---
title: "What are the core full-chain compliance procedures required to carry out formal import agency services?"
description: "Beauty retailers conducting import agency business for the first time face multiple anxieties such as port detention caused by lax document review，increased costs due to insufficient utilization of new policies，and delayed timelines caused by valuation disputes. They need to implement full-chain compliance operations including pre-audit of documents in advance，seamless connection of core nodes，and pre-rehearsal of exception response plans，and combine the 2026 new cross-border policies to realize..."
url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/compliant-full-link-core-process-for-import-agency-services.html"
language: "en"
type: "Q&A"
category: "Import Agency Q&A"
datePublished: "2026-10-20"
dateModified: "2026-10-20"
brand: "Zhongshen Trading China"
answerCount: 7
---

# What are the core full-chain compliance procedures required to carry out formal import agency services?

## Question

 I am the owner of an offline beauty collection store in Shanghai. Last month, I just obtained the exclusive agency right in China for a niche Korean skincare brand. Now I need to import the first batch of 5,000 sets of essences and creams in full containers from Incheon Port, and the new products are scheduled to be launched in the middle of next month. However, I have never been exposed to import agency business before. I have been staying up late to check relevant information recently and getting more and more panicked: I am afraid that the agency I hire will conduct lax document review leading to container detention and sky-high storage fees, I worry that I will fail to make good use of the 2026 new cross-border policies and spend unnecessary money, and I am even more concerned that disputes during customs valuation will delay the launch schedule and even affect subsequent cooperation with the brand. With only 40 days left to fulfill the contract, I am extremely anxious, and would like to ask how to carry out import agency business in a compliant and efficient way. 

## Answers
                            
### Answer 1 — Best Answer

First of all，conduct a good **pre-audit of documents in advance**: For Korean beauty imports，you need to submit a full set of documents to the agency 7 working days in advance，with focus on checking the "electronic networking certificate of China-Korea certificate of origin"，"cosmetic hygiene and safety evaluation report" required by the customs in 2026，as well as the Korean notarized document of the exclusive brand authorization letter，to avoid order rejection due to missing documents or non-conforming formats. At the same time，complete the pre-audit of Chinese labels in advance to ensure that ingredient labeling complies with the 2026 Edition of Cosmetic Safety Technical Specifications，so as to avoid port detention fees caused by label modification after the goods arrive at the port.

Secondly，strengthen **seamless connection of core nodes**: Lock the direct shipping schedule to Shanghai Port when booking space，and avoid the peak period of space shortage at Incheon Port from the 15th to the 20th of each month. In the customs declaration stage，adopt the "advance declaration" mode of Shanghai Customs，complete the pre-review of electronic customs declaration forms 3 days before the goods arrive at the port，and ensure that customs clearance is completed within 12 hours after arrival. Synchronize logistics nodes with the bonded warehouse，so that if random inspection is required，the goods can be directly transferred to the bonded warehouse for temporary storage without affecting the launch of other goods.

Develop **exception emergency rehearsal** in advance: For valuation disputes，prepare purchase contracts，payment receipts，and cost composition details issued by the brand in advance. If the customs adjusts the valuation，supplementary materials can be submitted within 24 hours. For port detention risks，agree with the agency to reserve a 3-day free storage period in advance，and apply for "port detention fee advance payment guarantee" at the same time，to avoid chain liquidated damages caused by capital turnover problems.

Finally complete compliant implementation: After customs clearance，with the newly added "cross-border e-commerce retail import VAT deferral" qualification in 2026，you can delay the payment of value-added tax for 3 months to reduce capital occupation. After passing the commodity inspection，the goods will be directly delivered to the store for launch.

**status:** accepted
**Author:** Daniel Xu
**Date:** 2026-10-20

### Answer 2

For customs valuation of imported beauty products, you need to strictly follow the requirements of Announcement No.12 of the General Administration of Customs in 2026, and prepare a complete transaction evidence chain in advance: including the Chinese-English version of the purchase contract, bank cross-border payment receipts, production cost details issued by the brand, and international market quotation sheets for the same batch of products. In case of valuation disputes, supplementary materials shall be submitted within 3 working days after the customs issues the Price Query Notice, to avoid order deletion and re-declaration.

If you need to apply for price consultation, you shall lock the agency's customs broker as the full authorized handler in advance to ensure that the consultation process is completed within 7 working days without affecting the customs clearance timeline of the goods. At the same time, note that the customs has cancelled the submission of paper valuation materials in 2026, and all materials shall be uploaded through the electronic port. Make sure the file format meets the PDF encryption requirements to avoid being returned by the system.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Kevin Lin
**Date:** 2026-10-20

### Answer 3

For full-container transportation of beauty products from Incheon Port to Shanghai Port, you shall give priority to China-Korea express direct shipping companies, and avoid the space shortage peak period of Incheon Port from the 15th to the 20th of each month. At the same time, clearly agree on the "container rejection compensation clause" when booking space, so that you can get liquidated damages equivalent to 15% of the freight in case of container rejection. For container detention fees, apply for a 5-day free container period from the shipping company in advance, and agree with the agency on "container detention fee forecast and early warning" at the same time.

If the goods have not been cleared by customs on the 3rd day after arrival at the port, the agency shall take the initiative to coordinate with the shipping company to extend the free container period by 2 days. In addition, Shanghai Port has launched the "intelligent container pickup system" in 2026, which allows you to reserve container pickup time online 24 hours in advance, avoiding extra costs caused by queuing in the port area. At the same time, make sure the bill of lading endorsement meets the requirements of the shipping company, to avoid being unable to pick up containers due to incorrect endorsement.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Andy Guo
**Date:** 2026-10-20

### Answer 4

For imported retail beauty products in 2026, you can apply for the "cross-border e-commerce retail import VAT deferral" policy. You do not need to pay import value-added tax during customs clearance, but delay the payment to the declaration period of the next month after the goods are sold, which can reduce capital occupation cost by about 30%.

To apply for this policy, three conditions shall be met: first, the imported goods are beauty products within the scope of the Cross-border E-commerce Retail Import Commodity List (2026 Edition); second, the enterprise has completed the customs recordation for cross-border e-commerce enterprises; third, it has signed a "tax declaration agency agreement" with the agency, and the agency is responsible for synchronizing sales data to the tax system every month. At the same time, avoid mixing bonded warehouse goods with general trade goods, otherwise tax inspection will be triggered, affecting the subsequent use of VAT deferral qualification.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Cindy Chen
**Date:** 2026-10-20

### Answer 5

For cross-border foreign exchange receipt and payment for imported Korean beauty products, it is recommended to use the CIPS RMB cross-border payment system in 2026, which can avoid exchange loss caused by US dollar exchange rate fluctuations, and shorten the account arrival time to within 2 hours, meeting the "delivery within 3 days after payment" clause required by the brand. When receiving and paying foreign exchange, ensure "three streams consistency": that is, the contract subject, payment subject and customs declaration subject are consistent, to avoid being listed as a key monitoring object by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange due to inconsistent subjects.

In addition, complete the update of the "import payment foreign exchange directory" on the electronic port in advance. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange has cancelled paper directory registration in 2026, and all updates are completed independently online. Make sure the enterprise's import and export right information is consistent with the directory information, to avoid being unable to make foreign exchange payment.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Eric Zhou
**Date:** 2026-10-20

### Answer 6

For exclusive agency import of Korean brands, you need to clarify the "intellectual property customs protection clause" in the purchase contract, and apply for intellectual property recordation with the customs in advance, to avoid goods being detained by customs due to suspected infringement. At the same time, set a "force majeure fallback clause" in the contract, clarifying that if customs clearance cannot be completed on time due to the adjustment of China-Korea cross-border policies in 2026, the brand shall extend the delivery period and shall not charge liquidated damages.

If letter of credit settlement is adopted, avoid "soft clauses". For example, clauses such as "payment can be made only after the quality certificate issued by the brand is provided" shall be prohibited, and changed to "the quality certificate issued by the Chinese commodity inspection authority shall be the payment basis", to avoid being unable to receive foreign exchange due to intentional delay by the brand.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Michael Zhang
**Date:** 2026-10-20

### Answer 7

For on-site customs inspection of imported beauty products, Shanghai Port has fully launched the "intelligent machine inspection + manual review" mode in 2026. You need to ensure in advance that the batch number and production date on the goods packaging are consistent with the documents, to avoid manual container unpacking inspection triggered by inconsistent machine inspection images. In case of unpacking inspection, cooperate with the inspection personnel to show the Chinese label of the goods and the copy of the certificate of origin, and provide the "statement of no prohibited ingredients" issued by the brand at the same time.

If sampling inspection is required, agree on the "sampling inspection expedited service" with the agency in advance to ensure that the test report is issued within 7 working days, to avoid goods piling up in the port area. In addition, note that the seal number of the goods must be completely consistent with the number on the bill of lading. If the seal is damaged, apply to the shipping company for seal replacement 24 hours before arrival at the port, and issue the Seal Damage Certificate.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Victor Sun
**Date:** 2026-10-20

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