1. What qualifications are required for an agency company to engage in food import and export?

According to the "Measures for the Administration of Import and Export Food Safety" implemented in 2025, a legitimate agency must possess the following qualifications simultaneously:

• Basic Qualifications
  • Customs Registration Certificate (Valid until 2027)
  • Food Circulation License (includingImported foodBusiness License)
  • 9. Entry and exitInspection of vaccinesFiling Certificate
• Special qualifications
  • Cold chain food products must have ISO 23409:2024 Cold Chain Management System certification.
  • The agent of infant formula food must obtain the special registration from CNCA.
  • The import of health food requires an approval document from the State Administration for Market Regulation.

2. What are the key steps involved in the entire process of food import and export?

The complete agency process consists of 7 key stages:

• Pre-qualification stage
  • Product Ingredient Compliance Review (with special attention to the 78 newly banned additives in 2025)
  • Processing of Certificate of Sanitary Origin
• Logistics operation stage
  • Special transportation condition guarantees (e.g., chocolate requires constant temperature transportation at 15-18°C throughout the entire process).
  • Automatic temperature recording device configuration
• Customs declaration phase
  • Accurate HS Code Classification (2025 Tariff Schedule Adds 21 New Subcategories for Food Products)
  • Electronic declaration system integration (must be compatible with the General Administration of Customs' new-generation clearance platform).

III. How to Prevent Risks in Food Import and Export Trade?

Industry data from the past three years shows that 60% of disputes stem from the following three types of issues:

• Quality Risk Case
  • A company's imported olive oil was returned in full container due to exceeding the acid value limit caused by excessive transportation temperature.
  • Solution: Request the agent to provide a real-time temperature monitoring data interface.
• Compliance risk case
  • The biscuits exported to the EU were detained by customs due to unlabeled allergen information.
  • Solution: Implement an AI-based label review system to automatically align with the target country's regulations.
• Exchange Rate Risk Case
  • An importer incurred a 23% cost increase due to not hedging the exchange rate over a 6-month payment term.
  • Solution: Opt for a comprehensive agency that offers financial derivative services.

IV. What are the changes in food standards for major trading countries in 2025?

Key Market Regulatory Updates:

• US Market
  • The FDA has added new heavy metal testing requirements for infant complementary foods (lead ≤10ppb).
  • Implement an electronic traceability label system (must include blockchain-based traceability information).
• The European market
  • Strengthen organic food certification (must use EU-designated certification bodies)
  • Mandatory carbon emission labeling requirements (including carbon footprint from transportation)
• Japanese Market
  • Positive List System adds restrictions on 32 pesticide residues.
  • Please provide the radioactive substance test report (for products from specific production areas).

5. How to evaluate the professional competence of an agency?

Recommend evaluation from four dimensions:

• Operation performance: Request to provide customs clearance records for similar food products over the past 12 months.
• System Construction: Check whether its customs declaration system is connected to the Customs "Single Window" version 3.0.
• Emergency response ability: Simulate emergency scenarios (such as cold chain disruptions) to test response plans
• Cost transparency: Verify whether the itemized quotation is explicitly stated (with special attention to the newly added carbon tariff calculation item in 2025).