With the export value of pet food from South Korea increasing by more than 20% for three consecutive years,and China being its largest importer,the update of the pet food quarantine standards by the General Administration of Customs in 2026 has made many traders realize that the traditional "release upon completion of all necessary documents" model might lead to the entire container being detained due to a single error in ingredient labeling under the new regulations.

Korean pet foodThe three invisible thresholds (regulations + procedures + costs) ofn

The underlying logic of these thresholds is that there are differences in the definitions,ingredients,and quarantine requirements of pet food between Chinese and South Korean regulations,while the "hidden time costs" in the logistics process (such as queuing for port quarantine) are often overlooked.From the cost structure perspective,compliance costs (such as certification and documentation) only account for 15% of the total cost,but the hidden losses from port detention fees and customer attrition can reach up to 40% of the total cost.

The pet food imported from South Korea.Full-process SOP (implemented in four steps)

Step 1: Prepare the core documents (to be completed by the enterprise independently)

Output:

• ObtaintheinformationofKoreanexporters.KFDAPetFoodExportCertification(Mustincludeingredientlist,productionprocessdescription)
• HandleChinaImportPermitforAnimalsandPlantsQuarantine(ApplytoGACC20workingdaysinadvance)
• PrepareChinese-Englishtranslationoflabels(Mustmark“PetFeed,”ingredientsmustmeetGB/T34700-2017)

Step 2: Agent screening and cost negotiation

Output:

• CompareoffersfrommorethanthreeagentsCustomsclearancetimecommitment(AvgclearancecycleforBusan-Qingdao/Incheon-Shanghai)
• ---HongKongPortDelayRiskPreventionPlan(e.g.documentpre-auditservice)
• Whensigningthecontract,itshouldbeclearlyspecifiedthatLiabilityClause(e.g.compensationratioforseizureduetoagenterror)

Step 3: Transportation and customs clearance execution (led by the agent)

Output:

• ChooseDirectflightroutes(Busan-Qingdao/Incheon-Ningbo,reducingtransitquarantinelinks)
• 72hoursbeforearrival,theagentsubmitsthedocumentsPre-declaration(Includingingredientreports,quarantinecertificates)
• Whenthecustomsinspectsthegoods,makesurethat.SamplerandominspectionThecompliancecooperation(suchasprovidingsterilesamplingtools)

Step 4: Domestic distribution and secondary quality inspection

Output:

• Itshallbecompletedwithin24hoursaftercustomsclearanceStoragetemperaturemonitoring(Petfoodneedsdark,drystorage)
• Hireathird-partyagencytodoitIngredientreview(Recommendedsamplingforeverybatchtoavoidmarketcomplaints)
• SynchronousupdateImportrecordsGotothe"ImportPetFeedManagementPlatform".

The "double standard compliance" trap that 90% of enterprises overlook (South Korea + China)

In the export standards for pet food in South Korea,certain ingredients (such as beef bone meal) are allowed for use in South Korea,but they are classified as "subject to additional quarantine" in China’s new regulations.Companies need to request South Korean factories to adjust their formulas in advance or apply for approval when importing the products.Special Quarantine ChannelIn addition,starting from 2026,China will implement stricter regulations on pet food.Microbiological indicatorsThe requirement is to increase by 30%,and the agent must possess the following qualifications:Cold chain disinfection capability(e.g.ozone disinfection inside containers).

3 urgent actions that can be implemented today

• CheckwhethertheKFDAcertificationofexistingKoreansuppliersincludesthecategoryof"petfoodexport"(ratherthanordinaryfeed).
• ContacttheagenttorequestitThelatestcustomsclearancecosttablefor2026(Comparebundledpricesforseafreight+clearance+warehousing)
• DownloadTheQuarantineRequirementsforPetFeedImportedintoChina(GACCAnnouncement2026No.X),markinglabelcomplianceitems