EU Importer's Guide to IQF Products from China

EU Food Import Regulations Overview

The European Union maintains strict food safety standards for imported frozen foods. Understanding these regulations is essential for successful market entry.

Key regulatory frameworks include EC 178/2002 (General Food Law), EC 852/2004 (Food Hygiene), and EC 853/2004 (specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin).

All food imports must comply with EU Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for pesticides, which are often stricter than US standards.

The EU requires full traceability - you must be able to identify your supplier and (where applicable) to whom you have supplied products.

Required Documentation

Commercial Invoice with detailed product descriptions

Packing List with weights and quantities

Bill of Lading (B/L) or Airway Bill

Phytosanitary Certificate from the Chinese AQSIQ

Health Certificate for food products

Certificate of Origin (EUR.1 for preferential duties where applicable)

Certificate of Analysis (COA) from accredited laboratory

BRC or IFS Certificate of supplier facility

TRACES NT entry (Trade Control and Expert System) for health-controlled goods

EU Customs Procedures

All goods entering the EU require an EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number

Import declarations are submitted through national customs systems (e.g., ATLAS in Germany, DELTA in France)

Customs duties for IQF fruits and vegetables typically range from 8-20% depending on product classification

VAT is applied on top of the customs value plus duties (rates vary by country: 19% Germany, 20% France, 21% Netherlands)

Consider using customs warehousing to defer duties until goods are released for free circulation

AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification can expedite customs procedures

Food Safety Standards

BRC (British Retail Consortium) certification is widely recognized and often required by EU retailers

IFS (International Featured Standards) certification is particularly important for German and French markets

FSSC 22000 certification is accepted as equivalent to BRC and IFS

Products must comply with EU microbiological criteria (EC 2073/2005)

Pesticide residues must meet EU MRLs - test before shipping as China may use pesticides not approved in EU

Allergen labeling must comply with EU FIC Regulation (1169/2011)

RASFF System

RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) is the EU's early warning system for food safety issues

Border rejections and alerts are published publicly - check your supplier's history before ordering

A RASFF alert can lead to increased inspection rates for products from that supplier or country

Work with suppliers who have clean RASFF records and robust quality management systems

Consider third-party pre-shipment inspection to catch issues before products reach EU borders

Major EU Entry Points

Rotterdam (Netherlands): Europe's largest port, excellent connections to Germany and central Europe. Typical transit from China: 28-32 days

Hamburg (Germany): Direct access to Germany and Scandinavia. Strong cold chain infrastructure

Antwerp (Belgium): Gateway to Benelux, France, and UK. Modern reefer terminals

Felixstowe (UK): Main UK port. Note: Post-Brexit requires separate customs procedures

Le Havre (France): Direct service to France and southern Europe

Piraeus (Greece): Gateway to Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans. Growing transshipment hub

Gdańsk (Poland): Access to Poland and Eastern Europe. Competitive handling costs

Transit Times and Logistics

Sea freight from major Chinese ports to Northern Europe: 25-35 days

Recommended reefer temperature: -20°C (to maintain -18°C at product core)

Standard Incoterms: CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) or DAP (Delivered at Place)

Consider temperature monitoring devices for the entire journey

Plan for 2-5 days for customs clearance and document processing

Ensure cold storage is pre-booked at destination port

Working with EU Customs Brokers

Select a broker experienced with frozen food imports from China

Verify they have coverage at your preferred port of entry

Discuss classification codes (CN codes) in advance to avoid duty surprises

Establish clear communication protocols for document submission

Consider brokers offering bonded warehousing services

Ask about their experience with phytosanitary inspections

Common Issues and How to Avoid Them

Pesticide MRL exceedances: Test products in China before shipping using EU-standard methods

Documentation delays: Submit TRACES NT entries well in advance

Temperature deviations: Use reputable shipping lines with modern reefer fleets

Labeling non-compliance: Review all labels against EU FIC requirements before printing

Border rejections: Work only with BRC/IFS certified suppliers and conduct pre-shipment inspections

Duty classification disputes: Get binding tariff information (BTI) for new products