Sweet Business Opportunity: Serbian Honey Approved for Entry into Chinese Market

Recently, the General Administration of Customs issued an announcement officially opening the import channel for Serbian honey, providing domestic importers with a new source of high-quality honey. As a seasoned foreign trade professional, I have witnessed too many cases where goods were detained at customs due to lack of understanding of policy details. Today, lets use a professional perspective to sort out thisForeign Trade Comprehensive Service Enterprise Model:.

I. Scope of Permitted Products: What Types of Honey Can Be Imported?

According to the announcement, Serbian honey allowed for import must meet the following core definitions:

• Natural Source: Completely collected by bees from plant nectar, secretions, or honeydew
• Pure Process: Mixed with bees own secretions and fully brewed
• No AdditivesMaintain natural sweet substance characteristics, free from artificial additives

In actual operations, we particularly remind importers to note: mixed honey and processed honey products are not included in this opening. Be sure to confirm the product HS code when purchasing.

II. Enterprise Qualifications: Key to Selecting Qualified Suppliers

Serbian honey production enterprises must passdual certificationto obtain export eligibility:

• First reviewed and recommended by Serbian agricultural authorities
• Finally registered and filed by Chinas General Administration of Customs

We recommend importers check the latest,Imported foodList of Registered Overseas Production Enterprises,on the General Administration of Customs website before signing contracts to avoid customs clearance failures due to supplier qualification issues. Based on my experience, this step is often overlooked by many new importers.

Third,Inspection of vaccines: Six Critical Checkpoints That Cannot Be Ignored

To ensure food safety, customs has established strict inspection and quarantine requirements:

3.1 Source Control of Bee Farming

• Apiaries must be registered with Serbian authorities
• Honey source plants must be safe and non-toxic, with GMO and toxic plants prohibited

3.2 Epidemic Prevention Requirements

This is the most technical part, requiring suppliers to provide completedisease monitoring records:

• confirming absence of small hive beetle and Tropilaelaps mite infestations
• No American foulbrood disease within 5km radius of apiary for 12 months
• Special treatment process for Varroa mites (filtration + heat treatment/freezing)

3.3 Production Process Control

I remember a client last year suffered heavy losses by neglecting this point:

• Full traceability system is mandatory
• Prohibited use of veterinary drugs banned in both China and Serbia
• Independent storage areas must have clear identification

IV. Packaging and Transportation: Details Determine Success or Failure

At this stage, Ive summarized three...:

• Packaging materialsmust comply with Chinas food contact material standards
• Label informationmust include Chinese labeling and production enterprise registration number
• Transportation processmust maintain intact lead seals (lead seal numbers must match certificates)

Special reminder: Pre-packaged honey must also comply with GB 7718 labeling requirements. We recommend preparing Chinese label samples in advance for inspection.

The invoice remarks column must indicate 'agency export'

Complete and accurate certificate documents can improve customs clearance efficiency by 50%:

• Sanitary certificates must include Chinese, Serbian, and English languages
• Certificate format must be the latest version recognized by both parties
• We recommend confirming in advance whether the signatorys signature style is on file

Based on my practical experience, its best to reserve 2 weeks for certificate processing to avoid shipment delays due to certificate issues.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How to confirm if honey has undergone compliant heat treatment?
A: Require suppliers to provide complete processing records, including temperature curve charts and third-party verification reports.

Q: Are there special requirements for the shelf life of imported honey?
A: China Customs has clear regulations on remaining shelf life. We recommend selecting products with at least 2/3 of shelf life remaining.

Q: How long does customs clearance usually take?
A: With complete documentation, it typically takes 3-5 working days. For first-time imports, we recommend allowing a 10-day buffer period.

VII. Practical Advice for Importers

Based on 20 years of foreign trade experience, Ive summarized thesepractical insights:

• Establish supplier quality files and regularly update registration information
• Conduct sample testing in advance, paying special attention to pesticide residues and microbial indicators
• Consider purchasing product quality liability insurance to reduce operational risks
• Cooperate with professional customs brokers who are updated on the latest policy changes

Service details (cannot simply state 'agency fee')