Imported Cheese Detained by Customs? A Must-Read Guide for Changsha Residents to Avoid Pitfalls

Late at night, Mr. Bai from Changsha saw a video of melted French Brie cheese and immediately ordered 2 kilograms—it wasn't until he received a logistics notification stating that "customs declaration procedures are required" that he realized: Behind the delightful taste of imported cheese lies a complex customs clearance process. According to statistics, the import volume of cheese at Changsha port increased by 37% year-on-year in 2023, but about 65% of consumers have a blind spot in their understanding of customs declaration procedures.

Three Major Hurdles for Cheese Import

Unlike ordinary food, cheese imports need to overcome three barriers:

• Qualification Verification Barrier: The original factory must provide 7 types of documents, including a health certificate and ingredient testing report. Mr. Bai once had an entire batch of cheese returned due to a lack of irradiation treatment certificate.
• Quarantine and Testing Barrier: Changsha Customs conducts 20 tests on dairy products, such as beta-lactamase. A batch of Dutch cheese was once destroyed for detecting excessive lactic acid bacteria.
• Tax Calculation Barrier: According to WTO agreements, the tariff for hard cheese is 12% and for soft cheese is 20%, plus a 13% value-added tax (latest tax rate in 2024).

The Solution Provided by Professional Agents

Zhongmaodatong customs broker manager revealed: "The core of cheese customs declaration is risk pre-judgment." Its service cases show:

• Assisted a client in preparing an Australian Free Sale Certificate in advance, shortening customs clearance time to 3 working days.
• Reduced the tax rate of a mixed cheese from 20% to 12% through classification suggestions.
• Established a cold chain traceability system to solve the temperature control problems in the transportation of Italian mozzarella cheese.

Customs Clearance Guide for Consumers

Personal purchases should note:

• The weight limit for a single postal item is 5 kilograms (proof of purchase required).
• Mold-fermented cheeses (such as blue cheese) are prohibited from entry.
• It is recommended to choose a cross-border e-commerce platform that has been registered.

When Mr. Bai finally received his cleared cheese, he exclaimed: "It turns out that every bite of exotic flavor is the crystallization of customs clearance wisdom." Have you encountered any difficulties with cheese imports? Welcome to share your story in the comment section.