Home»Food & Beverages» A Guide to Russian Beer in China: Customs Codes You Might Not Know
The scent of malt wafting from the land of vodka
Last year, at the port of Vladivostok, I personally witnessed a 40-foot container full of Russian craft beer leaving the port, which made me deeply feel the unique charm of this fighting nation's beverage. Unlike the rigorous craftsmanship of German beer, Russian beer often has a wild aroma from birch barrel aging, which is precisely the rarest category in the current domestic craft beer market.
Three Golden Keys to Import Qualifications
First Key: Food Circulation Permit (business scope must include alcohol)
Second Key: Entry-Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit (for hop ingredients)
Third Key: Sino-Russian Bilateral Health Certificate Mutual Recognition Agreement (new electronic signature verification channel in 2025)
The Arithmetic of Tariff Policy
Tax Type
Ordinary tax rate
Most - Favored - Nation (MFN) Tariff Rate
Import tariffs
35%
10%
Value - added Tax
13% (remains unchanged in 2025)
Special reminder: An additional consumption tax of 0.56 yuan/liter is levied on categories with a malt concentration exceeding 11°P.
The Quintet of the Customs Clearance Process
Pre-declaration stage: Upload the original Russian label in advance for compliance pre-review
Document verification: Pay attention to the logical relationship between the issuance date of the health certificate and the production date
On-site inspection: Focus on preventing transport dents in aluminum can packaging
Label rectification: The Chinese back label must include "Storage conditions: 5-25°C, keep out of light"
Tax payment: It is recommended to use tariff guarantee insurance instead of a traditional security deposit
Transport temperature trap: In winter,?Ocean shipping?be wary of condensation on the inner walls of the container
Brand authorization maze: Recognize the official trademark registration documents from Rospatent
Choice of customs clearance port: The efficiency of the dedicated inspection channel for beer at the Manzhouli port has increased by 40%
Practical Q&A
Q: What to do if the shelf life labeling method for Russian beer is special?
A: The "годен до" (valid until) format needs to be converted to the Gregorian calendar. It is recommended to ask the supplier to add the date in Arabic numerals.
Q: Which transport methods can best preserve the flavor?
A:China-Europe Railway ExpressThe cost of a temperature-controlled container is?Air freight?65% less, and the transport cycle is 12 days shorter than traditional sea freight.
Q: How to choose a reliable Russian supplier?
A: Focus on verifying EAC certification (Eurasian Conformity certification) and HACCP system certificates. It is recommended to pay special attention to the cleaning process of fermentation tanks during on-site inspections.
Finally, let me share a little secret: the biggest challenge in importing Russian beer is not the policy, but how to ensure that these "liquid breads" full of character still maintain the bold taste of the fighting nation after a long journey. Get your tasting glass ready, this taste adventure across the Eurasian continent is worth looking forward to!