I. Trade Landscape of French Imported Biscuits: Opportunities and Compliance as Twin Drivers

In recent years, China’s imported-food market has kept expanding. Thanks to traditional craftsmanship, premium raw materials—Normandy butter and Brittany sea salt, for example—and diversified flavors such as crêpe and dark-chocolate filled, French biscuits have become a star category among imported bakery items. According to 2023 General Administration of Customs data, China–France food trade grew 18 % year-on-year, with biscuits accounting for over 12 % of import volume. Yet compliance requirements on both the EU and Chinese sides are tightening: the EU demands conformity with the EU Food Hygiene Regulation (EC) 178/2002 and the General Food Law, while China enforces the Provisions on the Registration Administration of Overseas Producing Enterprises of Imported Food (GACC Decree 248), all against a backdrop of volatile global logistics costs (2023Maritime transportPrices have fallen 30% from their 2021 peak but remain above pre-pandemic levels), exchange-rate risk (EUR/CNY annual volatility exceeds 5%), and companies importing on their own face multiple challenges—incorrect documentation, customs clearance delays, runaway costs—so professionalforeign tradeThe importance of proxy services has become increasingly prominent.

II. Core Competencies of Professional Agency: Meticulous Control of Documentation and Logistics

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

The customs-clearance documents for imported biscuits must simultaneously satisfy the requirements of France as the exporting country, China as the importing country, and the transport segment; any omission may result in cargo detention or return.Zhong Shen International Trade Co., Ltd.As a professional agent, we can provide the following documentation services:

• Basic Trade Documents: Review and prepare the commercial invoice (must list cookie ingredients, specifications, and country of origin), packing list (must show net/gross weight and packaging material such as aluminum foil/carton), and bill of lading (select according to the trade term; e.g., CIF requires an on-board clean bill of lading);
• Official Compliance Documents: Assist the client in requesting from the French supplierOrigin Certificate(CO, issued by the French Chamber of Commerce), Sanitary Certificate (must state “Complies with EU food hygiene standards”), Component Analysis Report (including types and quantities of additives, e.g., E numbers);
• Special additional documents: For organic biscuits, a certificate of EU organic certification (EC 834/2007) is required; if dairy ingredients are present, confirm that the French milk source is on China’s approved list (verifiable via the GACC “Registration Information Query Platform for Overseas Food Production Enterprises”).

The agency team ensures a 100% match between document information and actual goods through a “dual-review + system verification” mechanism (e.g., the sugar content in the composition report aligns with the Chinese label filing). In 2022 service cases, the one-time document approval rate reached 98.6%, a 40% improvement over companies handling it themselves.

(II) Logistics Management: The “Accelerator” of End-to-End Efficiency

Given that biscuits are prone to moisture absorption and have a relatively short shelf life (typically 6–12 months), the logistics solution must balance cost and timeliness. Zhongshen International Trade, drawing on 15 years ofInternational LogisticsNetwork, providing customized services:

• Selection of transportation methods: Small batch (<200 kg) recommendedAir freight(e.g., Paris–Shanghai, 48-hour delivery), easing warehousing turnover pressure; for bulk shipments (full containers), sea freight is preferred (MSC/CMA CGM main routes, 35–40 days to port), costing 60–70% less than air freight;
• Temperature Control and Packaging: Require suppliers to use moisture-proof aluminum film inner packaging + crush-resistant corrugated cartons, and install humidity monitoring devices in sea containers (real-time humidity ≤60%). In 2023, a customer’s 500 cartons of butter cookies avoided 20% cargo damage because the forwarder added desiccants in advance;
• Destination Port Coordination: Establish green channels with major food-designated supervision sites such as Shanghai Waigaoqiao and Guangzhou Nansha, allow pre-declaration three days in advance, and cut customs clearance to 2–3 working days (industry average: 5–7 days).

III. End-to-End Agency Services: Closed-Loop Management from Consultation to Feedback

(I) Preliminary Consultation & Contract Signing: Precise Alignment of Requirements

During the client’s first inquiry, the agency team collects key information via the “French Biscuit Import Requirement Form”: target market (hypermarket/e-commerce/cross-border), purchase volume (monthly/quarterly), and special requirements (e.g., gluten-free/low-sugar), while simultaneously reminding the client that “before import, the product must be confirmed as listed in the ‘Catalogue of Countries (Regions) with Assessment and Review Requirements and Traditional Trade in Food Exported to China’” (searchable on the General Administration of Customs website). At the negotiation and contract-signing stage, focus is placed on scrutinizing trade terms (DAP Shanghai is recommended to clarify unloading liability), payment methods (30 % T/T in advance + 70 % on arrival, or sight L/C to reduce credit risk), and dispute-resolution clauses (stipulating application of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission rules).

(II) Order Execution and Compliance Implementation

• Production supervision: If the client commissions contract manufacturing, the agent will verify the raw and auxiliary materials in accordance with the General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718) (e.g., whether they contain food additives prohibited in China; for instance, pectin E440 requires confirmation of its permitted use scope) and require the supplier to provide batch inspection reports;
• Customs Compliance: When filing the import declaration, submit to Customs the “Filing Certificate for the Consignee of Imported Food” (the customer must complete the filing in advance), a Chinese label sample (which must state “Country of Origin: France” and “Name and Address of the Domestic Distributor”), and let the agent help calculate the comprehensive tax rate (15 % customs duty + 13 % VAT; for some agreement countries such as France the MFN rate applies), then complete the electronic declaration through the Single Window system;
• Delivery and Quality: After the goods arrive at the warehouse, the agent coordinates with a third-party inspection body (e.g., SGS) to conduct spot checks on sensory attributes, microbiological indicators (total plate count ≤10,000 CFU/g), etc. In 2023, a batch failed due to excessive mold (detected at 250 CFU/g, limit ≤50 CFU/g); the agent initiated the return shipment within 48 hours, preventing further loss to the customer.

IV. Extended Service Reminder: Special Notes on Certification and Russia-Related Business

(1) The certification must be handled by the client themselves; the agent provides consultation support.

Certifications that may be involved in importing French biscuits include:

• BRC Food Certification(BRC Global Standard): Large supermarket chains (e.g., Carrefour China) often require suppliers to provide it; certification is issued by bodies such as SGS and Bureau Veritas;
• IFS International Food Standard: Entry barriers for high-end EU channels (e.g., Galeries Lafayette) and a certification cycle of approximately 3–6 months;
• HALAL Halal Certification: For the Muslim market, certification by recognized authorities such as JAKIM in Malaysia or MUI in Indonesia is required.

Special note: Zhongshen International Trade does not directly provide certification services; however, it can help clients sort out certification requirements (e.g., BRC must cover production, packaging, and warehousing), recommend compliant certification bodies, and verify certificate validity (e.g., to avoid expired or unauthorized certificates).

(II) Re-export Business to Russia: VTBConvert foreign exchange into RMBSecurity advantages

If the client is involved in re-exporting French biscuits from China to Russia, the agent can provide efficient foreign-exchange settlement through VTB Bank (Bank for Foreign Trade of the Russian Federation). As a systemically important bank in Russia, VTB is deeply integrated into Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) for RMB settlement, allowing it to circumvent SWIFT sanctions risks. In a 2023 service case, a client settled €2 million with Russia via VTB: arrival time was two days faster and the fee 0.3 % lower than via traditional channels. The agent team will assist the client in preparing the 《Re-export ServicesProof of Authenticity (e.g., tripartite contracts, transport documents) to ensure compliance with the SAFE “Three Principles of Conduct” requirements.

V. Core Value of Choosing a Professional Agent: Risk Mitigation and Efficiency Enhancement

When importing French biscuits independently, a company must simultaneously tackle supplier-performance risks (e.g., delayed shipments), documentation errors (e.g., a sanitary certificate missing the veterinarian’s signature), customs-clearance delays (e.g., failure to apply for the import animal & plant quarantine permit in advance), and logistics-related cargo damage (e.g., biscuits turning soggy from maritime humidity). A professional agent, through “accumulated know-how + pooled resources,” can cut the overall risk by more than 60 %. Take a new client in 2023: the agent spotted in advance that the supplier’s ingredient report did not flag “trans-fatty acid content” (China requires labeling when ≥0.3 g/100 g), promptly requested a supplement, and averted a customs rejection—re-filing after rejection incurs a demurrage fee of RMB 2,000 per day.

In summary, the core of acting as an agent for French biscuit imports lies in “professional document handling + efficient logistics coordination + full-process compliance control.” Choosing an agency service provider with over 10 years of food-import experience and in-depth knowledge of both Chinese and French regulations is the key decision for companies to cut costs, boost efficiency, and mitigate risks.