I. Opportunities for French Cake Imports under the New Landscape of International Trade

In recent years, China-France economic and trade cooperation has continued to deepen. In 2023, China’s total food imports from the EU rose by 12 % year-on-year, with French pastries—thanks to their distinctive craftsmanship and premium ingredients—seeing a surge in demand among China’s high-end consumers. It should be noted, however, that under the EU’s General Food Law (EC 178/2002) and China’s Administrative Provisions on the Registration of Overseas Food Production Enterprises for Imported Food, imported cakes must meet stringent market-access requirements. At present,China-Europe Railway ExpressThe regular operation of the “Yixin’ou” route, combined with the AEO-certified enterprises’ customs facilitation policy (which cuts average clearance time by 40%), offers both time and cost advantages for importing French cakes.

II.Import Agent ServicesCore: A professional dual-engine of documentation and logistics

(I) Document Processing: The “Pass” for Full-Chain Compliance

Documentation is the core basis for customs clearance of imported cakes.Zhong Shen International Trade Co., Ltd.Drawing on 20 yearsforeign tradeExperience: a “three-tier review” mechanism is established to guarantee zero errors in documentation.

• Basic commercial documents: Strictly review the commercial invoice (must show FOB/CIF price terms), packing list (indicate gross weight/net weight/volume), and bill of lading (B/L, must match the booking information);
• Official qualification documents: Assist the client in requesting from the French exporter the sanitary certificate issued by the DGCCRF (General Directorate for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control) in compliance with the SPS Agreement, as well as the EUOrigin Certificate(EUR.1 format, certifying that the product has been “wholly obtained or substantially processed” in the European Union);
• Special Regulatory Documents: For cakes containing dairy products, an additional “Free Sale Certificate for Dairy Products” issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food (DGAL) is required, and it must be submitted to China Customs under “Imported FoodCosmeticsComplete the data entry in the "Importer Filing System."

(II) Logistics Management: Precise Control of Cold-Chain Transport and Multimodal Transport

French-style cakes contain many perishable ingredients such as cream and chocolate, so logistics must strictly follow cold-chain standards (0–4 °C temperature control). Zhongshen International Trade has established long-term partnerships with shipping lines like Maersk and CMA CGM, as well as with Aeroflot Cargo, offering two mainstream solutions:

• Maritime transportCold chain: Choose a liner equipped with Reefer containers (refrigerated containers), with full-journey GPS temperature monitoring; depart from Le Havre, transit via the Suez Canal to Shanghai Yangshan Port, transit time ≈30 days, suitable for large-volume imports;
• Air freightDirect: Using an Airbus A330 full-cargo aircraft, we fly non-stop from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Beijing Daxing. With the "72-hour intermodal transport" model and the airport customs' "advance declaration + release upon arrival," deliveries reach major domestic cities within 48 hours—ideal for high-end bespoke orders.

III. Expansion of Business with Russia: VTBConvert foreign exchange into RMBCompliance advantages

Some clients are engaged in the re-export of French cakes via Russia or direct exports to Russia. Zhongshen International Trade, leveraging its long-standing cooperation with VTB Bank (Russia), offers a secure foreign-exchange settlement solution:

• Circumventing SWIFT restrictions: Complete cross-border settlements through VTB Bank’s “Russian version of SWIFT” (SPFS system), support RMB-RUB dual-currency clearing, and reduce payment risks caused by international sanctions;
• Exchange rate locking service: By combining spot/forward FX contracts, we lock in the exchange rate for our clients’ foreign-exchange settlement; for instance, when the ruble moves beyond 5 %, an automatic close-out is triggered to safeguard the profit margin;
• Compliance Review Supporting Materials: Simultaneously provide OFAC (U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control) sanctions-list screening to ensure transactions do not involve prohibited entities and to avoid secondary-sanction risks.

IV. Customer Notice: Certification Boundaries and Risk Warnings

It should be specifically noted that Zhongshen International TradeWe do not directly provide product certification services., but key certification requirements can be highlighted to help customers plan:

• EU-side certification: Exporters must hold ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management System) or BRC (British Retail Consortium) certification; cakes containing alcohol require an additional license from the French National Institute for Alcohol Beverages (BNIA).
• China-side requirements: Before import, the “Registration of Overseas Food Production Enterprises for Import” (filed under GACC Announcement No. 179) must be completed; after arrival, customs will conduct sampling inspection (focusing on microorganisms and food-additive residues) and issue the “Inspection and Quarantine Certificate for Entry Goods” upon passing.
• : Under the CIF term, give priority to the Port of Oakland on the West Coast (which has a longer window period for container pick-up without appointment), or sign a demurrage sharing agreement with the agent.: Clients may entrust third-party organizations such as SGS or Bureau Veritas to conduct pre-certification audits; Zhongshen International Trade can assist in verifying the validity of certification documents to ensure they align with customs clearance paperwork.

V. Full-process representation: a closed-loop service from consultation to feedback

Zhongshen International Trade breaks down import agency services into nine key nodes, ensuring every step is controllable and traceable:

1. Client Consultation: Pre-classify via HS code (cakes usually fall under 1905.9000, 15% duty, 13% VAT) and analyze ingredients (checking for endangered flora/fauna components) to confirm regulatory requirements;
2. Negotiation and Contract Signing: Focus on reviewing the “claim period for non-conforming quality” in the contract (recommend stipulating 15 calendar days after arrival at the port) and the “demurrage cost-sharing clause” (clearly define responsibility for destination port charges under CIF terms);
3. Orders & Payment: Supports T/T (30% in advance + 70% against documents), L/C (?L/C?, it must be marked “Negotiation against original sanitary certificate,” and other methods should be used to cooperate with Sinosure in completing the exporter’s credit assessment;
4. Production supervision: If requested by the customer, Intertek may be commissioned to conduct a factory inspection, focusing on verifying raw-material traceability (e.g., confirming that the cream originates from BSE-free regions);
5. Logistics Management: Select the mode of transport based on cargo value/transit time, and arrange insurance in parallel (all-risk coverage plus refrigeration cargo extension is recommended);
6. Customs Compliance: Complete the “two-step declaration” (summary declaration + full declaration) through the single-window system, pre-calculate the customs duty-paid value (CIF price = goods value + freight + insurance), and assist in tax payment;
7. Delivery and Distribution: In partnership with JD Logistics and SF Cold Chain, we provide “door-to-door” delivery with full-journey temperature and humidity data traceable;
8. Quality Assurance: Upon arrival, assist the client in applying for customs inspection; if mold, packaging damage, or similar issues are found, initiate the claim procedure within 24 hours (transport records, photos, and other evidence must be preserved);
9. Summary Feedback: Provide the 《Import Customs ClearanceReport (including HS code confirmation and tax breakdown), Logistics Tracking Report (temperature-controlled data, delay analysis); after the final payment is settled, the file will be archived.

Conclusion

Importing French cakes is more than moving goods—it’s a comprehensive mastery of trade compliance, cold-chain technology, and capital security. With meticulous document handling as its bedrock and logistics management as its lifeline, Zhongshen International Trade strictly observes certified-agency boundaries while offering extended services such as VTB settlement for Russia, building a safe, efficient corridor from French patisseries to Chinese tables. Choose a professional agent and let the sweetness of imported cakes cross oceans and arrive on time.