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What are the core compliance nodes and emergency response plans for the entire customs declaration process of imported and exported fruits?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
As a trader in Shanghai who has just entered the high-end fresh produce import business from Southeast Asia, I booked a full container of Thai Monthong durians and mangosteens last week, which is due to berth at Yangshan Port next week. I’ve heard from peers that even a single document error in fruit customs declaration can lead to port detention and customs seizure. Tropical fruits have poor storage stability, with a loss rate exceeding 5% per day of port detention, plus we have to pay liquidated damages to downstream supermarkets. I’m so anxious that I can’t sleep.
The freight forwarder only gave me a general document list, but I’m worried I might miss the latest 2026 customs quarantine requirements, like whether the certificate of origin needs an additional special statement? Has the validity period of the phytosanitary certificate been shortened? What if pests or diseases are found during on-site inspection sampling? I also heard that customs has stricter timeliness assessments for fresh produce clearance this year. Could you walk me through the core compliance nodes of the entire customs declaration process, pre-declaration preparations and emergency response measures?
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
First，details of pre-declaration document review: complete compliance verification of core documents 7-10 days in advance: 1. Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit: In 2026，customs requires that the product name and HS code on the permit must be fully consistent with those on the bill of lading and certificate of origin. For multiple varieties，they must be listed separately，combined declaration is prohibited，and the margin of error between the import quantity and the gross weight on the bill of lading must be controlled within ±5%，2. Certificate of origin and phytosanitary certificate: For Thai fruits，a Form E Certificate of Origin endorsed with a statement of "no quarantine pests carried" is required. The validity period of the phytosanitary certificate must be within 14 days of entry，and the orchard registration number must be indicated.
Core node connection must be carried out synchronously: 24 hours before the cargo arrives at the port，upload the pre-filed customs declaration form and electronic document files to the single window for pre-examination. After passing the pre-examination，submit the paper documents for declaration on the day of arrival，Quarantine inspection will be triggered within 12 hours after declaration. Arrange on-site personnel with fresh produce inspection qualifications in advance to cooperate，to avoid extending the exposure time of fruits due to personnel delays.
Emergency response plans need to address two core risks: If the document review fails and the declaration is returned，immediately contact the overseas supplier to supplement and correct the documents，and submit an "Application for Priority Review of Fresh Produce" with a cold storage certificate to use the fast-track channel，If suspected pests or diseases are found during on-site inspection，apply for sampling and inspection immediately，and coordinate with the terminal to transfer the cargo to the cold storage temporary storage bay corresponding to the required temperature range.
After final compliance is achieved，promptly collect the Certificate of Inspection and Quarantine for Entry Goods，and archive all documents for more than 3 years to meet the 2026 customs traceability and verification requirements for fresh produce import enterprises.
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
Regarding the price assessment link of import and export fruit customs declaration, pay attention to the "Fresh Produce Price Assessment Reference System" implemented by customs in 2026. This system will simultaneously compare three types of data: declared prices of the same variety of fruits at the same port within 30 days, export prices of the origin, and international futures prices.
If the declared price is lower than 80% of the reference price, a price assessment query will be triggered. You need to provide scanned copies of the original purchase contract, payment slip, and overseas invoice within 3 working days.
If you cannot provide them, you will be required to re-declare based on the reference price, or even initiate on-site inspection for price verification. In addition, if you need to cancel and re-declare the declaration due to document errors, submit an "Application for Cancellation of Declaration for Fresh Produce" in advance with the cold storage certificate of the cargo, and you can use the fast-track cancellation channel to avoid port detention losses.
Grace WangYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Foreign Trade ConsultantStart a Chat
The logistics route for import and export fruits must be planned synchronously with the customs declaration nodes. Taking Shanghai Yangshan Port as an example, the free storage period for fresh produce in 2026 is 48 hours, and the free container period is 7 days. If you need to extend it, submit an "Application for Detention of Fresh Produce" to the terminal 24 hours before arrival, and provide the customs pre-declaration receipt.
If you choose a transshipment route, ensure that the cold storage space at the transshipment port is locked in advance, and the transshipment time does not exceed 24 hours to avoid quality problems caused by temperature fluctuations of fruits. In addition, the bill of lading must be marked with "Fresh Produce Priority Container Pickup". After arriving at the port, you can directly enter the terminal's dedicated fresh produce container pickup channel, saving 2-3 hours of waiting time compared to ordinary container pickup.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
In 2026, eligible enterprises for imported fresh fruits can apply for the VAT deferred payment policy, which means they do not need to pay import VAT during the customs clearance process, but declare and pay it uniformly during the VAT declaration period of the following month. To apply for this policy, three conditions must be met: 1. The enterprise is a general taxpayer and has imported fresh produce with a value of more than 5 million yuan in consecutive 12 months; 2.
The enterprise has completed the "VAT Deferral Qualification Filing" with customs; 3. When declaring, check "Deferred Tax Payment" in the "Tax Collection and Management Method" column of the customs declaration form. This policy can effectively alleviate the cash flow pressure of enterprises. Calculated at the 13% VAT rate on imported cargo value, a container of durians worth 2 million yuan can defer 260,000 yuan in tax payments, equivalent to obtaining an interest-free short-term fund.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
Regarding the foreign exchange receipt and payment link for import and export fruits, in 2026, customs and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange will implement "cross-border receipt and payment data linkage verification". The value and currency of the customs declaration form must be fully consistent with the amount and currency of the payment/receipt, with a margin of error not exceeding ±3%.
For imported fruits, when making payment, you need to indicate the customs declaration number, fruit variety and origin in the remarks column of the SWIFT message, to avoid being listed as a verification object by the SAFE due to incomplete remarks information. In addition, if you use RMB cross-border payment (CIPS), you can enjoy the 2026 "Priority Processing of Fresh Produce Receipt and Payment" policy, with the arrival time 1-2 working days faster than ordinary SWIFT payments, and no additional handling fees required.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
Customs declaration for import and export fruits requires attention to intellectual property customs protection filing. In 2026, customs has strengthened the protection of geographical indication products, such as Thai Monthong durians, Philippine pineapples and other geographical indication fruits. When importing, you need to provide the geographical indication certification document issued by the government of the origin.
If you cannot provide it, the cargo will be prohibited from entering the country. In addition, the purchase contract must clearly define the time node of transfer of ownership. It is recommended to agree that "the ownership of the goods shall be transferred to the buyer after the goods are loaded on board". At the same time, add a supplementary explanation to the "force majeure clause", which can exempt part or all of the liability for breach of contract if the cargo is delayed due to official actions such as customs inspection and quarantine, to avoid contract disputes caused by customs clearance delays.
Victor SunYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat
For the on-site inspection link of import and export fruits, in 2026, customs adopts a combined inspection mode of "machine inspection + manual sampling". During machine inspection, ensure that there are no metal, magnetic or other interfering substances on the cargo packaging, otherwise manual unpacking inspection will be triggered. If suspected pests or diseases are found during manual sampling, cooperate with customs to send the samples to the designated animal and plant quarantine laboratory for inspection.
The inspection time is generally 3-5 working days. At this time, coordinate with the terminal to transfer the cargo to the dedicated cold storage inspection temporary storage area, where the temperature can be adjusted according to the fruit variety (12-15℃ for durians, 8-10℃ for mangosteens) to avoid deterioration of fruits during the inspection period. In addition, after the inspection is completed, carefully check the product name, quantity and status in the inspection record to ensure consistency with the actual cargo, to avoid subsequent problems of inconsistent customs declaration data.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
The packaging of import and export fruits must meet the dual requirements of 2026 customs and international freight. For tropical fruits such as durians and mangosteens, a "breathable + cushioning" double-layer packaging structure is required: the outer layer is a hard carton with ventilation holes, the diameter of the ventilation holes must be controlled at 5-8mm, and the spacing is 10cm, to avoid fruit rot caused by poor ventilation; the inner layer is a food-grade pearl cotton cushion with a thickness of not less than 3cm, which can effectively alleviate collision losses during transportation.
In addition, you need to provide the MSDS report of the packaging materials, which must clearly indicate the composition, flame retardancy and environmental protection of the packaging materials. For imported fruits, the packaging materials must comply with China's "Safety Standards for Food Contact Packaging Materials" to avoid being detained by customs due to unqualified packaging.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
The choice of trade terms for import and export fruits must be planned in combination with customs declaration costs and ownership control. In 2026, for fresh produce, it is recommended to use the CIF trade term, where the seller is responsible for transportation, insurance and export customs declaration, and the buyer only needs to be responsible for import customs declaration and domestic transportation, which can effectively reduce the buyer's cross-border logistics risks.
In addition, establish a "customs declaration cost actuarial model", which includes 12 costs such as import tariffs, VAT, customs declaration fees, inspection fees, port detention fees, etc. Update the cost data of the same port every quarter, which can improve the control accuracy of customs declaration costs to ±2%. At the same time, link the customs declaration nodes with inventory management, arrange domestic delivery vehicles 3 days in advance according to the estimated customs declaration timeliness, to avoid being unable to pick up the container and store the goods in time after the cargo arrives at the port, which will increase storage costs.