--- title: "Is it legal for domestic businesses to entrust an agency to import coffee beans in 2026? What are the compliance requirements?" description: "Many businesses engaged in coffee retail and processing plan to entrust agencies to import coffee beans，but due to unfamiliarity with the 2026 foreign trade compliance policies，they worry that non-compliant agency operations will trigger risks such as customs detention，port detention，administrative penalties，and even affect normal business. It is necessary to select professional agencies with legal qualifications，complete document review in advance，connect core customs clearance nodes，and formul..." url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html" language: "en" type: "Q&A" category: "Import Agency Q&A" datePublished: "2026-10-23" dateModified: "2026-10-23" brand: "Zhongshen Trading China" answerCount: 9 --- # Is it legal for domestic businesses to entrust an agency to import coffee beans in 2026? What are the compliance requirements? ## Question I am the owner of a specialty coffee shop in Shanghai that has been operating for 3 years. Recently, I want to import a batch of Yirgacheffe specialty green coffee beans from Ethiopia to expand my supply. Last year, when I tried to import on my own, due to incorrect filling of the certificate of origin, my cargo was detained at the port for 12 days. Not only did I have to pay liquidated damages to customers for pre-sale orders, but I also spent nearly RMB 20,000 on port detention fees. Now I dare not operate on my own and want to find a foreign trade agency for help, but recently I heard from peers that some agencies use "tax-inclusive import" grey area practices, which are not only non-compliant but also involve the consignor. I am particularly entangled now: Is it legal to entrust an agency to import coffee beans in 2026? How to judge whether the agency's operations are compliant? Will I be penalized by the customs due to the agency's problems? ## Answers ### Answer 1 — Best Answer First，we need to expose common industry misconceptions: Many businesses mistakenly believe that entrusting an agency to import coffee beans is inherently legal，but in fact，compliance risks mostly come from two blind spots — choosing an agency without specialized qualifications，or acquiescing to the agency's grey-area operation modes such as "tax-inclusive import". Such agencies usually do not take the initiative to inform merchants that their operations have not completed food import filing or formal inspection declaration procedures. If you fall into this misconception，a series of negative consequences will follow: After the cargo arrives at the port，it will be detained by the customs due to incomplete documents or mismatched qualifications. In mild cases，you will face tens of thousands of yuan in port detention fees and container detention fees，miss the optimal flavor window of coffee beans，leading to depreciation of cargo value，in severe cases，the cargo will be destroyed，and the customs will trace the responsibility of the actual consignor，include the enterprise in the credit blacklist，significantly prolong the customs clearance time for all subsequent import businesses，and even face administrative fines of more than RMB 100,000. Physical risk isolation measures: **Be sure to verify the agency's right to import and export，food business license and specialized filing qualification for coffee bean import in advance**，and require the agency to provide customs clearance records for similar coffee bean imports in the past 6 months，clearly divide compliance responsibilities when signing the agency agreement，and prohibit the agency from using grey customs clearance methods. Effective measures to mitigate losses: Before the agency starts operations，require it to submit the full set of documents for customs pre-review，and purchase import cargo insurance that includes "compliance risk indemnity". If losses are caused by the agency's non-compliant operations，you can directly file a claim with the insurance company，and keep all communication records and documents as evidence for rights protection. **status:** accepted **Author:** Linda Gao **Date:** 2026-10-24 ### Answer 2 The core of customs declaration compliance for coffee bean import agency lies in document consistency and reasonable price assessment. First, the documents that the agency needs to submit to the customs include the certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, food circulation permit, import cargo declaration form, etc. The product name, origin and weight of all documents must be completely matched. If the product name is vague (such as only marking "coffee" without marking "green coffee beans"), the customs will determine it as false declaration and directly detain the cargo. Second, the price assessment link requires the provision of real trade contracts, invoices and payment vouchers. If the agency uses underreporting of prices to avoid taxes, the customs will launch a price questioning procedure, require supplementary provision of cost composition details, and even transfer the case to the anti-smuggling department. This will not only prolong the customs clearance time, but also result in fines. It is recommended to require the agency to submit the full set of documents for customs pre-review before arranging the cargo to arrive at the port. **status:** suggested **Author:** Lucas Liu **Date:** 2026-10-24 ### Answer 3 The logistics compliance of coffee bean import agency focuses on cargo right control and compliance of transportation conditions. First, the transportation link requires temperature-controlled containers. The storage temperature of green coffee beans should be controlled at 15-25℃ and humidity at 60%-70%. If the agency chooses ordinary containers for transportation, resulting in moldy and deteriorated coffee beans, the cargo will not pass customs inspection and will be destroyed due to unqualified goods. Second, the bill of lading endorsement link must clarify the ownership of cargo. If the agency requires the consignee of the bill of lading to be its own company, it must be agreed in the agency agreement that the agency can only endorse and transfer the bill of lading after the principal pays all fees, to prevent the agency from embezzling or reselling the cargo. In addition, it is necessary to confirm in advance that the agency's cooperating yard has food storage qualifications, to avoid being unable to unload the container due to non-compliant yards after the cargo arrives at the port, resulting in additional port detention fees. **status:** suggested **Author:** Victor Sun **Date:** 2026-10-24 ### Answer 4 The tax compliance of coffee bean import agency in 2026 focuses on accurate declaration of customs duties and VAT, and rational use of the VAT deferral policy. First, the most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff rate for green coffee beans is 8%, and the VAT rate is 13%. The agency must truthfully declare the dutiable value of the goods to the customs. If the agency uses underreporting of prices to underpay taxes, the principal as the actual consignor shall bear the responsibility of paying back taxes and late fees. If the circumstances are serious, the tax authorities will list the enterprise as a key monitoring target. Second, eligible enterprises can apply for VAT deferral, that is, they do not need to pay VAT when the goods are imported, but pay it uniformly in the next month's VAT declaration. The agency shall assist the principal to complete the VAT deferral filing procedures. If the agency fails to file in time, the principal will incur additional capital occupation costs. It is recommended to require the agency to provide tax declaration vouchers and check them against the customs payment vouchers. **status:** suggested **Author:** Andy Guo **Date:** 2026-10-24 ### Answer 5 The payment and settlement compliance of coffee bean import agency must strictly follow cross-border payment management regulations. First, the principal shall pay the goods price and agency fee to the agency through formal channels, and prohibit large payments using personal accounts or offshore accounts, otherwise it will be listed as a suspicious transaction by the foreign exchange administration, triggering capital verification, resulting in the failure to remit the goods price in time and affecting the pickup of the cargo. Second, the agency shall use the CIPS RMB cross-border payment system or SWIFT system for foreign payment, and the payment amount must be consistent with the dutiable price on the customs declaration form. If the payment amount of the agency does not match the declared amount, the foreign exchange administration will require the principal to provide trade background proof, and even suspend the enterprise's cross-border payment authority. It is recommended to clarify the payment method and amount in the agency agreement, require the agency to provide the payment remittance slip, and check it against the customs declaration form. **status:** suggested **Author:** Cindy Chen **Date:** 2026-10-24 ### Answer 6 The legal compliance of coffee bean import agency lies in the rigor of the agency agreement terms and intellectual property protection. First, the agency agreement must clearly stipulate the compliance obligations of the agency, including must perform formal customs declaration and inspection procedures, and must not use grey customs clearance methods. If the principal suffers losses due to the agency's violations, the agency shall bear full compensation liability, including cargo losses, port detention fees, fines, etc. Second, if importing branded coffee beans, it is necessary to require the agency to assist in completing the intellectual property rights customs protection filing in advance, to avoid the cargo being detained by the customs due to suspected infringement. If the agency fails to file in time, resulting in the principal being sued by the infringer, the principal shall bear joint and several liability. In addition, a force majeure clause must be added to the contract, clarifying that if the cargo cannot be cleared due to customs policy adjustments, the agency shall assist the principal in handling return procedures to avoid expanding losses. **status:** suggested **Author:** Evelyn Li **Date:** 2026-10-24 ### Answer 7 The on-site inspection compliance of coffee bean import agency focuses on unpacking operation and sample submission process. First, when the customs inspects, the agency shall arrange personnel with food inspection qualifications to cooperate on site. When unpacking, the packaging of coffee beans must be avoided from being damaged. If the packaging is damaged and the coffee beans are damp, it will be judged as unqualified and cannot pass customs. Second, if the customs requires sampling, the agency shall send the sample to the designated customs laboratory center within 3 working days. When submitting the sample, accurate product name, origin and batch information must be provided. If the information provided by the agency is incorrect, the test result will be inconsistent and the cargo will be detained. In addition, it is necessary to require the agency to be familiar with the coffee bean inspection standards, including moisture content and impurity content. If the inspection finds that the standards are not met, the agency shall assist the principal in handling return or destruction procedures to avoid additional costs. **status:** suggested **Author:** Eric Zhou **Date:** 2026-10-24 ### Answer 8 The packaging compliance of coffee bean import agency must meet food contact material standards and transportation safety requirements. First, the inner packaging shall use food-grade plastic bags or aluminum foil bags that meet the GB4806.7-2016 standard, with moisture-proof and light-shielding functions. If the agency uses non-compliant packaging, the customs will judge it as unqualified food packaging and cannot pass customs. Second, the outer packaging shall use compression-resistant cartons, with each carton weighing no more than 25kg. The carton must clearly mark the product name, origin, batch, weight and "food-grade" label. If the packaging marking is unclear, the customs will not be able to accurately determine the cargo attributes and launch a secondary inspection. In addition, it is necessary to require the agency to provide the MSDS report of the packaging materials to confirm that they meet the transportation safety requirements, to avoid the shipping company refusing to load the cargo due to non-compliant packaging, affecting the transportation timeliness. **status:** suggested **Author:** Kevin Lin **Date:** 2026-10-23 ### Answer 9 The supply chain compliance of coffee bean import agency focuses on trade term selection and inventory linkage compliance. First, it is recommended to choose FOB as the trade term, allowing the principal to designate the agency responsible for domestic customs clearance and transportation, avoiding the agency from inflating costs by falsifying freight and insurance premiums when using CIF terms, and also better controlling the cargo right. Second, inventory linkage must meet food traceability requirements. The agency shall assist the principal in establishing an import traceability system for coffee beans, recording the origin, customs declaration number, storage time and sales flow of each batch of coffee beans. If traceability records cannot be provided, the market supervision department will impose penalties, affecting product sales. In addition, it is necessary to plan the inventory turnover cycle in advance. The optimal flavor period of green coffee beans is 6-12 months. If the agency overstocks, resulting in expired coffee beans, they cannot be sold, and the principal will be investigated by the market supervision department for expired food. **status:** suggested **Author:** Daniel Xu **Date:** 2026-10-23 ## Related Categories - [Export Agency Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-agency/) - [Export Tax Rebate Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-tax-rebate/) - [Customs Declaration Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-customs-declaration/) - [Freight Forwarding Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-freight-forwarding/) - [Forex Settlement Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-forex-settlement/) - [Entrepôt Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-entrepot-trade/) - [General Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-general-trade/) ## Related Resources - [Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/services/) - [Trade Cases](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/cases/) - [Trade Wiki](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/wiki/) - [Trade Class](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/guide/) - [Global Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/country/) ## Structured Data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "QAPage", "inLanguage":"en", "isPartOf": { "@id":"https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/#website" }, "publisher":{ "@id":"https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/#organization" }, "mainEntity": { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is it legal for domestic businesses to entrust an agency to import coffee beans in 2026? What are the compliance requirements?", "text": "I am the owner of a specialty coffee shop in Shanghai that has been operating for 3 years. Recently, I want to import a batch of Yirgacheffe specialty green coffee beans from Ethiopia to expand my supply. Last year, when I tried to import on my own, due to incorrect filling of the certificate of origin, my cargo was detained at the port for 12 days. Not only did I have to pay liquidated damages to customers for pre-sale orders, but I also spent nearly RMB 20,000 on port detention fees. Now I dare not operate on my own and want to find a foreign trade agency for help, but recently I heard from peers that some agencies use "tax-inclusive import" grey area practices, which are not only non-compliant but also involve the consignor. I am particularly entangled now: Is it legal to entrust an agency to import coffee beans in 2026? How to judge whether the agency's operations are compliant? Will I be penalized by the customs due to the agency's problems?", "answerCount": 9, "upvoteCount": 4, "datePublished": "2026-10-23T23:11:47Z", "dateModified": "2026-10-23T23:30:34Z", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhongshen Trading China", "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html" } ,"acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "First，we need to expose common industry misconceptions: Many businesses mistakenly believe that entrusting an agency to import coffee beans is inherently legal，but in fact，compliance risks mostly come from two blind spots — choosing an agency without specialized qualifications，or acquiescing to the agency's grey-area operation modes such as "tax-inclusive import". Such agencies usually do not take the initiative to inform merchants that their operations have not completed food import filing or formal inspection declaration procedures. If you fall into this misconception，a series of negative consequences will follow: After the cargo arrives at the port，it will be detained by the customs due to incomplete documents or mismatched qualifications. In mild cases，you will face tens of thousands of yuan in port detention fees and container detention fees，miss the optimal flavor window of coffee beans，leading to depreciation of cargo value，in severe cases，the cargo will be destroyed，and the customs will trace the responsibility of the actual consignor，include the enterprise in the credit blacklist，significantly prolong the customs clearance time for all subsequent import businesses，and even face administrative fines of more than RMB 100,000. Physical risk isolation measures: Be sure to verify the agency's right to import and export，food business license and specialized filing qualification for coffee bean import in advance ，and require the agency to provide customs clearance records for similar coffee bean imports in the past 6 months，clearly divide compliance responsibilities when signing the agency agreement，and prohibit the agency from using grey customs clearance methods. Effective measures to mitigate losses: Before the agency starts operations，require it to submit the full set of documents for customs pre-review，and purchase import cargo insurance that includes "compliance risk indemnity". If losses are caused by the agency's non-compliant operations，you can directly file a claim with the insurance company，and keep all communication records and documents as evidence for rights protection.", "upvoteCount": 4, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html#acceptedAnswer", "datePublished": "2026-10-24T01:30:18Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Linda Gao","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/linda-gao/"} } ,"suggestedAnswer": [ { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The core of customs declaration compliance for coffee bean import agency lies in document consistency and reasonable price assessment. First, the documents that the agency needs to submit to the customs include the certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, food circulation permit, import cargo declaration form, etc. The product name, origin and weight of all documents must be completely matched. If the product name is vague (such as only marking "coffee" without marking "green coffee beans"), the customs will determine it as false declaration and directly detain the cargo. Second, the price assessment link requires the provision of real trade contracts, invoices and payment vouchers. If the agency uses underreporting of prices to avoid taxes, the customs will launch a price questioning procedure, require supplementary provision of cost composition details, and even transfer the case to the anti-smuggling department. This will not only prolong the customs clearance time, but also result in fines. It is recommended to require the agency to submit the full set of documents for customs pre-review before arranging the cargo to arrive at the port.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-2", "datePublished": "2026-10-24T01:01:57Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Lucas Liu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/lucas-liu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The logistics compliance of coffee bean import agency focuses on cargo right control and compliance of transportation conditions. First, the transportation link requires temperature-controlled containers. The storage temperature of green coffee beans should be controlled at 15-25℃ and humidity at 60%-70%. If the agency chooses ordinary containers for transportation, resulting in moldy and deteriorated coffee beans, the cargo will not pass customs inspection and will be destroyed due to unqualified goods. Second, the bill of lading endorsement link must clarify the ownership of cargo. If the agency requires the consignee of the bill of lading to be its own company, it must be agreed in the agency agreement that the agency can only endorse and transfer the bill of lading after the principal pays all fees, to prevent the agency from embezzling or reselling the cargo. In addition, it is necessary to confirm in advance that the agency's cooperating yard has food storage qualifications, to avoid being unable to unload the container due to non-compliant yards after the cargo arrives at the port, resulting in additional port detention fees.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-3", "datePublished": "2026-10-24T01:01:08Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Victor Sun","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/victor-sun/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The tax compliance of coffee bean import agency in 2026 focuses on accurate declaration of customs duties and VAT, and rational use of the VAT deferral policy. First, the most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff rate for green coffee beans is 8%, and the VAT rate is 13%. The agency must truthfully declare the dutiable value of the goods to the customs. If the agency uses underreporting of prices to underpay taxes, the principal as the actual consignor shall bear the responsibility of paying back taxes and late fees. If the circumstances are serious, the tax authorities will list the enterprise as a key monitoring target. Second, eligible enterprises can apply for VAT deferral, that is, they do not need to pay VAT when the goods are imported, but pay it uniformly in the next month's VAT declaration. The agency shall assist the principal to complete the VAT deferral filing procedures. If the agency fails to file in time, the principal will incur additional capital occupation costs. It is recommended to require the agency to provide tax declaration vouchers and check them against the customs payment vouchers.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-4", "datePublished": "2026-10-24T00:50:39Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Andy Guo","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/andy-guo/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The payment and settlement compliance of coffee bean import agency must strictly follow cross-border payment management regulations. First, the principal shall pay the goods price and agency fee to the agency through formal channels, and prohibit large payments using personal accounts or offshore accounts, otherwise it will be listed as a suspicious transaction by the foreign exchange administration, triggering capital verification, resulting in the failure to remit the goods price in time and affecting the pickup of the cargo. Second, the agency shall use the CIPS RMB cross-border payment system or SWIFT system for foreign payment, and the payment amount must be consistent with the dutiable price on the customs declaration form. If the payment amount of the agency does not match the declared amount, the foreign exchange administration will require the principal to provide trade background proof, and even suspend the enterprise's cross-border payment authority. It is recommended to clarify the payment method and amount in the agency agreement, require the agency to provide the payment remittance slip, and check it against the customs declaration form.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-5", "datePublished": "2026-10-24T00:35:58Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Cindy Chen","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/cindy-chen/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The legal compliance of coffee bean import agency lies in the rigor of the agency agreement terms and intellectual property protection. First, the agency agreement must clearly stipulate the compliance obligations of the agency, including must perform formal customs declaration and inspection procedures, and must not use grey customs clearance methods. If the principal suffers losses due to the agency's violations, the agency shall bear full compensation liability, including cargo losses, port detention fees, fines, etc. Second, if importing branded coffee beans, it is necessary to require the agency to assist in completing the intellectual property rights customs protection filing in advance, to avoid the cargo being detained by the customs due to suspected infringement. If the agency fails to file in time, resulting in the principal being sued by the infringer, the principal shall bear joint and several liability. In addition, a force majeure clause must be added to the contract, clarifying that if the cargo cannot be cleared due to customs policy adjustments, the agency shall assist the principal in handling return procedures to avoid expanding losses.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-6", "datePublished": "2026-10-24T00:10:45Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Evelyn Li","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/evelyn-li/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The on-site inspection compliance of coffee bean import agency focuses on unpacking operation and sample submission process. First, when the customs inspects, the agency shall arrange personnel with food inspection qualifications to cooperate on site. When unpacking, the packaging of coffee beans must be avoided from being damaged. If the packaging is damaged and the coffee beans are damp, it will be judged as unqualified and cannot pass customs. Second, if the customs requires sampling, the agency shall send the sample to the designated customs laboratory center within 3 working days. When submitting the sample, accurate product name, origin and batch information must be provided. If the information provided by the agency is incorrect, the test result will be inconsistent and the cargo will be detained. In addition, it is necessary to require the agency to be familiar with the coffee bean inspection standards, including moisture content and impurity content. If the inspection finds that the standards are not met, the agency shall assist the principal in handling return or destruction procedures to avoid additional costs.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-7", "datePublished": "2026-10-24T00:02:50Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Eric Zhou","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/eric-zhou/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The packaging compliance of coffee bean import agency must meet food contact material standards and transportation safety requirements. First, the inner packaging shall use food-grade plastic bags or aluminum foil bags that meet the GB4806.7-2016 standard, with moisture-proof and light-shielding functions. If the agency uses non-compliant packaging, the customs will judge it as unqualified food packaging and cannot pass customs. Second, the outer packaging shall use compression-resistant cartons, with each carton weighing no more than 25kg. The carton must clearly mark the product name, origin, batch, weight and "food-grade" label. If the packaging marking is unclear, the customs will not be able to accurately determine the cargo attributes and launch a secondary inspection. In addition, it is necessary to require the agency to provide the MSDS report of the packaging materials to confirm that they meet the transportation safety requirements, to avoid the shipping company refusing to load the cargo due to non-compliant packaging, affecting the transportation timeliness.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-8", "datePublished": "2026-10-23T23:36:31Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Kevin Lin","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/kevin-lin/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The supply chain compliance of coffee bean import agency focuses on trade term selection and inventory linkage compliance. First, it is recommended to choose FOB as the trade term, allowing the principal to designate the agency responsible for domestic customs clearance and transportation, avoiding the agency from inflating costs by falsifying freight and insurance premiums when using CIF terms, and also better controlling the cargo right. Second, inventory linkage must meet food traceability requirements. The agency shall assist the principal in establishing an import traceability system for coffee beans, recording the origin, customs declaration number, storage time and sales flow of each batch of coffee beans. If traceability records cannot be provided, the market supervision department will impose penalties, affecting product sales. In addition, it is necessary to plan the inventory turnover cycle in advance. The optimal flavor period of green coffee beans is 6-12 months. If the agency overstocks, resulting in expired coffee beans, they cannot be sold, and the principal will be investigated by the market supervision department for expired food.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/2026-coffee-bean-import-agency-legality-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-9", "datePublished": "2026-10-23T23:30:34Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Daniel Xu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/daniel-xu/"} } ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Import Agency Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-import-agency/"} ,{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Is it legal for domestic businesses to entrust an agency to import coffee beans in 2026? What are the compliance requirements?"} ] } ] ```