1. The situation of Sino-French wine trade and policy background

In recent years, China has become the second-largest export market for French wine worldwide. In 2023, the trade volume of wine between China and France exceeded 1.2 billion euros, an increase of 8.7% year-on-year. This growth is attributed to the following factors:China-Europe Railway ExpressNormalized operations, the promotion of cross-border trade facilitation under the RCEP framework, and the continuous upgrading of Chinese consumers' demand for high-end wines. However, it should be noted that the European Union amended the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) in 2023 to strengthen the detection of pesticide residues in alcoholic beverages; and China's customs implemented the "Regulations on the Registration and Management of Overseas Producers of Imported Food" (Decree No. 103) in 2024, requiring French wine producers to complete registration and filing with the General Administration of Customs, otherwise they will not be able to import their products.foreign tradeThe agent needs to accurately grasp the latest policy developments and assist enterprises in avoiding compliance risks.

II. The core of the entire import process: professional control of document processing

Documents areImport customs declarationAs the "lifeline" of foreign trade, French wine imports require the preparation of 12 core documents. The professional competence of foreign trade agents directly affects the efficiency of customs clearance.

1. Basic commercial documentsIncluding commercial invoices (which must list the wine's vintage, grape variety, unit price/box), packing lists (indicating each box's specifications and total gross/net weight), and trade contracts (clearly defining CIF/FOB terms and dispute resolution clauses). The agent must verify "consistency across all documents" - ensuring that the invoice amount matches the contractual payment terms, and that the packing list's gross weight deviates from the bill of lading's gross weight by no more than 5%.
2. Official certification documentsThe official document issued by France states that:Origin CertificateThe (CO) must be marked with the certification level of "Appellation d’Origine Contr?lée (AOC)" or "Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP)"; the Sanitary Certificate must be issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food (DGAL), stating that it "meets the Chinese import food hygiene standards"; if it involves organic red wine, an EU organic certification (EC 834/2007) is also required. The agent needs to check the validity of the certificates (usually 12 months) and the authenticity of the signature stamps, to avoid the customs rejecting the shipment due to "document mismatch".
3. Chinese special-needs documentsChinese label samples (which must comply with GB 7718-2011, "General Principles of Labeling for Prepackaged Foods", and indicate the ingredients, alcohol content, and storage conditions) and their translations; importer's registration number (the enterprise must register in advance on the "Imported Food" platform).CosmeticsImport and exportAfter completing the registration process in the "Internet + Customs" platform, the client can submit the label registration application (via the "Internet + Customs" platform). The agent can assist in reviewing the compliance of the label, but the label registration must be submitted by the client themselves through the "Internet + Customs" platform.

III. Logistics Services: Full-chain risk control from French ports to Chinese warehouses

Most French wines are transported via the route "Bordeaux/Marseille Port → Shanghai/Guangzhou/Qingdao Port".Maritime transportThe route takes about 35-45 days in total. Foreign trade agents need to achieve "three controls" in the process of transportation, customs clearance, and delivery:

1. Transportation temperature controlUse 20-foot/40-foot refrigerated containers (Reefer Containers), set a constant temperature of 12-15°C (with a fluctuation of ±2°C), and the agent needs to confirm the container's GPS temperature control records with the shipping company. Additionally, they should purchase "All Risks Insurance for Refrigerated Cargo" to cover the risk of wine spoilage caused by equipment malfunctions.
2. Customs clearance node control3 days before arrival, complete the pre-declaration on the "Single Window" platform and submit the manifest information; within 14 days after arrival, complete the inspection declaration (submitting official certificates to the CIQ) and customs declaration (submitting customs declaration forms and accompanying documents to the customs). The agent needs to track the "inspection probability" - the customs inspection rate for French red wine is about 15%, with a focus on verifying the consistency between the wine label and the declared information, and whether the alcohol content matches the health certificate. If an inspection is required, the agent needs to assist in the inspection site and sampling (usually extracting 6 bottles for inspection).
3. Delivery time controlAfter the customs clearance and release, the agent will select either land transportation (with delivery within 2-3 days in East China) or other transportation methods according to the client's needs.Air freight(Next-day delivery in North China), and monitor the "last mile" to avoid bottle damage caused by violent sorting (the damage rate should be controlled within 0.5%).

IV. Transit business with Russia: VTBConvert foreign exchange into RMBUnique advantages

Some enterprises export French wine to France via Russia (for example, to the CIS market), and in this case, the foreign exchange settlement advantages of VTB Bank (Sberbank of Russia) are particularly significant.

• Channel stabilityVTB has established direct clearing channels with major Chinese banks (such as ICBC and BOC) to circumvent the restrictions of the SWIFT system, reducing the time required for cross-border wire transfers (T/T) to 2-3 working days (compared to 5-7 days via conventional channels).
• Exchange Rate HedgingThe agent can assist clients in conducting "forward foreign exchange settlements" through VTB, locking in the RMB-ruble exchange rate (with the fluctuation range controlled within 2%) and reducing the risk of foreign exchange losses.
• Compliance guaranteeVTB strictly implements the Memorandum of Understanding between China and Russia on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Cooperation. Agents can assist in verifying the authenticity of trade backgrounds (such as providing re-export contracts and third-country bills of lading), to avoid being listed on the "suspicious transaction" list.

5. Certification Tips: Define Clear Boundaries and Support Compliance

It should be noted that our company does not directly provide product certification services, but we can provide guidance on key certification requirements.

• French End CertificationAOC/IGP is a mandatory geographical indication certification (accounting for 80% of French wine exports), while organic wines require EU EC 834 certification, and sweet wines (such as Sauternes) need additional approval from the French National Institute of Appellations of Origin (INAO).
• China's requirementsImorters need to complete the "Import Food Importer Registration" (apply through the "Internet + Customs" platform), and overseas production enterprises need to register in the "Import Food Overseas Production Enterprise Registration Management System" of the General Administration of Customs (the registration number must be indicated in the health certificate).
  It is recommended that clients initiate the certification process six months in advance and may entrust third-party agencies (such as SGS and Bureau Veritas) to assist with the process. Our company can provide a certification checklist and materials review services.

VI. The full-cycle value of foreign trade agency: a closed-loop service from consultation to feedback

Taking our company's service process as an example, the value of the agency is reflected throughout the following nine key stages:

1. Client ConsultationDetermine the import quantity (orders below 500 cases require LCL shipping; orders above 500 cases can be shipped in full containers), the type of wine (still wine/sparkling wine), and the target market (supermarkets/e-commerce platforms/duty-free shops).
2. Negotiation and Contract SigningReview the "quality clauses" in the contract (such as "3% random sampling per batch, with an alcohol content error of ≤0.5%"), the "delivery period" (the departure time from the Port of Bordeaux should avoid the high-temperature period of July and August), and the "dispute resolution" (it is recommended to choose the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission).
3. Orders & PaymentHelp select the payment method - for small orders, we recommend D/P (Documents Against Payment), and for large orders, we suggest L/C 90 days.?L/C?), reducing the risk of advance payment.
4. Production supervision(If necessary): If the client specifies that the wine is a customized batch, the agent can entrust a local third party in France (such as BV) to supervise the packing and verify that the label on the bottle is consistent with the contract.
5. Logistics ManagementCoordinate with shipping companies (such as Maersk and CMA CGM) to book shipping space, obtain "clean bills of lading" (without any adverse annotations), and provide "logistics visibility" services (real-time tracking of container locations via the TIR system).
6. Customs ComplianceCalculate the comprehensive tax rate in advance (tariff 14% + value-added tax 13% + consumption tax 10%, with a comprehensive tax rate of approximately 43.14%), and assist in paying taxes through the "Single Window" system (supporting electronic payments and completing the process within one hour).
7. Delivery and DistributionAccording to the client's requirements, the goods will be allocated to the bonded warehouse (if subsequent re-export is needed) or the domestic warehouse (which offers an "inspection upon entry" service and completes the unloading within 24 hours).
8. Quality AssuranceIf there is any damage (such as cracks in the wooden boxes), the agent will assist in making a claim to the insurance company (and the damaged photos and third-party inspection reports must be submitted within 48 hours); if the wine quality does not meet the requirements (e.g., if there is a lack of fragrance), the agent will assist in initiating the "return or destruction" process (which must be initiated within 30 days after the goods arrive at the port).
9. Summary FeedbackProvide an "Import Cost Analysis Report" (listing the proportions of shipping fees, tariffs, and agency service fees) and a "Customs Clearance Efficiency Report" (comparing the industry average efficiency and optimizing the next import plan).

ConclusionThe import of French wine is a comprehensive game of "policy + expertise + resources". The core value of foreign trade agents lies in assisting enterprises to shorten customs clearance time (from an average of 21 days to 10 days) and reduce hidden costs (such as a 60% reduction in port detention fees) through accurate document processing, controlled logistics management, and compliant risk warnings. Choosing a professional agent is like equipping the import business with a "compliance accelerator".