When Craft Beer Meets HS Codes

In 2018, I handled a case involving the import of Spanish craft beer, where the client's incorrect declaration of malt concentration resulted in the entire container being detained at the port for 37 days. This €120,000 lesson revealed one truth:Importing beer is not just a commercial activity, but also a technical task..

Breaking Down the Import Process into Four Steps

• : Customs AEO certification, Class A foreign exchange management enterprises
  • Food Circulation License (to be processed 90 days in advance)
  • Alcoholic Beverage Business License (Note provincial-specific requirements)
  • Overseas manufacturer registration number in China (electronic verification to be added in 2025)
• Document matrix
  • It is recommended to verify through the following methods:Ming (special attention should be paid to the application of free trade agreement tax rates)
  • Sanitary Certificate (must include hop ingredient testing)
  • Filling Date Certificate (affects shelf life calculation)

Three Common Pitfalls Beginners Often Fall Into

• Packaging trap: The common 1-liter packaging of German beer requires a separate application for pattern approval of measuring instruments.
• Label MinefieldStarting from 2025, Chinese back labels must include allergen information.
• Tariff loopholes: A malt concentration exceeding 11% may trigger the liquor tax rate.

Golden Strategies for Expedited Customs Clearance

We designed it for Belgian Abbey beer.Pre-classification planBy pre-locking commodity codes, the inspection rate was reduced from the industry average of 23% to 6.8%. Key steps include:

• Sample submission for inspection (it is recommended to take the minimum sales unit from 3 batches).
• Ingredient pre-review (focus on testing sulfur dioxide residue)
• Logistics forecasting (avoiding Dubai as a transit port during the Muslim Ramadan period)

The Invisible Battlefield of the Supply Chain

A certain Japanese sake importer neglectedSecondary refrigeration for temperature-controlled containers, resulting in 30% of the products deteriorating during summer transportation. We recommend:

• Complete temperature recording (automatically uploaded to the cloud every 4 hours)
• Shockproof packaging test (simulationMaritime Transportation60-day vibration environment)
• Emergency Transfer Plan (Pre-booking Backup Bonded Warehouse)

FAQ quick Q&A

• How to handle near-expiry beer?
  • Products with less than 3 months remaining shelf life require separate declaration.
  • It is recommended to carry out promotional activities in the bonded area.
• How can niche brands reduce their sampling inspection rate?
  • Provide EU BRC certification
  • Complete Chinese label filing in advance

Remember the batch of Australian craft beer we handled in 2020? Because we had prepared in advance,Dual Certification of Alcohol ConcentrationDuring the special inspection by the General Administration of Customs, it was selected as a model exempt from inspection. There are no shortcuts in this industry, but professional preparation is the best accelerator.