What are the full-link compliance procedures and core audit links required for agency import of pet food?

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I am the owner of an offline pet supplies store that has been open for only half a year. Last month, I contacted an overseas natural pet food brand and reached a supply agreement. I originally wanted to handle the import by myself, but after inquiry, I found that there are a lot of certificates to apply for and I am afraid of falling into pitfalls.

I contacted two agencies, but I am worried that they will overcharge or are unreliable. Last week I heard that a batch of pet food imported by a peer was detained at the port due to document problems, and the port detention fee alone cost more than 20,000 yuan.

Now I am very anxious: I want to get the goods in as soon as possible to catch up with the Double 11 promotion, but I am also afraid of problems leading to losses. As a professional agency, I would like to ask how I can complete the pet food import agency step by step in compliance, while controlling costs and avoiding risks?

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Expert Q&A

Lucas Liu
Lucas LiuYears of service:8Customer Rating:5.0

Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat

First,the details of pre-document review: it is necessary to focus on checking the Pet Food Entry Inspection and Quarantine Permit,certificate of origin,official health certificate provided by overseas suppliers,as well as the Chinese filing copy of the product label,to ensure that the raw material composition,nutritional value,production batch number and other information on the label are completely consistent with the documents,so as to avoid customs document review warning triggered by document inconsistency.

In terms of core node connection: it is necessary to complete the customs declaration pre-entry 72 hours before the goods are shipped,and simultaneously connect with the logistics provider to confirm the manifest information,to ensure that the core data such as product name,quantity,gross weight on the customs declaration form,manifest and bill of lading are "three-stream consistent",within 12 hours after the goods arrive at the port,complete the inspection declaration,cooperate with the customs to complete the on-site sampling and testing,arrange a special person to follow up the testing progress during the period,to avoid port detention fees caused by connection delay.

Abnormal response plans should be formulated in advance: in case of document inconsistency,immediately launch the "document correction green channel" and coordinate with overseas suppliers to issue corrected official documents within 24 hours,in case of unqualified customs sampling test results,assist in handling the return or destruction procedures as soon as possible,and launch the backup supply replenishment plan at the same time to reduce the impact on the promotion node.

In the final compliance implementation stage: after obtaining the inspection and quarantine qualification certificate,complete the tax declaration simultaneously,you can apply for VAT deferment to delay tax and fee expenditure,finally arrange the goods to be lifted out of the port area with the release notice and delivered to the designated storage location. All documents shall be kept for no less than 5 years throughout the process to ensure subsequent compliance traceability.

Reference: Shanghai Waigaoqiao Bonded Zone Import Agency: In-depth Analysis of Key Processes and Compliance Points
Victor Sun
Victor SunYears of service:5Customer Rating:5.0

Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat

When declaring customs for agency imported pet food, it is necessary to ensure that the commodity code on the customs declaration form fully matches the actual type of pet food. For example, the codes of puffed dry food and wet food are different. Misstatement of the code will trigger customs valuation disputes, and even be listed as "false declaration" and fined.

In addition, it is necessary to complete the customs pre-classification review in advance, submit the pre-classification application through the single window, and declare customs after obtaining the pre-classification decision, so as to avoid document deletion and re-declaration caused by classification problems. In case of customs valuation questioning, it is necessary to provide a full set of transaction vouchers such as overseas procurement contracts, payment slips, supplier quotations, etc., to form a complete closed loop of price logic, ensure the smooth passage of valuation, and avoid port detention of goods.

Linda Gao
Linda GaoYears of service:7Customer Rating:5.0

Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat

For the logistics route of agency imported pet food, direct flights should be given priority to avoid cargo right risks and time delay caused by transshipment. If transshipment is required, a transshipment port with pet food transportation qualification should be selected to ensure that the storage environment of the goods during transshipment meets the low temperature or dry requirements. It is necessary to confirm the free storage period and the calculation standard of container detention fee with the shipping company in advance.

Usually, you can apply for an extension of 3-5 days of free storage period through the agency qualification to reduce the port detention cost. The bill of lading shall adopt "order bill of lading", and the right to pick up goods shall be transferred upon our endorsement, so as to avoid the risk of delivery without bill of lading; in case of space roll or overbooking, it is necessary to immediately coordinate with the shipping company to arrange overtime ships or transshipment, and simultaneously inform overseas suppliers to adjust the delivery plan to ensure that the goods can arrive at the port on time to catch up with the sales node.

Kevin Lin
Kevin LinYears of service:4Customer Rating:5.0

Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat

Agency imported pet food can optimize cash flow through the VAT deferment policy, that is, there is no need to pay value-added tax immediately at the import link, and the declaration and payment will be made after the goods are sold, which is equivalent to obtaining an interest-free loan to ease the capital pressure. In addition, it is necessary to make reasonable use of the certificate of origin to enjoy the MFN tariff rate.

If the overseas supplier is from a country that has signed a free trade agreement with China, it is necessary to confirm in advance that the format and signature of the certificate of origin meet the requirements to ensure that tariff reduction and exemption can be enjoyed. At the same time, it is necessary to standardize the tax declaration of cross-border payments, avoid triggering tax inspections due to unreasonable pricing of related party transactions, determine the purchase price in accordance with the arm's length principle, and retain a full set of transaction vouchers for tax verification.

Jason Wu
Jason WuYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0

International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat

The receipt and payment of foreign exchange for agency imported pet food shall be handled through compliant channels. If cross-border payment in RMB is adopted, it shall be completed through the CIPS system to ensure that the transaction code and transaction postscript of the payment message are consistent with the actual imported goods.

The transaction code shall be "121010 Food and Beverage Import", and the postscript shall clearly indicate "Imported Pet Food (specific product name)". If an offshore account is used for foreign exchange receipt and payment, it is necessary to ensure that the account transaction flow is fully matched with the import documents to avoid being listed as a high-risk account by the bank due to abnormal flow.

When settling foreign exchange, you can lock the foreign exchange purchase rate in advance through the agency's exchange rate locking service to avoid additional costs caused by exchange rate fluctuations. At the same time, you need to complete the foreign exchange verification and filing within 15 days after receiving the foreign exchange to ensure the compliance of foreign exchange receipt and payment.

Andy Guo
Andy GuoYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat

For agency import of pet food, a strict agency agreement shall be signed to clarify the rights and obligations of both parties, especially the clauses such as ownership of cargo rights, risk transfer node, and liability for breach of contract. It shall be agreed that the cargo right will be transferred to the entrusting party only after the goods arrive at the port and complete the compliant release, so as to avoid liability disputes caused by the detention of goods.

In addition, overseas suppliers shall be required to issue the customs protection filing certificate of intellectual property rights to ensure that the imported pet food does not infringe on other people's trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights, so as to avoid the goods being detained by the customs. If L/C settlement is adopted, the L/C terms shall be strictly reviewed and "soft clauses" shall be removed, for example, clauses such as "payment can be made only after the buyer issues the inspection qualification certificate" shall be avoided to ensure settlement security.

Evelyn Li
Evelyn LiYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat

When agency imported pet food is subject to on-site customs inspection, a full set of documents shall be prepared in advance, including official health certificate, label filing copy, procurement contract, etc., cooperate with customs inspection personnel to complete the unpacking inspection, and ensure that the packaging of the goods is intact and undamaged. If packaging leakage or deterioration is found, photos shall be taken immediately to retain evidence, and coordinate with overseas suppliers to replace the goods. If testing is required, cooperate with the customs to complete sample collection, and follow up the testing progress at the same time.

If the test result is unqualified, submit an application for return or destruction within 3 days after receiving the test report to avoid additional storage costs. In addition, attention should be paid to the authenticity identification of the seal. Before picking up the goods, check that the container seal number is consistent with the bill of lading to avoid the goods being swapped during transportation.

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