I. Market Opportunities and Trade Situation Analysis of French Cake Imports

In recent years, the scale of Sino-French food trade has continued to expand. In 2023, China's total food imports from France increased by 12.7% year-on-year, with baked products seeing a growth rate of 18.3%. French cakes, with their traditional craftsmanship and quality advantages, have become a popular category in China's high-end baking market. Under the current international trade environment, the EU's General Food Law (EC 178/2002) and China's Regulations on the Registration Management of Foreign Food Producers (Customs General Administration Order No. 248) constitute the core of two-way supervision, requiring importers to strictly comply with SPS (Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) requirements. Meanwhile, the implementation of the mutual recognition policy for AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) between China and France has provided facilitation support for compliant enterprises, reducing customs clearance time by 30%-50%. It should be noted that the EU plans to upgrade food labeling regulations in 2024, requiring clear labeling of all allergen information, which places higher demands on the accuracy of import documents.

II. French cakesImport Agent ServicesThe core competence: a dual-engine of shipping documents and logistics

(I) Document Processing: The "Pass" for Full-Process Compliance

The core documents required for the import of French cakes include: a health certificate issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food or its authorized agencies, which certifies that the products comply with China's GB 29921-2021 "National Food Safety Standard for Pathogen Limits in Prepackaged Foods";Origin Certificate(Generally, a FORM E or a non-preferential certificate of origin is required, corresponding to HS code 8485.2000 (pastries, biscuits)). - Commercial invoice (must indicate the transaction method such as CIF Shanghai). - Packing list (specifying the gross weight, net weight, and specifications per box). - Ingredient analysis report (listing the types and contents of additives, which must comply with GB 2760-2014, "Standards for the Use of Food Additives"). - Production date and shelf life certificate (directly affecting the "freshness" assessment during customs inspection). Our professional team offers pre-audit services for documents to verify certificate validity in advance (e.g., health certificates must include critical statements such as "Products have not been irradiated" and "Comply with China's inspection and quarantine requirements"). This helps avoid return shipments or port delays due to document non-compliance (typical case in 2023: A client's order was rejected due to a certificate lacking the production enterprise code, delaying customs clearance by 15 days and incurring storage fees of 28,000 yuan).

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

Most French cakes are perishable items containing cream and fruits, which require transportation in a full cold chain. The logistics solution should be tailored to the cargo volume (small batches are preferred).Air freightMass production selectionMaritime transportThe pricing of refrigerated containers, transit times (4-5 days by air, 30-35 days by sea), and costs (air freight being approximately 3-5 times more expensive than sea freight) are comprehensively determined. Our company has established long-term partnerships with leading logistics providers such as MAERSK and DHL, enabling us to secure refrigerated container slots and negotiate 10%-15% discounts on freight rates. During operations, we focus on monitoring the following key aspects: 1. Confirming the refrigerated container temperature during booking (cream cakes require temperatures below -18°C, fruit cakes require 2-8°C). 2. Verifying the refrigeration unit operating records before loading (pre-cooling is required 24 hours in advance). 3. Monitoring in-transit conditions via GPS and temperature sensors to obtain real-time data (with alerts triggered for abnormal fluctuations). 4. Handling document exchange at the destination port (promptly retrieving goods with a Bill of Lading or electronic release guarantee to avoid demurrage fees). In 2023, a client entrusted us with importing 500 boxes of French mousse cakes. By coordinating priority container pickup at Shanghai Port in advance, we successfully avoided the risk of cold chain disruption caused by port congestion during the typhoon season.

III. Full-process agency services: The 9 key stages from signing the contract to delivery

(I) Preparatory work: Confirmation of requirements and contract review (Nodes 1-2)

During the client consultation phase, it is necessary to clarify the product type (frozen/room temperature), the import volume (whether it triggers an automatic import license), and the target market (whether it involves special regions such as free trade zones). When reviewing the contract, the focus should be on quality clauses (which need to stipulate quantifiable standards such as "sensory indicators" and "microbial limits") and payment methods (with a recommended 30% T/T prepayment and L/C).?L/C?(1) Review the clause of "document conformity"; (2) Dispute resolution (specify the conditions for returning goods and the division of responsibilities).

(II) Production and Logistics Collaboration (Nodes 3-5)

After the order is placed, our company will simultaneously follow up on the production progress of the French factory, with a focus on monitoring the use of additives (such as whether the pigments comply with GB 2760) and ensuring packaging compliance (pre-packaged products must be labeled in Chinese, including product name, ingredients, shelf life, and information about domestic distributors). For the payment process, we can offer various payment methods such as D/P (payment against documents) and L/C negotiation. If dealing with Russian suppliers, payments can be processed through VTB Bank (Russia).foreign tradeThe bank has implemented direct exchange of the Russian ruble and the Chinese yuan.Convert foreign exchange into RMBThe delivery time has been shortened from the traditional 5-7 days to T+1, and the exchange rate loss has been reduced by 2%-3% (in 2023, a certain client saved 42,000 yuan in costs by using this model).

(III) Customs Clearance and Delivery (Nodes 6-9)

During the customs declaration phase, our company pre-enters the customs declaration form through the Single Window System, with a focus on verifying the HS code (1905.9000), country of origin (France), and gross/net weight (consistent with the packing list). Customs duties are charged at the Most-Favored-Nation tariff rate of 15% (temporary tariff rate for 2024) and value-added tax at 13%. During inspection, we assist in providing sensory samples (e.g., cake appearance and color) and arranging laboratory testing appointments (reports will be issued within 5-7 working days after sampling). At the delivery stage, we arrange distribution to regional warehouses or direct delivery to stores based on client needs, while simultaneously providing logistics tracking numbers and delivery confirmation. During the quality warranty period (usually 30 days), if issues such as bloating or spoilage arise, we assist clients in initiating return shipments or claiming compensation from suppliers (8 similar cases were handled in 2023, recovering losses exceeding 600,000 yuan).

IV. Customer Notice: Certification Preparation and Risk Warning

Although our company does not directly provide certification services, we would like to particularly remind clients that French cake producers must complete the registration of overseas food production enterprises with the General Administration of Customs of China (the registration number can be checked through the "Internet + Customs" platform). If the product contains dairy ingredients, an additional "Import Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit" (AQSIQ Permit) is required. We recommend that clients initiate the certification process 6-8 months in advance and entrust professional testing agencies (such as SGS and Huace) to conduct on-site audits and submit the necessary materials. Common risks include: ① Document discrepancies (e.g., health certificates without stamped seals) ② Cold chain disruptions (e.g., microbial exceedances due to temperature violations during transportation) ③ Non-compliant labels (e.g., failure to indicate "storage conditions") Our company can provide risk assessment reports to assist clients in formulating preventive plans.

Conclusion: The core of French cake import agency lies in "professionalism and attention to detail". From pre-review of documents to cold chain monitoring, from compliance declaration to risk response, every step requires in-depth trade experience to support it. Choosing an agency service provider with the ability to handle documents, integrate logistics, and manage compliance is the key to reducing costs and improving efficiency.