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What Are the Key Nodes in the Whole Process of Food Import Agency Customs Declaration in 2026
or complex compliance issues.
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I am a new entrepreneur engaged in imported snack business. I am importing dried durian from Thailand for the first time recently. I have hired a freight forwarder but still feel very uncertain. I heard that customs declaration for food is stricter than that for ordinary goods, and is prone to inspection hold-ups.
If the goods are detained or stuck at the port, perishable products like dried durian will cause huge losses. I don't even know what documents I need to prepare now, and I am even more afraid that wrong filling will trigger price review disputes. I want to know the specific procedures for smooth declaration, and whether there are key steps that must be followed to avoid mistakes? Also, how to deal with abnormal inspection if it occurs? I hope to get detailed guidance to avoid detours in this import.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
The pre-delivery document review for food import agency customs declaration should focus on three types of documents: first，the health certificate issued by the foreign exporter (it is necessary to confirm whether it complies with the Administrative Provisions on Registration of Overseas Food Production Enterprises for Imported Food updated by the General Administration of Customs of China in 2025)，second，the Chinese label filing certificate (note that the ingredient list and nutrition fact table on the label must be consistent with the test report)，third，the certificate of origin，which directly affects the applicable tariff rate. It is recommended to complete the document pre-audit 72 hours before the goods are shipped，so as to avoid irremediable problems after the goods arrive at the port.
For the connection of core nodes，three actions need to be promoted simultaneously: submit the electronic customs declaration form 24 hours before the arrival of the goods (using the "Smart Customs Declaration" system launched by the General Administration of Customs in 2026 can shorten the review time)，arrange document exchange immediately after the arrival of the goods to avoid demurrage charges，and make an appointment for customs inspection if required. It should be noted that the declared value of goods on the customs declaration form must be logically consistent with the certificate of origin，contract and invoice，otherwise it is easy to trigger price review disputes.
The exception response plan should cover two common scenarios: if suspected problems are detected by X-ray inspection，you should contact on-site inspection experts immediately to assist in image interpretation to avoid blind container unpacking，if rectification is required due to label problems，you need to submit the revised label filing within 3 working days，otherwise you will face the risk of cargo return.
To complete the final compliance implementation，two closing steps need to be completed: first，pay customs duties and value-added tax (you can apply for VAT deferment to ease capital pressure)，second，obtain the Entry Goods Inspection and Quarantine Certificate，after which the goods can enter the market for circulation.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
Regarding price review disputes, if the customs deems the declared value of goods is too low, three types of supporting documents need to be provided: first, the international market price of the same batch of goods, which can be obtained from third-party platforms such as Reuters and Bloomberg; second, the long-term cooperation agreement with the supplier, which should reflect historical transaction prices; third, the detailed cost composition of the goods, including raw material, processing, transportation and other expenses.
It should be noted that customs price review in 2026 prefers to accept real-time transaction data from third-party platforms, so it is recommended to prepare relevant screenshots in advance for verification. If agreement still cannot be reached, you can apply for customs price consultation, and maintain close communication with the customs broker during the consultation period.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
Dried durian is a perishable food, so direct flights should be given priority for logistics routes, such as the direct route from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, to avoid prolonged transportation time caused by transit.
If you encounter overbooking and container rollover, you need to immediately apply for re-allocation to the nearest flight, and apply for demurrage reduction or exemption from the shipping company (usually 3-5 days of exemption can be obtained by providing proof of food deterioration risk). In addition, it is recommended to choose temperature-controlled containers to ensure that the temperature is maintained at 15-20℃ during transportation to prevent the goods from getting damp and deteriorating.
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
The VAT deferment policy applies to food imports. Eligible enterprises can temporarily exempt from paying import value-added tax at the time of customs declaration, and declare and pay it after the goods are sold. This measure can reduce the capital occupation rate by about 13% (calculated based on the current value-added tax rate).
The access thresholds are as follows: the enterprise must be a general taxpayer, have a sound financial accounting system, and complete registration in the "Value-Added Tax Deferment Filing System" of the General Administration of Customs. It should be noted that applying for VAT deferment requires providing a sales forecast report to prove that the goods will be sold within 3 months.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
For cross-border receipt and payment of foreign exchange, the CIPS system should be used for RMB payment (the customs encourages RMB settlement in 2026, which can enjoy a 0.1%-0.3% preferential foreign exchange settlement rate). At the same time, ensure that the "trade background description" in the SWIFT message is consistent with the customs declaration form, so as to avoid foreign exchange settlement rejection due to inconsistent message information.
In addition, a full set of documents such as customs declaration form, contract and invoice need to be provided during foreign exchange settlement. It is recommended to sort and file them in advance to improve settlement efficiency.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
If letter of credit settlement is adopted, attention should be paid to avoiding soft clauses, such as "payment under the letter of credit is subject to the inspection and quarantine certificate of the importing country", which is likely to cause payment delay.
It is recommended to add a fallback clause in the letter of credit stating that "if the inspection and quarantine certificate is issued with delay, the seller shall bear the port detention charges". In addition, it is necessary to confirm that the validity period of the letter of credit covers 15 days after the arrival of the goods, so as to leave sufficient time for customs declaration and inspection.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
During container unpacking inspection, you need to cooperate with customs officers to open the boxes in the order of "from top to bottom, from outside to inside" to avoid damaging the goods packaging. If the seal is found damaged, you should take photos for record immediately, contact the foreign shipper to confirm whether it is normal damage during transportation, and submit a written explanation to the customs at the same time.
If the goods need to be sent for testing, it must be carried out in a laboratory designated by the customs. The testing cycle is usually 5-7 working days, so you need to make time planning in advance.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
The packaging of dried durian must meet the moisture-proof requirements. It is recommended to use aluminum foil vacuum packaging with a thickness of no less than 0.08mm, and add desiccant to the outer carton with a weight of no more than 50g per carton.
It should be noted that the packaging materials must pass the food contact material test of SGS to avoid cargo detention due to packaging problems. In addition, warning marks such as "moisture-proof" and "fragile" should be marked on the outer carton to ensure physical safety during transportation.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
From the perspective of cost, the CIF trade term is more suitable for food import, because the seller is responsible for transportation and insurance, which can reduce the logistics risk of the buyer. If you choose the FOB term, you need to lock the freight price in advance to avoid cost increase caused by sea freight price fluctuations.
In addition, it is recommended to establish an inventory linkage mechanism to adjust the import frequency according to sales data and reduce inventory backlog. For example, if last month's sales data shows that the turnover days of dried durian are 15 days, the import frequency can be adjusted to once every 20 days to ensure sufficient inventory without backlog.