Core Challenges in Swiss Biscuit Imports and the Value of Agency Services

Swiss biscuits are renowned worldwide for their exquisite craftsmanship and quality, and domestic demand has been rising steadily in recent years. Yet, as a food import, their customs clearance involves multiple hurdles—HS-code classification (usually 1905.31 or 1905.32), animal and plant quarantine, label compliance, and more. Non-specialized companies often grapple with missing documents, logistics delays, and compliance risks.foreign tradeThe core value of an agency lies in integrating resources—through professional document handling, logistics coordination, and compliance guidance—to standardize complex processes and help importers reduce operational costs and time losses.

End-to-end document handling and risk control for the import process

Documents areImport Customs Clearancethe "lifeline"; any oversight can lead to return or port detention. From the perspective of a foreign-trade agent, the following documents must be strictly controlled for Swiss biscuit imports:

• Basic commercial documents: Including the Sales Contract, Commercial Invoice, and Packing List; verify that the goods description (e.g., specifications, composition) matches the actual goods to prevent discrepancies between the goods and the documents.
• Origin and Quality Certificates: Under the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement, Swiss biscuits may apply for preferential tariffs (usually 0%), provided that a certificate issued by Swiss Customs or an authorized body is submitted.Certificate of Origin(Form S), the agent must verify the visa-issuing authority’s qualifications and the origin-based content ratio of the goods (must be ≥40%); at the same time, the exporter must provide the Health Certificate issued by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), with particular attention to the explicit statement “complies with China’s food safety standards” and the official seal.
• Technical documents: The ingredient analysis report (Analysis Report) must specify whether additives (e.g., preservative E202) comply with China’s “Food Additive Use Standard” (GB 2760), and the nutrition facts table must be converted in accordance with the “General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods” (GB 28050);
• transport documents:?Ocean shipping?Bill of Lading (B/L) or?Air freight?The AWB must match the booking information; the agent must confirm in advance whether the freight is “collect” or “prepaid” to avoid destination charges disputes.

In practice, there was a case where the customs rejected the documents because the sanitary certificate did not state “complies with Chinese standards.” The agent urgently contacted the Swiss authority to correct it, completed the paperwork update within 48 hours, and avoided a demurrage fee of RMB 5,000 per day.

Logistics Chain Optimization: Multimodal Transport Solutions from Switzerland to China

The landlocked geography of Switzerland dictates that its export logistics must rely on multimodal transport. Agents typically craft solutions by balancing cargo volume, transit time, and cost:

• Small-batch rush orders (≤2 tons): Recommend the route “Overland from Switzerland to Brussels/Frankfurt Airport + Airfreight to Shanghai/Guangzhou,” with a total transit time of approximately 7–10 days. The forwarder can coordinate priority booking with airlines and arrange expedited customs clearance to ensure the goods arrive before their expiry date;
• Bulk regular cargo (≥10 tons): Select “Swiss Rail to Rotterdam/Hamburg Port + Ocean Freight to Main Chinese Ports (e.g., Shanghai Waigaoqiao)”; the ocean leg takes about 35–40 days. Thanks to long-term agreements with carriers such as Maersk and MSC, the forwarder can secure a 10%–15% freight discount and provide door-to-door service (including at the destination portTow truck, warehousing);
• Cold-chain requirements (e.g., cream-filled sandwich cookies): Utilize a reefer container; the agent monitors the container temperature in real time (maintaining 10–15 °C) and coordinates with customs for priority inspection to prevent product spoilage caused by temperature fluctuations.

In addition, the agent can assist in handling TIR Convention documents (International Road Transport Convention), simplifying transit procedures from Switzerland to EU countries and reducing the likelihood of en-route inspections.

Compliance Response Strategies in the Context of International Trade

The overall China-Europe trade environment remains stable; however, as an associated party to the EU customs union, Switzerland needs to monitor the following developments:

• Tariff Preference Policies: Under the China-Switzerland FTA, Swiss biscuits enjoy zero-tariff treatment only if they satisfy the “direct shipment from Switzerland” requirement (no processing in a third country). Agents can verify compliance with the rules of origin by examining the “port of loading – port of discharge” route shown on the bill of lading;
• New Chinese Regulatory Rules: The 2023 Provisions on the Registration Administration of Overseas Food Manufacturers for Imported Food require Swiss biscuit manufacturers to register with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) (registration numbers can be found via “Imported FoodCosmeticsQuery the “Importer Filing System”), the agent will verify the company’s registration status before signing the contract to prevent return due to non-registration;
• Inspection and Sampling Testing: Customs inspects approximately 5%-10% of imported food shipments. The agent can assist in preparing samples in advance (twice the required testing quantity) and cooperate in label review (Chinese labels must be affixed and comply with GB 7718) to ensure clearance on the first attempt.

Expansion of business with Russia: VTB?Foreign exchange settlement?Settlement

If the customer is engaged in re-export to Russia or if the end buyer in Russia is purchasing Swiss biscuits, settling the payment through VTB Bank (Bank for Foreign Trade of Russia) can significantly improve efficiency:

• Circumventing SWIFT restrictions: VTB, as Russia’s primary settlement bank, supports direct ruble-to-RMB clearing, cutting out intermediary bank fees (typically reducing charges by 0.5%–1%);
• : US agents can provide localized services, including product display, customer relationship management, after - sales service, etc., helping enterprises better integrate into the local market.: VTB has dedicated teams in Moscow and St. Petersburg, enabling rapid processing?L/C?(L/C) document review, shortening the presentation period (completed within an average of 3 working days);
• Exchange rate risk hedging: The agent can assist the client in signing a forward settlement agreement with VTB to lock in the CNY/RUB exchange rate, preventing profit losses caused by exchange-rate fluctuations.

For example, one client used VTB settlement through an agent for a single €500,000 order, saving roughly ￥25,000 in fees and cutting the arrival time from the traditional seven days to just three.

Customer Notice: Certification Requirements and the Scope of Agency Services

It should be noted that importing Swiss biscuits may involve the following certifications, but the agent does not directly provide certification services:

• Registration of overseas production enterprises: The Swiss manufacturing company submits the application to GACC, and the agent can assist in translating the factory qualification documents required for registration (such as the ISO 22000 certificate);
• Label filing/record filing: Chinese labels must be submitted through the “Importer Filing System for Food and Cosmetics” before importation; the agent can provide a label review template (including mandatory items such as product name, ingredients, shelf life, etc.);
• Special Certifications (e.g., Organic): For Swiss organic biscuits, a Swiss organic certification (Bio Suisse) and a conversion certificate recognized by the China National Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) are required; the agent can guide you in contacting a third-party certification body (e.g., SGS, Intertek).

Conclusion: A professional agent is the “safety valve” for import customs clearance

The key to Swiss biscuit import customs clearance lies in “compliance” and “efficiency”—avoiding the risk of return through meticulous document review, shortening delivery time via optimized logistics chains, and countering trade barriers with accurate policy interpretation. Choosing a foreign-trade agent rich in food-import experience not only cuts your company’s operational costs but also lets you concentrate on market expansion and brand management.?Zhong Shen?As a professional foreign-trade agent, we always adhere to the service standards of “zero errors in documentation, zero delays in logistics, and zero risks in compliance,” enabling every batch of Swiss biscuits to enter the Chinese market efficiently and safely.