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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Starker Inhalt. Wir richten unseren Importalltag an import food from China to USA aus — es zahlt sich aus.
Are certifications (BRC/ISO/HALAL) available for import food from China to USA? Please share. 📋 Has anyone tried the same approach with import food from China to USA? Curious how it went.
I disagree partly: price is rarely the whole story, the paperwork is what kills small importers. 😕
O preço de import food from China to USA inclui o frete para Roterdã? Estamos comparando ofertas. 🚢 Vocês acham que import food from China to USA funciona também em volumes menores?
Salvo para depois. 🔖 Com certeza aplicaremos isso no nosso próximo envio. 👍
좋은 글이지만 우리 첫 컨테이너는 샘플과 일치하지 않았습니다. 그 후 품질 관리를 강화했어요. 😤 이런 글 더 올려주세요. 진짜 경험은 찾기 힘드네요. 🙏
نصيحتنا من تجربة import food from China to USA: حددوا المواصفات كتابيًا قبل التوقيع. ✍️ المزيد من هذه المقالات من فضلكم — الخبرة الحقيقية نادرة. 🙏
Are certifications (BRC/ISO/HALAL) available for import food from China to USA? Please share. 📋
Great insights, keep them coming! 🚀
Boas ideias, continuem! 🚀 Mais posts assim, por favor — é difícil achar experiência real. 🙏
هل تتوفر شهادات (BRC/ISO/HALAL) لمنتج import food from China to USA؟ يرجى المشاركة. 📋
Artigo muito útil — aplicamos exatamente isso com import food from China to USA. Obrigado! 👏 Nosso time de logística fala exatamente o mesmo. 📦
Great read. The part about import food from China to USA confirms what we learned the hard way. 👍 Has anyone tried the same approach with import food from China to USA? Curious how it went.
¿El precio de import food from China to USA incluye el flete a Rotterdam? Estamos comparando ofertas. 🚢 Sin duda lo aplicaremos en nuestro próximo envío. 👍
매우 유용한 글입니다. import food from China to USA에서도 정확히 이렇게 하고 있어요. 감사합니다! 👏
Chúng tôi là người mua, đang tìm hiểu import food from China to USA. MOQ thường là bao nhiêu? 🙋 Đội logistics của chúng tôi cũng nói y hệt vậy. 📦
Nice article, but in our case the first container did not match the sample. Quality control got stricter since. 😤
Buenas ideas, ¡sigan así! 🚀
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.
Starker Inhalt. Wir richten unseren Importalltag an import food from China to USA aus — es zahlt sich aus. Hat jemand das Gleiche mit import food from China to USA versucht? Würde mich interessieren.