Importing food from China to the US is very doable — if you treat the paperwork like part of the product. 🇺🇸 Here is the 2026 sequence.
The Step-by-Step
Register your facility with the FDA, confirm the supplier’s FDA-registered plant, then file Prior Notice for each shipment. Add the right HTS codes, allergen labelling and, depending on the product, a label/third-party lab check.
| Step | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Facility registration | FDA | Before importing |
| Prior Notice | Per shipment | Before arrival |
| HTS + duties | Customs | Product-dependent |
| Label compliance | FDA/FDA-FPLA | English, allergens |
| Lab / verification | Risk-based | Per commodity |
Common Stumbles
- ❌ Missing Prior Notice — leads to holds and destruction notices
- ❌ “FDA registered” claims without a verifiable number
- ✅ Verify the facility’s FDA number before the PO
US customs rewards preparation. The paperwork is your product’s first impression. 📋
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the first steps to import food from China to the US?
Register your facility with the FDA, confirm the supplier's FDA-registered plant and file Prior Notice for each shipment.
What labelling and codes does US customs expect?
Correct HTS codes, a compliant Nutrition Facts panel and allergen labelling, plus any product-specific requirements.
Why does US customs reward preparation?
Complete paperwork avoids holds and delays, and it is effectively the product's first impression on regulators.
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Appris quelque chose aujourd’hui. 💡 Notre équipe logistique dit exactement la même chose. 📦
Очень познавательно. 🙏 Как думаете, import food from China to USA сработает и на меньших объёмах?
Finally someone writes this clearly. We shared it with our whole team. 🙌 Has anyone tried the same approach with import food from China to USA? Curious how it went.
Great read. The part about import food from China to USA confirms what we learned the hard way. 👍
Finally someone writes this clearly. We shared it with our whole team. 🙌
Artikel yang sangat bermanfaat — kami menerapkan persis ini untuk import food from China to USA. Terima kasih! 👏
Are certifications (BRC/ISO/HALAL) available for import food from China to USA? Please share. 📋 More posts like this please — hard to find real experience online. 🙏
오늘 새로운 걸 배웠어요. 💡
Very useful article — we have applied exactly this when dealing with import food from China to USA. Thanks! 👏
Artikel bagus, tapi kontainer pertama kami tidak cocok dengan sampel. QC jadi lebih ketat sejak itu. 😤
ปีที่ 3 ของการนำเข้า import food from China to USA — ซัพพลายเออร์ที่คุณบรรยายคือแบบที่เราเก็บไว้ทำงานด้วย 🤝
Nice article, but in our case the first container did not match the sample. Quality control got stricter since. 😤
Pengalaman buruk dengan lead time import food from China to USA — selalu cadangkan 2 minggu ekstra. ⏳ Ada yang sudah mencoba hal serupa dengan import food from China to USA? Penasaran hasilnya.
Nice article, but in our case the first container did not match the sample. Quality control got stricter since. 😤
Rất hữu ích. 🙏 Nhớ đăng thêm bài kiểu này — kinh nghiệm thực tế khó tìm lắm. 🙏
Können Sie import food from China to USA mit COA pro Charge anbieten? Wir brauchen Unterlagen je Lieferung. 📄 Unser Logistikteam sagt genau dasselbe. 📦
Bookmarked for later. 🔖
Great read. The part about import food from China to USA confirms what we learned the hard way. 👍
Отличная статья, спасибо! 👍
Bookmarked for later. 🔖 Has anyone tried the same approach with import food from China to USA? Curious how it went.