I. New Trends in China-Japan Food Trade: Opportunities and Challenges for Importing Japanese Biscuits

In recent years, with the entry into force of the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) and the upgrading of Chinese consumption, Japanese biscuits, with their exquisite craftsmanship, strict quality control, and differentiated flavors, have continued to gain popularity in the Chinese imported food market. Customs data shows that from January to October 2023, the value of biscuit products imported from Japan to China increased by 18.7% year-on-year, and market demand is penetrating from first-tier cities to new first-tier and second- and third-tier cities.
However, opportunities come with challenges. As pre-packaged food, imported Japanese biscuits must comply with China's "Food Safety Law" and mandatory standards such as GB 7718 (General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods) and GB 2760 (Standard for Uses of Food Additives); at the same time, the export end in Japan is constrained by the "Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS)," and some specialty products (such as wagashi-flavored biscuits) may involve traditional craft certification. Furthermore,International Logisticsfluctuations (such as shipping delays,Maritime transportprice fluctuations) and trade compliance risks (such as tariff discrepancies caused by incorrect HS code classification) all place high demands on the professional operational capabilities of importing enterprises.

II.Import Agent ServicesCore Competencies: The Professional Twin Engines of Documents and Logistics

(I) Document Handling: The "Passport" for Full-Chain Compliance

Importing Japanese biscuits involves over 10 key documents, and the core of agency services lies in precise review, standardized translation, and efficient declaration. Specifically, these include:

• Basic commercial documents: Commercial invoice (must specify trade terms like CIF/FOB, value composition), packing list (listing specifications per case, gross/net weight), bill of lading (sea/Air freightmaster and house bills);
• Official qualification documents: Health certificate issued by Japanese authorities (must specify manufacturer's name, product ingredients, and microbial indicators),Origin CertificateCertificate of Origin (FORM E or general certificate of origin, affecting the application of tariff preferences), registration number of the overseas manufacturer of imported food (validity must be checked on the GACC's "Imported Food Overseas Manufacturer Registration Management System");
• Technical documents: Ingredient list (must specify the names and content of food additives), nutrition facts table (compliant with GB 28050), sample of the Chinese label (must be filed in advance, indicating product name, country of origin, domestic distributor information, etc.).
  The agency team needs to conduct a "triple review" of these documents: a first review for completeness (e.g., whether the health certificate is stamped by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or a recognized body), a second review for data consistency (e.g., whether the weight on the bill of lading matches the packing list), and a third review for compliance (e.g., whether the additives in the ingredient list are within the permissible scope of GB 2760), to ensure "goods consistency" and "document consistency" when declaring to customs.

(II) Logistics Services: The Optimal Balance of Efficiency and Cost

Logistics for importing Japanese biscuits need to balance timeliness and cost. Agency services achieve precise control through resource integration:

• Selection of transportation methods: For small batch trial orders (≤200kg), air freight is recommended (Tokyo/Osaka direct to Shanghai/Guangzhou, 48-hour delivery) to reduce the risk of demurrage; for larger quantities (≥1000kg), LCL sea freight (from Kanto/Kansai ports in Japan to major Chinese ports, 5-7 day voyage) or FCL (to reduce unit freight costs, suitable for long-term clients) is preferred;
• Customs clearance coordination: Deep cooperation with AEO-certified customs brokers to complete the "single window" pre-declaration in advance, and coordinate priority inspection for high-risk products (such as biscuits containing dairy products), shortening the customs clearance time to 2-3 working days (compared to the regular 5-7 days);
• Warehousing and distribution: We have constant temperature warehouses in bonded zones such as Shanghai Waigaoqiao and Guangzhou Nansha (temperature 18-22℃, humidity ≤60%), supporting "clearance and immediate distribution." Through third-party logistics (such as JD Logistics, SF Cold Chain), we can achieve delivery to major cities nationwide within 48 hours.

III. Breakdown of Full-Process Agency Services: One-Stop Support from Consultation to Feedback

Agency services cover the entire import lifecycle, with key nodes as follows:

1. Client consultation and needs confirmation: Clarify the scope of service through a questionnaire (e.g., product type/specifications, annual import volume, target sales region), and point out boundaries such as "we do not handle notarization, certification" to avoid information gaps;
2. Contract negotiation and risk control: Assist in reviewing the purchase contract (focusing on the division of responsibility for trade terms like CIF Shanghai, payment methods like 30% advance + 70% upon sight of the copy of the B/L), and recommend adding clauses such as "goods can be returned if quality does not conform";
3. Order execution and production supervision: Synchronize the production schedule with the Japanese supplier, check product specifications (e.g., whether packaging dimensions meet Chinese logistics standards), and if necessary, commission third-party testing (e.g., for pesticide residues, heavy metals) and provide reports;
4. Logistics and document coordination: Update the logistics tracking sheet based on vessel/flight dynamics, and collect and pre-review all documents 3 days in advance to avoid demurrage fees (about USD 50/day/case) due to missing documents upon arrival;
5. Customs compliance and tax payment: Complete the pre-classification of the HS code (e.g., "biscuits" correspond to HS 1905.3100, MFN tariff rate of 15%), calculate the dutiable value (CIF price) and VAT (13%), and assist the client in completing tax payments through the "single window";
6. Delivery and quality acceptance: Coordinate with the client to complete an unpacking inspection within 3 working days of arrival (focusing on checking for damaged packaging, shelf life (must be ≥6 months)), and initiate a return or destruction process for non-conforming products, retaining evidence;
7. Summary, feedback, and data archiving: Provide an "Import Business Execution Report" (including logistics timeliness, customs clearance costs, a summary of document issues), and archive all process documents (electronic + paper) for 3 years (to meet customs audit requirements).

IV. Compliance Advisory: Boundaries of Certification Handling and Risk Avoidance

It must be specified: agency servicesdo not include handling product certification.However, we will clearly inform the client of the certification matters they need to complete on their own:

• Japanese export end: Some specialty biscuits (such as "Meigara-gashi" using traditional techniques) may need to apply for JAS certification (Japanese Agricultural Standard certification), submitted by the Japanese supplier to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;
• Chinese import end: Overseas manufacturers must be registered through GACC Announcement No. 179 (registration type is "food"), and domestic importers must complete the registration of imported food importers (handled through the "Internet + Customs" platform);
• Label registration: The Chinese label must be filed with the local customs before import, with a focus on reviewing "allergen warnings" (e.g., must be labeled if containing nuts), "production date/shelf life" format, etc.
  The agent can assist in reviewing the validity of certification documents (e.g., checking the authenticity of the JAS certification number), but does not directly participate in the certification application process. It is recommended that clients start the certification process 3-6 months in advance to avoid affecting customs clearance.

V. Extended Services: VTB for Russian BusinessConvert foreign exchange into RMBAdvantage to Support Diverse Layouts

For clients who also conduct trade with Russia, the agency can provide a special settlement service through VTB Bank (Sberbank of Russia). Currently, local currency settlement in China-Russia trade exceeds 80%, and settling through VTB has three major advantages:

• Low exchange rate risk: Supports direct exchange between Rubles and Renminbi, avoiding exchange rate fluctuations of the US dollar (e.g., the USD to Ruble exchange rate fluctuated by 12% in 2023);
• Fast crediting time: Relying on the direct SWIFT channel between VTB and major Chinese banks (such as Bank of China, ICBC), cross-border remittances can be credited on a T+1 basis (compared to T+3 for regular routes);
• Preferential handling fees: Settlement fees are as low as 0.15% (market average of 0.3%), and cross-border telegraphic transfer fees are waived (about USD 30/transaction).
  This service can help clients integrate their China-Japan and China-Russia trade links, reducing the costs of multi-currency settlement.

Conclusion: The core value of Japanese biscuit import agency lies in avoiding compliance risks through professional document handling capabilities, and compressing time costs through efficient logistics management, ultimately helping enterprises focus on market expansion and brand operation. Choosing an agency service provider with full-process control capabilities is key for small and medium-sized importers to break through the bottleneck of "high professional thresholds and large operational costs."