Sweet Troubles: Things about Imported Fruits

As a seasoned foreign trade professional with 20 years of experience, I have witnessed the entire development of China's imported fruit market from scratch. I still remember in 2003 when I imported Chilean cherries for the first time, the entire customs clearance process took a full two weeks. Today, thanks to the customs clearance facilitation reforms, fresh fruits can go from being picked to hitting the shelves in as little as 72 hours. As the year-end approaches, let's talk about the customs clearance secrets behind this "sweet industry."

A Compulsory Course before Import: Access Lists and Quarantine Permits

The first mistake often made by many novices is:Sign the contract first and then check the access. Last year, a customer excitedly signed a contract for 200 tons of Japanese Shine Muscat grapes, only to find that this variety had not yet obtained market access in China, suffering heavy losses.

• The Golden Rule for Access Inquiry: Log in to the official website of the General Administration of Customs → Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine → Enterprise Information, and confirm in three steps:
  • Whether the country is on the access list
  • Whether the fruit variety has been approved
  • Whether the orchard and packing factory have completed registration and filing
• Handling of quarantine permitWhen applying through "Internet + Customs," please pay special attention:
  • Cold treatment requirements (for example, South African citrus requires 0 - 1°C for 15 days)
  • The transportation route must be consistent with the declaration
  • The validity period of the certificate is usually 6 months

The Three - step Customs Clearance: A Race Against Time

During last Christmas season, the Peruvian blueberries we imported experienced a thrilling 48 hours at Tianjin Port. The whole container was almost destroyed due to the lack of cold treatment records. Finally, the loss was recovered through urgent re - handling of procedures. This case tells us:

• The first hurdle: Quarantine in the exporting country
  • The phytosanitary certificate must contain Chinese - English comparison
  • The packaging box must indicate the orchard registration number (e.g., "SA-PPE123" for South African citrus).
  • Pay special attention to the preservatives prohibited in China (for example, methyl bromide is prohibited for Chilean cherries)
• The second hurdle: Port inspection
  • The customs focuses on checking three items:
    • Whether there are insect holes and disease spots on the fruit body
    • Whether there are branches, leaves and soil carried
    • Rapid detection of pesticide residues
  • Common reasons for detention: Discrepancy between goods and certificates, discovery of fruit fly larvae, lack of labels
• The third hurdle: Laboratory testing
  • The sampling ratio is about 3% - 5%
  • Focus on 200 kinds of quarantine pests
  • There are as many as 58 pesticide testing items

Tariff Preferences: Don't Miss These "Sweet Discounts"

Last year, we imported Thai durians through the RCEP agreement. The tariff dropped directly from 20% to zero, saving 90,000 yuan per container. Currently, the main preferential policies include:

• China - ASEAN Free Trade Area: Zero - tariff for durians, mangosteens and longans
• China - Chile Free Trade Agreement: The tariff for cherries is reduced to 1%
• RCEP agreement: An additional 10% preferential treatment for Japanese Shine Muscat grapes

Reminder: The certificate of origin must indicate the HS code and the country of origin, with details such as "variety: Bing" specified for Chilean cherries.

Sharpen Your Eyes: Distinguish Genuine and Fake Imported Fruits

Last year, a certain e-commerce platform's so-called "Japanese Shine Muscat grapes" were actually verified by us to be Yunnan-grown Shine Muscat. Here are a few tips to help you distinguish the real from the fake:

• Three key elements of the label:
  • Orchard registration code (e.g., "AU-ORG123" for Australia)
  • Packing factory filing number
  • Official quarantine mark of the exporting country
• Certificate verification:
  • Goods entering the countryInspection of vaccinesThe certificate number can be queried on the official website
  • Regular channels will provide a copy of the certificate
• Appearance characteristics:
  • The stem of American cherries should be retained over 1.5 cm
  • The leaves of Vietnamese pitayas should be kept intact

Special Scenarios: Customs Clearance Tips for Fruits Used in Exhibitions

The customs clearance case of Japanese strawberries at the Shanghai Import Expo last year is worth learning from:

• Apply for special approval 30 days in advance
• The exhibition period shall not exceed 15 days
• Special display cabinets must be used
• After the exhibition, they need to be destroyed under the supervision of the customs (we used a crusher to dispose of strawberries worth 80,000 yuan at that time)

Industry Warning: Dont Step into These Minefields

According to the latest warning from the General Administration of Customs:

• The import of Egyptian citrus has been suspended due to the detection of Mediterranean fruit flies
• 18 banana packing factories in the Philippines have been disqualified from registration
• 12 more pesticide residue tests have been added for Chilean cherries

It is recommended to check the warning announcements of the Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine of the General Administration of Customs every week. Our company has specially set up an early - warning team for this purpose.

The import fruit trade is like a well - choreographed ballet, with every link needing to cooperate precisely. Mastering these customs clearance tips, you can bring delicious fruits from all over the world to the tables of Chinese consumers safely and efficiently. Remember, compliance is always more important than speed - this is the most valuable experience Ive gained from 20 years of foreign trade career.