Under the new industry regulations,Equipment Importsparticularity

The MDR 2025/32 regulation implemented by the EU in 2025 will classify food processing equipment under Class IIb.Medical EquipmentRegulation requires importers to provide test reports on the antibacterial performance of surface materials for equipment. The updated 21 CFR 112 by the U.S. FDA has introduced new corrosion resistance testing standards for conveyor belt materials. These two changes directly impact the customs clearance efficiency of 70% of China's imported automated kitchen equipment.

Typical risk scenarios and response strategies

A typical case encountered by a chain catering enterprise in 2024 when importing a German modular cooking system:

• HS code misjudgment:Incorrectly classifying 8516.79 (electrothermal food processing equipment) under 8438.80 (industrial cooking equipment) resulted in an increase in the comprehensive tax rate from 9.7% to 17.3%.
• Incomplete Documentation:The equipment was detained at the port for 42 days due to the absence of a UKCA-EC Type Examination Certificate.
• Logistics solutions:Choosing ordinary container transportation resulted in moisture damage to equipment worth 3.8 million.

Five-Step Breakdown of Professional Agency Service Process

• Needs Assessment Phase
  • Pre-compliance review of equipment power parameters (with a focus on the EU ErP Directive)
  • Interface Standard Compatibility Analysis (ISO 15066 Mechanical Safety Requirements)
• Declaration preparation stage
  • Prepare the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) response document package.
  • Calling the Pre-classification Dispute Resolution Solution Library for Declaration Elements

Four-Dimensional Model for Service Provider Capability Assessment

The Core Competency Matrix That Professional Agency Service Providers Should Possess:

• Qualification Dimensions:AEO Advanced Certification + Special Equipment Import Filing
• Experience Dimension:Successful operation of more than 20 cases of the same type of equipment
• Network Dimension:Configuration of Localized Customs Clearance Teams at Major Ports
• Risk Control Dimension:Tariff Guarantee Insurance + Emergency Port Congestion Handling Mechanism

Key Compliance Deadlines for 2025

Regulatory changes that import enterprises need to pay special attention to:

• Starting from March 1st, South Korea will implement new KFDA regulations on surface temperature restrictions for equipment.
• Complete the CE certification conversion for existing equipment by June 30th.
• On September 1st, U.S. Customs launched a special inspection operation targeting automated equipment.

The value of professional agency services lies not only in reducing customs clearance cycles by 15-20 working days, but also in achieving a 3.6%-8.2% tariff optimization through the HS pre-ruling mechanism. Choosing a service provider equipped with an overseas technical regulation tracking system enables 6-8 months of early warning for compliance risks, thereby avoiding return shipment losses caused by standard updates.