Gate 1: Access list. The product, the country, and the production facility must all be on China’s approved list. For jackfruit, Laos orchards and packhouses must register with GAC.

Gate 2: Chinese labeling. Ingredients, origin, nutrition facts, and storage conditions must be in Chinese and reviewed before shipment. A port-side sticker fix will not pass.

Gate 3: Quarantine. Phytosanitary or veterinary certificates, pest-control records, and designated port-of-entry rules apply. One missing paper can mean detention, demurrage, and spoiled cargo.

At Xinhai, we see food shipments held every week because one of these three gates was treated as an afterthought. A pre-shipment compliance check costs far less than a rejected container.

Comment ‘guide’ if you are importing food into China.

Contact: yuanbo@thecustoms.com.cn