How to become a food export agent? These 7 key questions must be understood in advance!

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How to judge foodExport Representationthe professionalism of a company?

When selecting an agency company, the following key elements must be verified:

Qualification documents: Customs AEO certification, foodimport and exportrights, HACCP system certification
Successful Cases: Export records of similar products (especially for target market countries)
Service network: Overseas customs clearance partners, cold chain logistics resource coverage capability
Response speed: Emergency handling mechanisms (such as the EUs new food traceability system implemented in 2025)

In addition to regular import-export rights, the following must be noted:

Production side:
- Export Food Production Enterprise Registration Certificate
- Target country certifications (such as FDA registration, BRC certification)
Circulation side:
- Special category transportation qualifications (such as the new cross-border frozen food transportation permit added in 2025)
- Hazard classification identification report (for alcohol-containing and fermented products)

Common fee structures in 2025 include:

Basic service fee: Customs declaration fees, document preparation fees (1.2-3% of contract value)
Mandatory expenses: Destination country inspection and quarantine fees, label review fees
Flexible costs: Demurrage fees, cold chain storage surcharges (recommend requesting agents to provide port fee lists for the past 3 months)

Professional agents should establish a triple guarantee mechanism:

Source control: Supplier qualification verification (including the updated global organic certification database in 2025)
: Obtain a copy of customs declaration data every week and conduct logistics reconciliation every month: On-site sampling inspections by third-party testing agencies such as SGS
Terminal verification: Conduct small-batch trial customs clearance in advance (especially for strict inspection markets like Japan and Australia)

Based on 20 years of agency experience, we recommend:

Pre-classification declaration: Apply for HS pre-classification rulings 6 months in advance
Document optimization: Prepare multilingual ingredient lists (including allergen warning labels)
Emergency backup: Prepare alternative port solutions (to address strike risks at major ports in 2025)

Key focus areas:

Quality deterioration:Maritime TransportationMicrobial超标 caused by temperature control deviations
Policy突变: Such as the updated US food additive limit standards in January 2025
Payment risks: Payment delays caused by foreign exchange controls in some countries

Important updates this year include:

China-ASEAN agreement: Frozen fruit tariffs reduced from 8% to 0 (requiresIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:Form A)
EU new regulations: Mandatory carbon footprint labeling (effective July 2025)
German LFGBImplement electronic traceability code system (applicable to batches valued over $1,000)