I. Analysis of the current situation and opportunities of the UK cake import trade

With the deepening of Sino-British economic and trade cooperation and the upgrading of domestic consumption, British baked goods (especially artisan cakes) have seen a continuous rise in demand in the Chinese market due to their high-quality ingredients and distinctive flavors. According to data from the General Administration of Customs in 2023, the annual growth rate of baked goods imported from the UK to China reached 18%, with cream cakes, mousse, and other cold-chain pastries accounting for more than 60% of the total. It should be noted that after the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, its trade rules with the EU have been separated, and the requirements for export documents to third countries (such asOrigin CertificateThe issuing authorities have adjusted their policies, and the supervision of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) has become stricter. At the same time, China's customs has further refined its requirements for the label compliance and ingredient testing (such as the content of trans fatty acids) of imported food, which has posed challenges toImport Agent ServicesThis poses a greater challenge to the professionalism of translation.

II. Core competencies of UK cake import agents: professional control of documents and logistics

(1) Document Processing: The "Lifeline" of Trade Compliance

The core documents involved in importing British cakes include:

• Official documents: The Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Certificate of Origin (CO) (note that after Brexit, these certificates will be issued by authorized agencies of the UK Department for International Trade);
• Commercial documents：商業(yè)發(fā)票（Commercial Invoice）、裝箱單（Packing List）、提單（Bill of Lading）；
• Special documents: The temperature control records of cold chain transportation (Temperature Log) and the ingredient inspection reports (which must comply with GB 7099-2015 "Hygiene Standards for Pastries and Bread").

Our team has over 10 years of experience in document review for food imports, with a focus on controlling three key risk points: 1. HS code classification (cakes are typically classified as 1905.9000, requiring verification of whether the ingredients include additives like chocolate that may affect the tariff code). 2. Validity of health certificates (which must state "meets Chinese import food requirements"). 3. Consistency between the certificate of origin and the bill of lading’s "double header" (to avoid customs queries due to discrepancies in the shipper’s information). In 2022, we assisted a client in correcting an error in the health certificate’s expiration date labeling, preventing a potential port detention cost of 200,000 RMB.

(II) Logistics Services: Precise Protection for Cold Chain Transportation

Most cakes in the UK are perishable and need to be stored in a refrigerator or freezer to prevent spoilage.Cold Chain Logistics(temperature control –18 °C to 5 °C); the chosen transport mode directly affects damage rate and cost:

• Maritime transportCold chain container: It is suitable for large-scale imports (20-foot/40-foot refrigerated containers), and its advantage is low cost (compared to other methods).Air freightThe freight rate is about 60% lower, but attention should be paid to the stability of shipping schedules (it is recommended to choose shipping companies with complete cold chain qualifications, such as Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company) and require the shipowner to provide a "real-time monitoring report of the freezer temperature".
• Direct air freight: Suitable for small-scale and time-sensitive orders (such as holiday-limited editions), we recommend air routes from London Heathrow (LHR) to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Beijing Daxing (PKX). By using the DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) clause, a "door-to-door" service can be achieved, but it requires purchasing an additional "temperature delay insurance" (to cover the risk of temperature exceeding standards due to flight delays).

Our company has established long-term cooperation with logistics giants such as DHL and Sinotrans, and can provide a full range of services including "booking space - palletizing - temperature monitoring - customs clearance". In 2023, the on-time delivery rate of cold chain transportation reached 98.7%, and the cargo damage rate was less than 0.3‰ (the industry average is 1.2‰).

III. A Detailed Explanation of the Entire Process of Importing British Cakes as an Agent

(1) Client Consultation and Requirement Confirmation

The first communication needs to clarify: the type of cake (cream/mousse/chocolate), the import quantity (monthly/batch), the target customs clearance port (Shanghai/Guangzhou/Tianjin), and any special requirements (such as organic certification labels). For example, a chain dessert shop client needed to import Christmas cakes containing alcohol, and our company informed them in advance that they would need to provide an "alcohol content test report" to avoid delays in obtaining additional certifications later on.

(2) Negotiation and signing of contracts, and contract review

The key points to be reviewed include trade terms (it is recommended to use CIF or DAP, with clear definitions of freight and insurance liability allocation) and payment methods (T/T with a 30% prepayment and a 70% payment upon arrival, or immediate payment).?L/C?L/C), quality clauses (which require agreeing on "sampling and testing within 48 hours after arrival at the port"). Our legal team can assist in reviewing English contracts to avoid pitfalls such as "implicit shelf life shorter than the transportation time".

(3) Order Execution & Payment Scheduling

Place a purchase order (PO) with the British supplier according to the contract and coordinate payments simultaneously. If T/T is used, transactions should be processed through the foreign banks cooperated with by our bank (such as HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank) to ensure foreign exchange compliance. If a letter of credit is used, it is necessary to verify the consistency of documents, including "consistency between documents and invoices" (for example, the invoice amount should not deviate from the credit amount by more than 5%).

(4) Production Monitoring & Pre-Shipment Inspection

Commission SGS or Bureau Veritas to conduct pre-delivery inspections, with a focus on verifying the following aspects: raw material traceability (the cream must come from areas free of mad cow disease), additive usage (in compliance with GB 2760-2014, "Standards for the Use of Food Additives"), and packaging compliance (which should feature waterproof and shockproof designs, with clear cold-chain labels).

(5) Booking & Simultaneous Document Preparation

Select the transportation method based on the volume of goods, prepare the "Manifest" simultaneously after booking the shipping space, and require suppliers to provide the "Pre-alert" three days before shipment, so that we can send the "Import Food Notification" to the customs in advance.Cosmetics"Consignee and consignor registration information".

(6) Customs Declaration & Duty/Tax Payment

When clearing customs, you need to submit the "Import Food Declaration Form" and the "List of Accompanying Documents", and declare them through the Single Window (QP System). The customs may implement the following measures:

• Document Review: The key point is to check whether the "inspection items" in the health certificate cover indicators such as Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus;
• On-site inspection: Check the completeness of the packaging and the temperature control records (which must be consistent with the records from the logistics process) when opening the cabinet;
• Sampling inspection: Send the samples to the laboratory for ingredient testing (such as sugar content and water activity), and the testing period will take approximately 5-7 working days.

Our company can assist in calculating tariffs (most-favored-nation tariff rate of 15%, value-added tax of 13%), excise duties (5%-20% if containing alcohol), and provide "tariff guarantee" services to enable "release before taxation".

(7) Domestic Distribution & Final Delivery

After customs clearance, the goods are delivered to the customer's designated warehouse by our own cold chain fleet or partner logistics companies (such as JD Cool Chain), with GPS and temperature monitoring throughout the process to ensure compliance during the "last mile" delivery.

(8) Quality Feedback & Issue Handling

If the customer reports quality issues within 48 hours after receiving the goods, our company will assist in contacting the insurance company (such as PICC) for claims settlement, or negotiate with the supplier for return/replacement (it should be noted that the "returned goods" must be re-exported within one year, and the refund of the levied customs duties can be applied for).

(9) Summary Report & Final Payment

Provide an "Import Full Process Report" (including logistics efficiency, customs clearance costs, and inspection results), assist clients in completing foreign exchange verification, and finally settle the agency service fees.

IV. Certification Tips: The Boundaries of Agency Services and Key Points for Collaboration with Clients

Importing British cakes may involve the following certifications, but our company does not directly provide certification services. We can only assist in sorting out the requirements and providing a list of materials:

• UK export end: FSA registration (UK food production enterprises must register with the FSA) and BRC Global Standard for Food Safety certification (an internationally recognized food quality certification);
• China Import Terminal: Output: 1. Registration of food production enterprises exporting to China (required to complete registration in the General Administration of Customs’ “Import Food and Cosmetics Production Enterprise Registration Management System”). 2. Organic product certification (if labeled as “organic,” a certificate from a certification body accredited by the China National Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) is required).

We recommend that clients initiate the certification process 6-8 months in advance. Our company can provide a "Certification Requirements Comparison Table" to guide clients in coordinating with third-party agencies (such as SGS and Huace Testing).

V. Expansion of Business with Russia: VTBConvert foreign exchange into RMBStrengths Fuel Diverse Trade

For clients who are simultaneously engaged in the trade of cakes with Russia, our company can provideVTB Bank (Russia)foreign tradeBank foreign exchange settlementService, with significant advantages:

• Circumventing SWIFT restrictions: By directly connecting VTB to the China Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), we enable direct ruble-renminbi settlement and reduce the fees charged by intermediary banks (saving 3-5 percentage points compared to traditional routes);
• Exchange Rate Lock - in: Offer spot/forward foreign exchange options, which can lock in the exchange rate within 6 months and avoid the risk of ruble fluctuations;
• Arrival time: Cross-border remittances can be credited within one business day (T+1), while traditional channels typically take 3-5 business days to process the payment.

In 2023, our company completed three transactions of import and settlement of Russian cakes for a client through VTB, with a total amount of 5 million yuan and an average cost savings of 4.2%.

VI. The Necessity of Choosing a Professional Agent: Avoid Risks and Improve Efficiency

The import of British cakes involves three complex steps: cold chain logistics, food compliance, and foreign exchange settlement. Non-professional agents are prone to face the following challenges: return shipments due to incorrect documentation (with average losses of 100,000-300,000 yuan), cargo damage caused by uncontrolled cold chains (with a loss rate of up to 30% of the cargo value), and customs clearance failures due to missing certifications (with a delay period of 20-45 days).

Zhong Shen International Trade Co., Ltd.The team has 20 years of experience in food import agency, having handled more than 500 batches of British baked food imports. They are familiar with customs rules in China and the UK, pain points in cold chain logistics, and trade finance tools. They can provide clients with a full-process service that "enables predictable risks, controllable costs, and guaranteed timeliness", making them a reliable partner for British cake imports.