--- title: "What Core Qualifications and Compliance Requirements Are Required to Become a Legal Import Product Agent?" description: "The person in charge of a commercial company that has just transformed into importing and agency of maternal and infant products，lacks experience in import business，and has doubts about core links such as qualification processing，document compliance，and risk prevention and control，thus falling into decision anxiety. Through full-link compliant operations including pre-qualification and document pre-audit，connection control of key nodes，and formulation of contingency plans，combined with tax plann..." url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/legal-import-product-agent-core-qualifications-compliance-requirements.html" language: "en" type: "Q&A" category: "Import Agency Q&A" datePublished: "2026-10-19" dateModified: "2026-10-19" brand: "Zhongshen Trading China" answerCount: 7 --- # What Core Qualifications and Compliance Requirements Are Required to Become a Legal Import Product Agent? ## Question I am the person in charge of a newly established small trading company in Shanghai. I have been engaged in domestic wholesale of maternal and infant products before. Recently I found a niche Korean brand focusing on organic infant complementary food, and I want to get its import agency right in China. But I have never been exposed to import agency business. I have stayed up for several nights checking materials, but the more I check, the more confused I am: I don't know what qualifications to apply for in the first step, I am afraid that incomplete documents will lead to goods being detained and滞港, I don't know what notarization the brand authorization letter needs to get to be recognized by China Customs, I am even more worried that the deposit and stocking cost I invested in the early stage will be wasted. Now the brand is urging me for a clear reply, I have no idea what to do, and I want to know how to compliantly become an import product agent from 0 to 1 and avoid common pitfalls for novices. ## Answers ### Answer 1 — Best Answer First of all，the audit details of pre-qualification and documents: you need to confirm whether you have **Import and Export Right** and **Customs Registration Certificate for Customs Declarant**. If you do not have the above qualifications，you can entrust a formal foreign trade agency to act for you，and sign an exclusive entrustment agreement to confirm the title of goods. For strictly supervised products such as maternal and infant complementary food，you need to require the Korean brand to provide an authorization notarization certified by the Chinese Consulate in South Korea，prepare core documents such as certificate of origin，health quarantine certificate，etc。and upload them to the single window for pre-audit in advance. In terms of connection of key nodes，after obtaining valid authorization，you need to complete pre-classification of commodity HS code and confirm the tariff rate，finalize FOB term with the brand to lock the title transfer node，select an international logistics provider with temperature-controlled transportation qualification for maternal and infant products and sign a space guarantee agreement to avoid goods deterioration caused by space congestion and rolling container. Contingency plans need to be formulated in advance: if the authorization certification does not meet the requirements，immediately coordinate with the brand to supplement the documents legalized by the consulate，and apply for an extension of the free storage period，if there is a dispute over commodity classification，submit the product composition test report and MSDS to the customs for review. In the final compliance implementation link，you need to ensure the consistency of "three flows": capital flow，cargo flow，document flow. After completing declaration，tax payment and inspection，store the products in a warehouse with food business qualification，and complete domestic sales filing at the same time. **status:** accepted **Author:** Evelyn Li **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 2 For the customs declaration link of import product agents, we need to focus on the accuracy of pre-classification of HS code. Incorrect classification will lead to wrong application of tax rate, trigger customs valuation disputes and even goods detention. You need to prepare detailed product ingredient list, function description and physical photos in advance, submit the application through the pre-classification system of the single window, and arrange shipment after obtaining the customs pre-classification decision. If you encounter customs valuation questions, you need to provide supporting materials such as the brand's ex-factory invoice, purchase contract, and foreign exchange payment voucher. At the same time, you can apply for the integrated customs clearance mode, complete the declaration at the local customs of the enterprise, and avoid delay caused by temporary on-site valuation at port customs. In addition, for strictly supervised products such as maternal and infant food, you need to apply for the entry inspection and quarantine certificate in advance to ensure that the products meet China's national food safety standards. **status:** suggested **Author:** Lucas Liu **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 3 Import product agents should prioritize confirming the title of goods in the logistics link. It is recommended to require the brand to issue a named bill of lading, and clearly specify in the bill of lading endorsement that only the agent or its designated domestic warehouse is authorized to pick up the goods. For perishable goods such as maternal and infant food, you need to select an international logistics provider with temperature-controlled transportation qualification, and monitor the temperature and humidity in the container throughout the whole process to avoid goods deterioration. In case of rolling container due to full space, you need to sign a space guarantee agreement with the logistics provider in advance, agree on the priority of re-booking after rolling container, and apply for extending the free storage period and free container period at the destination port to reduce the cost of port and container detention. In addition, after the goods arrive at the port, you need to arrange document exchange immediately, and coordinate with the customs broker to complete pre-declaration to shorten the customs clearance time. **status:** suggested **Author:** Daniel Xu **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 4 Import product agents can reduce capital occupation cost through **VAT Deferral Policy**. For livelihood products such as maternal and infant food, they usually meet the application requirements of the policy. You can apply for deferring VAT payment at the declaration stage, and file tax after the products are sold domestically. You need to submit the filing application to the competent tax authority in advance to ensure that documents such as import declaration and purchase contract are complete. In addition, if you import products from South Korea, you can use the tariff preference policy of China-ROK FTA, apply for the certificate of origin in advance to enjoy tariff reduction. At the same time, you need to reasonably divide the cost accounting of import and domestic business to avoid tax inspection risks. **status:** suggested **Author:** Michael Zhang **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 5 The foreign exchange receipt and payment of import product agents must strictly comply with foreign exchange management regulations, ensure that the payment amount is consistent with the amount on the purchase contract and import declaration, to avoid overpayment or underpayment. If you make payment through CIPS (RMB Cross-border Payment System), you need to fill in the transaction code and transaction remark correctly, and mark it as "payment for imported infant complementary food procurement". If you use an offshore account for foreign exchange receipt and payment, you need to submit the account income and expenditure details to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange every month to avoid the account being frozen. In addition, when paying the deposit to the brand, you need to clearly specify the refund conditions and time in the contract, and complete the payment through compliant channels to avoid funds flowing into non-compliant accounts. **status:** suggested **Author:** Victor Sun **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 6 When an import product agent signs an agency agreement with the brand, it is necessary to clarify the geographical scope, term and product category of the exclusive authorization, to prevent the brand from authorizing other agents in the same region. A force majeure clause should be added, which stipulates that the agent will not bear the liability for breach of contract for cargo delay caused by force majeure such as customs detention, epidemic, etc. For the brand authorization letter, it is necessary to clearly require the brand to provide documents certified by the Chinese consulate in the host country in the agreement. If the customs clearance is delayed because the authorization documents do not meet the requirements, the brand needs to bear relevant costs such as port detention and container detention. At the same time, it is agreed that under FOB term, the title of goods will be transferred to the agent after loading on board, so as to reduce the risk of cargo damage. **status:** suggested **Author:** Eric Zhou **Date:** 2026-10-19 ### Answer 7 Import product agents need to establish an inventory linkage strategy, place purchase orders with the brand 3-6 months in advance according to domestic sales data of maternal and infant complementary food and demand fluctuations during holidays, to avoid stockout or inventory backlog. For maternal and infant complementary food with short shelf life, adopt the procurement mode of "small batch, multiple times" to reduce the risk of expired inventory. Optimize the selection of trade terms: if the brand has transportation qualification, you can choose EXW to reduce procurement cost; if you lack logistics resources, you can choose CIF, and the brand is responsible for transportation and insurance. In addition, evaluate the brand's delivery timeliness and product quality every quarter, establish a supplier elimination mechanism to ensure the stability of the supply chain. **status:** suggested **Author:** Cindy Chen **Date:** 2026-10-19 ## 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": "What Core Qualifications and Compliance Requirements Are Required to Become a Legal Import Product Agent?", "text": "I am the person in charge of a newly established small trading company in Shanghai. I have been engaged in domestic wholesale of maternal and infant products before. Recently I found a niche Korean brand focusing on organic infant complementary food, and I want to get its import agency right in China. But I have never been exposed to import agency business. I have stayed up for several nights checking materials, but the more I check, the more confused I am: I don't know what qualifications to apply for in the first step, I am afraid that incomplete documents will lead to goods being detained and滞港, I don't know what notarization the brand authorization letter needs to get to be recognized by China Customs, I am even more worried that the deposit and stocking cost I invested in the early stage will be wasted. Now the brand is urging me for a clear reply, I have no idea what to do, and I want to know how to compliantly become an import product agent from 0 to 1 and avoid common pitfalls for novices.", "answerCount": 7, "upvoteCount": 2, "datePublished": "2026-10-19T10:10:01Z", "dateModified": "2026-10-19T10:58:32Z", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhongshen Trading China", "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/legal-import-product-agent-core-qualifications-compliance-requirements.html" } ,"acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "First of all，the audit details of pre-qualification and documents: you need to confirm whether you have Import and Export Right and Customs Registration Certificate for Customs Declarant . If you do not have the above qualifications，you can entrust a formal foreign trade agency to act for you，and sign an exclusive entrustment agreement to confirm the title of goods. For strictly supervised products such as maternal and infant complementary food，you need to require the Korean brand to provide an authorization notarization certified by the Chinese Consulate in South Korea，prepare core documents such as certificate of origin，health quarantine certificate，etc。and upload them to the single window for pre-audit in advance. In terms of connection of key nodes，after obtaining valid authorization，you need to complete pre-classification of commodity HS code and confirm the tariff rate，finalize FOB term with the brand to lock the title transfer node，select an international logistics provider with temperature-controlled transportation qualification for maternal and infant products and sign a space guarantee agreement to avoid goods deterioration caused by space congestion and rolling container. Contingency plans need to be formulated in advance: if the authorization certification does not meet the requirements，immediately coordinate with the brand to supplement the documents legalized by the consulate，and apply for an extension of the free storage period，if there is a dispute over commodity classification，submit the product composition test report and MSDS to the customs for review. In the final compliance implementation link，you need to ensure the consistency of "three flows": capital flow，cargo flow，document flow. After completing declaration，tax payment and inspection，store the products in a warehouse with food business qualification，and complete domestic sales filing at the same time.", "upvoteCount": 2, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/legal-import-product-agent-core-qualifications-compliance-requirements.html#acceptedAnswer", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T12:23:05Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Evelyn Li","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/evelyn-li/"} } ,"suggestedAnswer": [ { "@type": "Answer", "text": "For the customs declaration link of import product agents, we need to focus on the accuracy of pre-classification of HS code. Incorrect classification will lead to wrong application of tax rate, trigger customs valuation disputes and even goods detention. You need to prepare detailed product ingredient list, function description and physical photos in advance, submit the application through the pre-classification system of the single window, and arrange shipment after obtaining the customs pre-classification decision. If you encounter customs valuation questions, you need to provide supporting materials such as the brand's ex-factory invoice, purchase contract, and foreign exchange payment voucher. At the same time, you can apply for the integrated customs clearance mode, complete the declaration at the local customs of the enterprise, and avoid delay caused by temporary on-site valuation at port customs. In addition, for strictly supervised products such as maternal and infant food, you need to apply for the entry inspection and quarantine certificate in advance to ensure that the products meet China's national food safety standards.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/legal-import-product-agent-core-qualifications-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-2", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T12:12:03Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Lucas Liu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/lucas-liu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Import product agents should prioritize confirming the title of goods in the logistics link. It is recommended to require the brand to issue a named bill of lading, and clearly specify in the bill of lading endorsement that only the agent or its designated domestic warehouse is authorized to pick up the goods. For perishable goods such as maternal and infant food, you need to select an international logistics provider with temperature-controlled transportation qualification, and monitor the temperature and humidity in the container throughout the whole process to avoid goods deterioration. In case of rolling container due to full space, you need to sign a space guarantee agreement with the logistics provider in advance, agree on the priority of re-booking after rolling container, and apply for extending the free storage period and free container period at the destination port to reduce the cost of port and container detention. In addition, after the goods arrive at the port, you need to arrange document exchange immediately, and coordinate with the customs broker to complete pre-declaration to shorten the customs clearance time.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/legal-import-product-agent-core-qualifications-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-3", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T11:57:20Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Daniel Xu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/daniel-xu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Import product agents can reduce capital occupation cost through VAT Deferral Policy . For livelihood products such as maternal and infant food, they usually meet the application requirements of the policy. You can apply for deferring VAT payment at the declaration stage, and file tax after the products are sold domestically. You need to submit the filing application to the competent tax authority in advance to ensure that documents such as import declaration and purchase contract are complete. In addition, if you import products from South Korea, you can use the tariff preference policy of China-ROK FTA, apply for the certificate of origin in advance to enjoy tariff reduction. At the same time, you need to reasonably divide the cost accounting of import and domestic business to avoid tax inspection risks.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/legal-import-product-agent-core-qualifications-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-4", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T11:55:20Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Michael Zhang","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/michael-zhang/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The foreign exchange receipt and payment of import product agents must strictly comply with foreign exchange management regulations, ensure that the payment amount is consistent with the amount on the purchase contract and import declaration, to avoid overpayment or underpayment. If you make payment through CIPS (RMB Cross-border Payment System), you need to fill in the transaction code and transaction remark correctly, and mark it as "payment for imported infant complementary food procurement". If you use an offshore account for foreign exchange receipt and payment, you need to submit the account income and expenditure details to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange every month to avoid the account being frozen. In addition, when paying the deposit to the brand, you need to clearly specify the refund conditions and time in the contract, and complete the payment through compliant channels to avoid funds flowing into non-compliant accounts.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/legal-import-product-agent-core-qualifications-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-5", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T11:49:06Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Victor Sun","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/victor-sun/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "When an import product agent signs an agency agreement with the brand, it is necessary to clarify the geographical scope, term and product category of the exclusive authorization, to prevent the brand from authorizing other agents in the same region. A force majeure clause should be added, which stipulates that the agent will not bear the liability for breach of contract for cargo delay caused by force majeure such as customs detention, epidemic, etc. For the brand authorization letter, it is necessary to clearly require the brand to provide documents certified by the Chinese consulate in the host country in the agreement. If the customs clearance is delayed because the authorization documents do not meet the requirements, the brand needs to bear relevant costs such as port detention and container detention. At the same time, it is agreed that under FOB term, the title of goods will be transferred to the agent after loading on board, so as to reduce the risk of cargo damage.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/legal-import-product-agent-core-qualifications-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-6", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T11:05:23Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Eric Zhou","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/eric-zhou/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Import product agents need to establish an inventory linkage strategy, place purchase orders with the brand 3-6 months in advance according to domestic sales data of maternal and infant complementary food and demand fluctuations during holidays, to avoid stockout or inventory backlog. For maternal and infant complementary food with short shelf life, adopt the procurement mode of "small batch, multiple times" to reduce the risk of expired inventory. Optimize the selection of trade terms: if the brand has transportation qualification, you can choose EXW to reduce procurement cost; if you lack logistics resources, you can choose CIF, and the brand is responsible for transportation and insurance. In addition, evaluate the brand's delivery timeliness and product quality every quarter, establish a supplier elimination mechanism to ensure the stability of the supply chain.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/legal-import-product-agent-core-qualifications-compliance-requirements.html#suggestedAnswer-7", "datePublished": "2026-10-19T10:58:32Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Cindy Chen","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/cindy-chen/"} } ] } }, { "@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": "What Core Qualifications and Compliance Requirements Are Required to Become a Legal Import Product Agent?"} ] } ] ```