--- title: "What are the required documents and compliance requirements for exporting fresh fruits from the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong?" description: "Many mainland fresh produce merchants often encounter port detention and customs seizure due to incomplete documents and poor process connection when exporting fruits to Hong Kong，which not only causes spoilage of fresh fruits，but also leads to losses from high port demurrage charges. You can conduct pre-audit of core documents such as animal and plant quarantine certificates，connect with fast port inspection channels，and develop emergency plans for temperature abnormalities，document discrepanci..." url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/required-documents-compliance-requirements-for-mainland-fruits-export-to-hong-kong.html" language: "en" type: "Q&A" category: "Customs Declaration Q&A" datePublished: "2026-06-21" dateModified: "2026-06-21" brand: "Zhongshen Trading China" answerCount: 8 --- # What are the required documents and compliance requirements for exporting fresh fruits from the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong? ## Question I am the head of a fresh produce growing cooperative in Zhejiang Province specializing in citrus and Dongkui bayberries. Last month, I tried to ship 2 tons of bayberries to our cooperative wholesaler in Hong Kong for the first time, but the shipment was detained at Luohu Port for 3 days due to incorrect batch number on the animal and plant quarantine certificate. All bayberries rotted, which not only made me compensate the customer RMB 120,000 for the payment for goods, but also made me lose the long-term cooperation intention. Now citrus will hit the market in October, and the customer is urging for delivery. But I am worried about recurrence of port detention, customs seizure and fruit spoilage, and I do not know the latest compliance requirements for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong in 2026, nor do I know how to optimize logistics and costs. I am really anxious, so I would like to ask what operations I should take to deliver fruits to Hong Kong smoothly in compliance with regulations? ## Answers ### Answer 1 — Best Answer First of all，you need to complete accurate pre-audit of core documents in advance: make sure that the batch，variety and traceability code on the **Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine License** fully match the actual shipment. According to the new requirements of the Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in 2026，fruits without traceability codes will directly trigger machine inspection and recheck. At the same time，ask the Hong Kong importer to provide the **import pre-declaration receipt of the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety** in advance，goods without the receipt will not be allowed to enter Hong Kong control points. These two items are the core prerequisites for customs clearance. Core node connection should focus on "speed" and "stability": give priority to fresh produce exclusive ports filed with the Hong Kong FEHD (such as Man Kam To，Liantang Port)，make an appointment for fast inspection channel 24 hours in advance. The logistics link should use containers with real-time temperature control data upload function，and data should be synchronized to the systems of mainland customs and Hong Kong FEHD to avoid detention caused by abnormal temperature. Two targeted abnormality plans need to be formulated: First，in case of document discrepancy，immediately start the **green channel for urgent document amendment**. In 2026，the customs has opened an exclusive channel for fresh produce to complete document amendment within 2 hours，which does not require the conventional 3-5 day document amendment process. Second，for the risk of port detention spoilage，you can purchase exclusive insurance for Hong Kong and Macao fresh produce transportation in advance，which covers fruit spoilage compensation for port detention of more than 48 hours. Final compliance implementation requires simultaneous completion of filing in both places: On the mainland side，you need to complete dual filing of fresh produce export enterprises and planting bases with the General Administration of Customs. On the Hong Kong side，the importer shall complete importer filing with the Centre for Food Safety to ensure end-to-end data traceability，fully complying with the latest fresh produce trade supervision requirements of both places in 2026. **status:** accepted **Author:** Andy Guo **Date:** 2026-06-21 ### Answer 2 The customs declaration link for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong should focus on price verification and document logical closed loop: In 2026, the customs will implement "integrated fresh produce customs declaration", which requires the value, weight and variety on the customs declaration form to be fully consistent with those on the Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine License and the certificate of origin. If the declared value deviation exceeds 10%, it will trigger price verification disputes, and you need to submit supporting materials such as procurement contracts and cost details, which takes at least 24 hours and can easily lead to fruit spoilage. In addition, the "destination code" on the customs declaration form should be accurately filled with the corresponding code "HKG" for Hong Kong, wrong filling will trigger the transit procedure, causing a delay of at least 12 hours. It is recommended to submit all documents to the customs declaration system for pre-audit 12 hours in advance to check logical inconsistencies and ensure one-time customs declaration pass. **status:** suggested **Author:** Lucas Liu **Date:** 2026-06-21 ### Answer 3 The logistics route for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong should give priority to fresh produce exclusive channels: Both Man Kam To and Liantang Port have fast inspection channels for fresh produce, with the free storage period extended to 24 hours, while the free storage period of ordinary channels is only 6 hours, and a container detention fee of HKD 1,200 per container per day will be charged for overtime. If you choose road transportation, you should use refrigerated trucks with temperature control function, and the set temperature should meet the requirements of the Hong Kong FEHD (12-15℃ for tropical fruits, 0-4℃ for temperate fruits), and upload temperature data to the logistics monitoring platform in real time. In addition, you should book space with the port logistics service provider 72 hours in advance to avoid rollover due to full space. In case of rollover, you can immediately transfer to the emergency space at Liantang Port, which added 100 fresh produce emergency spaces in 2026, and the transit procedure can be completed within 4 hours. **status:** suggested **Author:** Cindy Chen **Date:** 2026-06-21 ### Answer 4 Tax preferences available for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong need to be planned in advance: In 2026, the state will implement the "VAT deferral" policy for fresh agricultural products exported to Hong Kong, that is, there is no need to prepay value-added tax at the export link, and tax declaration can be made after the goods are sold in Hong Kong, which can effectively relieve capital pressure. In addition, if the exported fruits belong to the state's key supported fresh produce varieties (such as citrus, apples), you can enjoy a 15% enterprise income tax reduction, but you need to submit planting base filing certificates, export contracts and other materials to the tax department in advance. Note that the VAT deferral policy only applies to fresh produce export enterprises that have completed customs filing, unfiled enterprises cannot enjoy this policy, and tax declaration should be completed within 90 days after export, overdue will incur late fees. **status:** suggested **Author:** Kevin Lin **Date:** 2026-06-21 ### Answer 5 The foreign exchange collection and payment link for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong must strictly comply with compliance requirements: In 2026, the People's Bank of China will launch the "CIPS RMB cross-border payment exclusive channel" for Hong Kong and Macao fresh produce trade, which can realize real-time account arrival, and the handling fee is only 30% of that of the SWIFT channel. Ensure that the received amount is fully consistent with the value on the customs declaration form. If the received amount deviation exceeds 5%, you need to submit a deviation explanation to the bank, including supporting materials such as sample gifts and freight deduction, otherwise it will trigger foreign exchange verification and affect subsequent collection and payment permissions. In addition, you need to complete foreign exchange settlement and account reconciliation within 15 days after receiving the payment, to avoid being listed as a foreign exchange concerned enterprise due to long-term outstanding accounts. It is recommended to use an exclusive fresh produce trade collection and payment account to facilitate the bank's compliance audit. **status:** suggested **Author:** Eric Zhou **Date:** 2026-06-21 ### Answer 6 The contract for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong should clearly specify risk coverage clauses: "Force majeure clauses" should be stipulated in the contract, including fruit spoilage caused by port inspection delays, natural disasters, etc., and the division of responsibilities between the two parties should be clarified to avoid disputes caused by port detention spoilage. In addition, a "title transfer clause" should be stipulated, clarifying that the title of goods will only be transferred to the importer after the goods are inspected and released by the Hong Kong FEHD. If the goods rot during port detention, the title still belongs to the exporter, which can prevent the importer from refusing to pay for the goods. It is recommended to require the importer to provide a **Performance Guarantee** at the same time. If the importer cannot clear customs due to its own reasons, it shall compensate the exporter for fruit spoilage and logistics costs. The guarantee shall be issued by a licensed bank in Hong Kong to ensure legal effect. **status:** suggested **Author:** Jason Wu **Date:** 2026-06-21 ### Answer 7 On-site inspection for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong should be prepared in advance: In 2026, the Hong Kong FEHD increased the inspection rate of fresh fruits to 20%, and the traceability code scanning record of fruits should be provided during inspection. If it cannot be provided, it will trigger unboxing inspection, which takes at least 4 hours. When unpacking, ensure that the fruit packaging meets the requirements, using breathable foam boxes or cartons to avoid fruit heating and spoilage due to airtight packaging. At the same time, information such as variety, batch, temperature requirements should be marked on the outside of the packaging to facilitate quick verification by inspection personnel. If the inspection is unqualified (such as excessive pesticide residues), you should immediately start the inspection submission process. The port added a fast fresh produce testing laboratory in 2026, which can issue a test report within 6 hours. If the test is qualified, the goods can be released immediately, otherwise they need to be returned or destroyed. **status:** suggested **Author:** Linda Gao **Date:** 2026-06-21 ### Answer 8 Export tax rebate for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong should ensure the consistency of four streams: In 2026, the tax department's verification focus on fresh produce export tax rebates is the consistency of "capital stream, goods stream, invoice stream and contract stream". It is necessary to ensure that the supplier of the procurement contract is consistent with the invoice issuer, the payer of the capital stream is consistent with the buyer of the procurement contract, and the transportation record of the goods stream is consistent with the place of departure and destination of the customs declaration form. In addition, tax rebate pre-declaration should be completed within 30 days after export, and formal declaration should be made after the pre-declaration is passed. If there is data inconsistency in the pre-declaration, the documents should be adjusted in time to avoid affecting the tax rebate progress. Note that export tax rebate documents must be filed for at least 5 years, including customs declaration forms, invoices, transportation contracts, etc. The tax department will conduct irregular verifications, and if the documents are missing, the refunded tax will be recovered. **status:** suggested **Author:** Daniel Xu **Date:** 2026-06-21 ## Related Categories - [Import Agency Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-import-agency/) - [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/) - [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 are the required documents and compliance requirements for exporting fresh fruits from the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong?", "text": "I am the head of a fresh produce growing cooperative in Zhejiang Province specializing in citrus and Dongkui bayberries. Last month, I tried to ship 2 tons of bayberries to our cooperative wholesaler in Hong Kong for the first time, but the shipment was detained at Luohu Port for 3 days due to incorrect batch number on the animal and plant quarantine certificate. All bayberries rotted, which not only made me compensate the customer RMB 120,000 for the payment for goods, but also made me lose the long-term cooperation intention. Now citrus will hit the market in October, and the customer is urging for delivery. But I am worried about recurrence of port detention, customs seizure and fruit spoilage, and I do not know the latest compliance requirements for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong in 2026, nor do I know how to optimize logistics and costs. I am really anxious, so I would like to ask what operations I should take to deliver fruits to Hong Kong smoothly in compliance with regulations?", "answerCount": 8, "upvoteCount": 2, "datePublished": "2026-06-21T00:13:40Z", "dateModified": "2026-06-21T00:21:13Z", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhongshen Trading China", "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/required-documents-compliance-requirements-for-mainland-fruits-export-to-hong-kong.html" } ,"acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "First of all，you need to complete accurate pre-audit of core documents in advance: make sure that the batch，variety and traceability code on the Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine License fully match the actual shipment. According to the new requirements of the Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in 2026，fruits without traceability codes will directly trigger machine inspection and recheck. At the same time，ask the Hong Kong importer to provide the import pre-declaration receipt of the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety in advance，goods without the receipt will not be allowed to enter Hong Kong control points. These two items are the core prerequisites for customs clearance. Core node connection should focus on "speed" and "stability": give priority to fresh produce exclusive ports filed with the Hong Kong FEHD (such as Man Kam To，Liantang Port)，make an appointment for fast inspection channel 24 hours in advance. The logistics link should use containers with real-time temperature control data upload function，and data should be synchronized to the systems of mainland customs and Hong Kong FEHD to avoid detention caused by abnormal temperature. Two targeted abnormality plans need to be formulated: First，in case of document discrepancy，immediately start the green channel for urgent document amendment . In 2026，the customs has opened an exclusive channel for fresh produce to complete document amendment within 2 hours，which does not require the conventional 3-5 day document amendment process. Second，for the risk of port detention spoilage，you can purchase exclusive insurance for Hong Kong and Macao fresh produce transportation in advance，which covers fruit spoilage compensation for port detention of more than 48 hours. Final compliance implementation requires simultaneous completion of filing in both places: On the mainland side，you need to complete dual filing of fresh produce export enterprises and planting bases with the General Administration of Customs. On the Hong Kong side，the importer shall complete importer filing with the Centre for Food Safety to ensure end-to-end data traceability，fully complying with the latest fresh produce trade supervision requirements of both places in 2026.", "upvoteCount": 2, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/required-documents-compliance-requirements-for-mainland-fruits-export-to-hong-kong.html#acceptedAnswer", "datePublished": "2026-06-21T00:55:22Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Andy Guo","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/andy-guo/"} } ,"suggestedAnswer": [ { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The customs declaration link for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong should focus on price verification and document logical closed loop: In 2026, the customs will implement "integrated fresh produce customs declaration", which requires the value, weight and variety on the customs declaration form to be fully consistent with those on the Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine License and the certificate of origin. If the declared value deviation exceeds 10%, it will trigger price verification disputes, and you need to submit supporting materials such as procurement contracts and cost details, which takes at least 24 hours and can easily lead to fruit spoilage. In addition, the "destination code" on the customs declaration form should be accurately filled with the corresponding code "HKG" for Hong Kong, wrong filling will trigger the transit procedure, causing a delay of at least 12 hours. It is recommended to submit all documents to the customs declaration system for pre-audit 12 hours in advance to check logical inconsistencies and ensure one-time customs declaration pass.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/required-documents-compliance-requirements-for-mainland-fruits-export-to-hong-kong.html#suggestedAnswer-2", "datePublished": "2026-06-21T00:53:12Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Lucas Liu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/lucas-liu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The logistics route for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong should give priority to fresh produce exclusive channels: Both Man Kam To and Liantang Port have fast inspection channels for fresh produce, with the free storage period extended to 24 hours, while the free storage period of ordinary channels is only 6 hours, and a container detention fee of HKD 1,200 per container per day will be charged for overtime. If you choose road transportation, you should use refrigerated trucks with temperature control function, and the set temperature should meet the requirements of the Hong Kong FEHD (12-15℃ for tropical fruits, 0-4℃ for temperate fruits), and upload temperature data to the logistics monitoring platform in real time. In addition, you should book space with the port logistics service provider 72 hours in advance to avoid rollover due to full space. In case of rollover, you can immediately transfer to the emergency space at Liantang Port, which added 100 fresh produce emergency spaces in 2026, and the transit procedure can be completed within 4 hours.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/required-documents-compliance-requirements-for-mainland-fruits-export-to-hong-kong.html#suggestedAnswer-3", "datePublished": "2026-06-21T00:51:13Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Cindy Chen","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/cindy-chen/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Tax preferences available for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong need to be planned in advance: In 2026, the state will implement the "VAT deferral" policy for fresh agricultural products exported to Hong Kong, that is, there is no need to prepay value-added tax at the export link, and tax declaration can be made after the goods are sold in Hong Kong, which can effectively relieve capital pressure. In addition, if the exported fruits belong to the state's key supported fresh produce varieties (such as citrus, apples), you can enjoy a 15% enterprise income tax reduction, but you need to submit planting base filing certificates, export contracts and other materials to the tax department in advance. Note that the VAT deferral policy only applies to fresh produce export enterprises that have completed customs filing, unfiled enterprises cannot enjoy this policy, and tax declaration should be completed within 90 days after export, overdue will incur late fees.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/required-documents-compliance-requirements-for-mainland-fruits-export-to-hong-kong.html#suggestedAnswer-4", "datePublished": "2026-06-21T00:44:20Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Kevin Lin","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/kevin-lin/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The foreign exchange collection and payment link for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong must strictly comply with compliance requirements: In 2026, the People's Bank of China will launch the "CIPS RMB cross-border payment exclusive channel" for Hong Kong and Macao fresh produce trade, which can realize real-time account arrival, and the handling fee is only 30% of that of the SWIFT channel. Ensure that the received amount is fully consistent with the value on the customs declaration form. If the received amount deviation exceeds 5%, you need to submit a deviation explanation to the bank, including supporting materials such as sample gifts and freight deduction, otherwise it will trigger foreign exchange verification and affect subsequent collection and payment permissions. In addition, you need to complete foreign exchange settlement and account reconciliation within 15 days after receiving the payment, to avoid being listed as a foreign exchange concerned enterprise due to long-term outstanding accounts. It is recommended to use an exclusive fresh produce trade collection and payment account to facilitate the bank's compliance audit.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/required-documents-compliance-requirements-for-mainland-fruits-export-to-hong-kong.html#suggestedAnswer-5", "datePublished": "2026-06-21T00:37:57Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Eric Zhou","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/eric-zhou/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The contract for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong should clearly specify risk coverage clauses: "Force majeure clauses" should be stipulated in the contract, including fruit spoilage caused by port inspection delays, natural disasters, etc., and the division of responsibilities between the two parties should be clarified to avoid disputes caused by port detention spoilage. In addition, a "title transfer clause" should be stipulated, clarifying that the title of goods will only be transferred to the importer after the goods are inspected and released by the Hong Kong FEHD. If the goods rot during port detention, the title still belongs to the exporter, which can prevent the importer from refusing to pay for the goods. It is recommended to require the importer to provide a Performance Guarantee at the same time. If the importer cannot clear customs due to its own reasons, it shall compensate the exporter for fruit spoilage and logistics costs. The guarantee shall be issued by a licensed bank in Hong Kong to ensure legal effect.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/required-documents-compliance-requirements-for-mainland-fruits-export-to-hong-kong.html#suggestedAnswer-6", "datePublished": "2026-06-21T00:36:29Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Jason Wu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/jason-wu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "On-site inspection for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong should be prepared in advance: In 2026, the Hong Kong FEHD increased the inspection rate of fresh fruits to 20%, and the traceability code scanning record of fruits should be provided during inspection. If it cannot be provided, it will trigger unboxing inspection, which takes at least 4 hours. When unpacking, ensure that the fruit packaging meets the requirements, using breathable foam boxes or cartons to avoid fruit heating and spoilage due to airtight packaging. At the same time, information such as variety, batch, temperature requirements should be marked on the outside of the packaging to facilitate quick verification by inspection personnel. If the inspection is unqualified (such as excessive pesticide residues), you should immediately start the inspection submission process. The port added a fast fresh produce testing laboratory in 2026, which can issue a test report within 6 hours. If the test is qualified, the goods can be released immediately, otherwise they need to be returned or destroyed.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/required-documents-compliance-requirements-for-mainland-fruits-export-to-hong-kong.html#suggestedAnswer-7", "datePublished": "2026-06-21T00:31:40Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Linda Gao","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/linda-gao/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Export tax rebate for mainland fruit export to Hong Kong should ensure the consistency of four streams: In 2026, the tax department's verification focus on fresh produce export tax rebates is the consistency of "capital stream, goods stream, invoice stream and contract stream". It is necessary to ensure that the supplier of the procurement contract is consistent with the invoice issuer, the payer of the capital stream is consistent with the buyer of the procurement contract, and the transportation record of the goods stream is consistent with the place of departure and destination of the customs declaration form. In addition, tax rebate pre-declaration should be completed within 30 days after export, and formal declaration should be made after the pre-declaration is passed. If there is data inconsistency in the pre-declaration, the documents should be adjusted in time to avoid affecting the tax rebate progress. Note that export tax rebate documents must be filed for at least 5 years, including customs declaration forms, invoices, transportation contracts, etc. The tax department will conduct irregular verifications, and if the documents are missing, the refunded tax will be recovered.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/required-documents-compliance-requirements-for-mainland-fruits-export-to-hong-kong.html#suggestedAnswer-8", "datePublished": "2026-06-21T00:21:13Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Daniel Xu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/daniel-xu/"} } ] } }, { "@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": "Customs Declaration Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-customs-declaration/"} ,{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What are the required documents and compliance requirements for exporting fresh fruits from the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong?"} ] } ] ```