How to choose reliable tablewareExport agentThe service provider?

When selecting agency service providers, focus on three core qualifications:Customs AEO certificationandQualifications of international freight agentsandTrade compliance record. According to 2025 General Administration of Customs data, AEO Advanced Certified enterprises see 37% faster average clearance times. Request samples of recent three-year tableware export customs declarations (with commercial information redacted), focusing on:

• HS code declaration accuracy (ceramic products typically fall under 6911/6912 category)
• Certificate of origin issuance standards
• Food contact material test reports (FDA/LFGB etc.)

What special certifications are required for tableware exports?

Certification requirements vary significantly across target markets:

• US Market: Must provide FDA 21 CFR Part 175.300 test reports (2025 adds lead/cadmium migration e-filing system)
• The European market: Must comply with (EU) 2023/15 regulation (new food contact ceramic standards)
• Japanese Market: JFSL 370 Food Sanitation Law certification

Example: A ceramic company in 2024 had an entire container detained at Rotterdam Port for not updating to EU AP(89)/EC testing standards, causing $120,000 direct losses.

TablewareExport customs clearanceWhat are common issues?

According to 2025 Customs commodity classification dispute data, tableware category mainly has three issues:

• Material misclassification (the tariff difference between bone china and ordinary ceramics reaches 6.5%)
• Unclear usage declaration (different regulatory conditions apply to decorative items and tableware)
• Non-compliant packaging specifications (different inspection standards apply to retail packaging and bulk packaging)

Recommended adoptionPre-classification service, apply for advance customs classification ruling 6 months in advance (online processing will be available from 2025).

Containers need to maintain more than 25% ventilation spaceInternational logisticscosts?

Logistics costs for bowl and dish products typically account for 18-25% of total costs, requiring the establishment ofthree-dimensional cost model:

• Transportation mode combination (mixed shipping + China-Europe Railway Express can reduce costs by 9%)
• Packaging optimization (honeycomb cardboard replacing traditional EPE can increase loading rate by 17%)
• Tariff planning (application of agreed tariff rates for ceramic products under RCEP)

What policy changes occur in major markets in 2025?

• EU: Implementation of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), requiring declaration of carbon emissions in production process for ceramic products
• US: Updated FDA food contact material traceability system, mandatory batch-level data upload required
• ASEAN: Implementation of ACFTA 3.0 origin rules, changes in regional value content calculation method

How to avoid quality dispute risks?

It is recommended to specify three liability clauses in the agency agreement:

• Quality dispute resolution process (refer to CISG Article 38 inspection time limit upon arrival)
• Third-party testing agency re-inspection mechanism
• Product liability insurance coverage (recommended coverage amount not less than 200% of cargo value)

A 2024 case showed that due to unspecified testing standard version, disputes over lead content test results between buyer and seller lasted 11 months.