In recent years, Chinese consumers’ demand for the international foods grows rapidly. During the COVID-2019 epidemic, many foreign countries set up restrictions on importing Chinese foods, resulting in a decrease in the total value of China’s foreign trade in the first quarter. But CBEC, maintained rapid growth at 34.7 percent. So, if you intend to expand businesses in China, CBEC maybe a better choice.

The article will help you to start CBEC business with compliance.


Ⅰ. Definition, CBEC Mode

Cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) refers to international online trade. Buyer and seller, not located in the same country, make a deal via the e-commerce platform and delivered by cross-border logistics.

In fact, there are four bodies related to the compliance of imported foods via CBEC:

1. CBEC company located overseas sells foods to China,

2. The agency in China entrusted by CBEC company,

3. CBEC platform provides websites and virtual location for buyer and seller,

4. Consumers.

As a result of the government’s efforts to promote CBEC business, two CBEC modes emerged, namely, the “direct purchase import” and the “bonded import”.

Ⅱ.CBEC Company Need To Do

In China, CBEC company and consumer, are supervised by customs.

1. Customs Registration

CBEC platform registered in China should register with the local customs. CBEC company should entrust an agent in China to register with the customs where the agent is located.

From October, 2018, CBEC company need not deal with inspection quarantine to put on record again. “Certificate of Registration of Customs Declaration Company” automatically reflect the two qualifications of customs declaration and inspection.

In addition, the customs have canceled the registration validity period of customs declaration enterprises and branches in China, and change it to long-term validity, which makes CBEC import more convenient.

2. Body Registration

After registering, the company shall apply for the China E-port legal person card and operator card through the China E-port Website. Then log on to the E-port website of China, enter the “Change of Enterprise Registration Information” in the “Cooperation Platform for Customs Enterprises”, select the type of CBEC and record.

3. Food Business License

In China, CBEC companies open offline stores and actually sell foods, need to obtain food business license. If overseas foods not sold in the offline stores, food business license is not needed. But a notice board is necessary to remind consumers that food not sold in the stores.
Therefore, before operating CBEC food, enterprises should register with the customs and record the type of enterprise in advance. If they open an offline store and sell food, they should also obtain a food business license.


Ⅲ.How To Choose the CBEC Mode, food category?

1.CBEC Mode

“Direct purchase import” means that after customers placing orders on a CBEC platform, the platform submit particulars of the orders electronically for customs clearance, the foods will then be shipped directly to customers.

“Bonded import” means that before consumers placing orders online, the foods have already been shipped in bulk and stored in pilot zones. The foods are shipped to customers from the bonded warehouse after completion of customs procedures.

At the beginning of the business, if the market sales volume cannot be estimated, the food is not popular, or the price is relatively high, the “direct purchase import” mode has more advantages, such as “shipping after order”, which can relieve the pressure of hoarding goods.

“Bonded import” with the character of “preparation goods before delivery”, is suitable for popular foods, such as milk powder, liquor and so on.

If a CBEC company assumed the main responsibilities for food safety and quality, with good customs credit rating, he also can turn to do general trade import business when obtaining qualifications.

2.Food imported Via CBEC Should Be On The “Positive List”

On April 6, 2016, 11 government authorities, including the General Administration of Customs, jointly released a positive list for CBEC imported goods. only goods that are on the “List of Retail imported Commodities via CBEC” are eligible to be imported via CBEC. Among them, food is included. The list has been adjusted for several times to support the development of CBEC. Companies should confirm in advance whether the imported food via CBEC is on the list.

Pay attention to the “remarks” in the list when checking, there will be restrictions on some goods. For example, goods with the remark “bonded import for online shopping only” cannot be imported through direct purchase import, including some meat and fruit.

In addition, the “remarks” also restrict the import quota. For example, the remarks for carbohydrate, including other cane sugar, the sugar that adds spice or coloring agent, granulated sugar, other refined sugar, state that the total import quota for these four commodities shall not exceed 2 kilograms per person per year.

3.CBEC Business Is Permitted In Pilot Zones

The Chinese government has established pilot zones for CBEC import business. It’s worth noting that only “bonded import” business is permitted in some pilot zones. CBEC company should confirm the CBEC mode and where to do CBEC import business in advance.

4.Other Rules

In fact, special food is included on the list, such as infant formula milk powder, formula foods for special medical purposes and health foods. As we all know, pre-market approvals for first-time imported special foods via general trade are needed.

But different from general trade, those certificates of special food imported via CBEC retail in pilot zones are not required at present.

Ⅳ. Labeling and Advertising Requirements via CBEC

CBEC companies, working together with CBEC platform, shall give risk alerts on the webpage of purchasing goods or other eye-catching positions. We can know from the contents in the alerts, CBEC imported food may not be labeled in Chinese, but Chinese electronic labels is needed on the website, and food imported via CBEC meets the quality and safety standards of origin only is allowed.

From the above, the supervision of CBEC is gradually regularized. Therefore, CBEC company should pay very close attention to the Chinese regulations to ensure the compliance of CBEC imported foods.

Welcome to contact us if you have any questions or needed.

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Business Division of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance of Global Foodmate provides food standards & regulations research, labelling compliance consulting/Chinese label design, industry public opinion monitoring and analysis, registration services (of Infant formula, FSMP, Health food, Novel Food Ingredients, Novel Food Additives, New Varieties of Food-Related Products and Overseas manufacturers of imported food) and other comprehensive food safety solutions for domestic and overseas enterprises and institutions in food industry. 

Please feel free to contact us: +86 10 68869850, E-mail: global_info@foodmate.net