has handled biscuit import cases from Germany,the United States,Japan and many other countries;
• Full-process one-stop service: Follow up the whole process from pre-import compliance preparation to domestic distribution,no need for clients to coordinate with multiple departments such as customs,commodity inspection and logistics;
• Professional team support: Has professional personnel for HS code pre-classification,label review,tax calculation and other work,avoids more than 90% of customs clearance risks;
• Efficient customs clearance guarantee: Maintains good cooperation with port departments such as Shenzhen Yantian Port and Shekou Port,average customs clearance time is 40% shorter than the industry average;
• Flexible service mode: Can provide full-process agency or partial link agency according to client needs,meeting the needs of different clients.

In March 2026,Mr.Tang,who is engaged in food trade,imported a batch of biscuits from Italy.When clearing customs by himself,he was required to rectify by commodity inspection because the Chinese label did not mark allergen information (nuts),resulting in a 7-day delay and more than 2000 yuan in port storage fees.Later,Mr.Tang entrusted Zhongshen to act as agent for subsequent import business.Zhongshen audited the label in advance,supplemented the allergen information,completed customs clearance in 3 days,and helped Mr.Tang save time and cost.

If you have demand for Shenzhen biscuit import customs clearance,you may as well choose a professional agency company to avoid unnecessary losses.Zhongshen will provide you with efficient and compliant customs clearance services to help your import business develop smoothly.