The customs clearance code for imported craft beer: A guide for avoiding pitfalls in Camello agency

When craft beer meets HS codes

Last year, we handled an import business of Camello dark beer worth 350,000 euros. Due to the wrong use of the general code 2203.00.9000 by the customer, a comprehensive tax rate of 27% was paid. In fact, this beer, which adopts the traditional oak barrel fermentation process, complies with the German origin protection regulations. After correctly using the preferential tax rate code 2202.91.0010, the actual tax burden was reduced to 18.6%.

Three hidden traps in the import process

• Interlocking certification documents:
  • The HACCP certification provided by the original factory must include a Chinese translation
  • The alcohol content test report must comply with the new national standard GB 5009.225 - 2025
• The lifeline of packaging labels:
  • The Chinese back label must cover 30% of the area of the original factory LOGO
  • The production date shall not be marked by laser jet coding.
• Blind spots in transportation temperature control:
  • The whole - process cold chain shall be maintained at 5 - 15℃.
  • The temperature recorder must pass CNAS certification.

The golden section point of cost control

Transportation method	Cost of 40HQ container	Damage rate	Customs clearance timeliness
Large - quantity importsMaritime Transportation	€4800	≤0.5%	45 days
China-Europe Railway Express	€6200	≤1.2%	22 days
Air Transportation+ Sea freight	€8500	≤0.3%	18 days

Practical case: The way to break the situation

In a case of a certain East China customer we handled in March, 2025, cost optimization was achieved through the following combined strategies:

• AdoptTransshipment from Port of Hamburg to Port of NingboThe mixed - loading plan
• ApplicationATA CarnetFor exhibition samples
• UtilizeCross-border E-commerceSupervision codeClearance in batches

Ultimately, the comprehensive logistics cost was compressed to 82% of the industry average level, and at the same time, the cargo damage rate was controlled within 0.18%.

The advanced rules for product - selection agents

• Product matrix strategy:
  • Classic models: Maintain a 60% basic inventory
  • Season - limited models: Place orders 90 days in advance
  • Custom - made models: Minimum order quantity is 500 cases
• Market access prediction:
  • Pay attention to the new food business regulations of GB 31654-2025
  • Prefix of pre - registered barcodes is 690 - 699

(The data in this article is sorted based on the announcements of the General Administration of Customs in March, 2025 and the Sino - German trade agreement. For specific operations, please refer to the latest regulations.)