According to the Administrative Measures for Value - added Tax and Consumption Tax on Exported Goods and Services implemented in 2025, agency export tax rebate needs to meet three conditions simultaneously:import and exportWhat legal qualifications are required for food?

According to the latest 2025 "Administrative Measures for Import and Export Food Safety," food agency enterprises must possess the following qualifications:

• Basic Qualifications:
  • China Customs Registration of Consignees and Consignors for Import and Export Goods
  • Food Business License (including prepackaged food sales qualification)
• Special Requirements:
  • Registration of Overseas Production Enterprises (Applicable for Imports)
  • Filing number of the registration management system for overseas manufacturers of imported food
  • Inspection and quarantine certificate (CIQ certificate) required by the General Administration of Customs

II. How is the cost of import and export food agency composed?

Taking a 20-foot container of imported frozen seafood as an example, the agency cost structure for 2025 is as follows:

• Fixed costs (approximately 35% of total expenses):
  • Customs duties and taxes (tariff + VAT)
  • Inspection and quarantine fee (including laboratory testing)
  • Agency service fee (including document processing)
• Variable costs (approximately 65% of total expenses):
  • Cold chain transportation (including cold storage)
  • Special packaging materials
  • Certification fees (e.g., HACCP, BRC certification)

III. What are the key steps in the customs clearance process for food imports and exports?

The optimized customs clearance process for 2025 includes:

• Import process:
  • Overseas factory audit (focusing on GMP compliance inspection)
  • Chinese Label Pre-Review (Must Comply with GB 7718-2024 Standard)
  • Port Intelligent Inspection (Application of AI + Blockchain Technology)
• Export process:
  • Purpose Country Access Inquiry (Connected to WTO/SPS Database)
  • Preparation of Compliance Documentation Package (Including Halal/Organic Certification)
  • Whole-process temperature-controlled data chain record filing

IV. How to Avoid Risks in Food Agency Trade?

According to the case analysis of customs notifications from 2023 to 2025, the following areas require special attention:

• Quality risk:
  • Excessive microbial contamination (especially in ready-to-eat foods)
  • Additive violations (Pay attention to the banned substance lists of various countries)
• Logistics risks:
  • Incorrect origin marking (involving the application of preferential tariff rates)
  • Nutrition label conversion error (requires professional software support)
• Funding risks:
  • Cold chain break (requires a full-process temperature recorder)
  • Transportation delay (recommended to purchase time-sensitive additional insurance)

5. How to Choose Reliable Food SuppliersExport RepresentationA professional agency company should have the following characteristics:

It is recommended to conduct a comprehensive evaluation based on the following dimensions:

• Qualification verification:
  • Check the AEO certification level (preferably choose Advanced Certified Enterprises).
  • Confirm the qualification for handling frozen/fresh food
• Capability Assessment:
  • Success stories (especially experience in similar food operations)
  • Overseas customs clearance network coverage capability
  • Emergency response speed (SOP documentation required)
• Service Comparison:
  • Is a full-process traceability system access provided?
  • Could you assist with the overseas certification process?
  • Does it include legal support for quality disputes?