In the realm of US food import trade, US food sea freight clearance has always been a core aspect, acting as a stringent checkpoint that strictly controls the quality and compliance of foods entering the US market. For numerous enterprises engaged in related businesses, timely acquisition and strict adherence to the latest clearance procedures and compliance guidelines are the keys to ensuring the smooth progress of their operations. In 2025, under the strict supervision of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), US food sea freight clearance has witnessed a series of significant changes and new requirements. Next, we will comprehensively and deeply analyze these key points.

I. Pre – clearance Preparations: Core Documents and Qualifications

Before initiating the US food sea freight clearance process, meticulously preparing various core documents and qualifications is the foundation for ensuring smooth customs clearance. Any oversight in the slightest detail may lead to clearance obstacles, thereby delaying the entry of food into the US market.

Essential Document Checklist

1. Commercial Invoice
   The commercial invoice is a core part of the US food sea freight clearance documents and must be filled out in English in detail and accurately. The invoice should comprehensively cover various information about the goods, including the specific name, precise quantity, exact price, and clear origin. It is not only an important transaction voucher between the buyer and the seller but also a crucial basis for customs to assess the value of the goods and calculate tariffs. For example, for a special – featured pastry imported from overseas, the commercial invoice should clearly mark the brand, flavor, packaging specifications of the pastry, as well as the price per carton, total quantity, and country of origin, ensuring that the customs can fully and thoroughly understand the specific situation of the goods.
2. Packing List
   The packing list is like a detailed instruction manual for the goods’ packaging. It needs to clearly and accurately state the number of packages, weight, size, and other packaging details of the goods. It provides an important reference for the customs during the inspection of the goods, helping the customs quickly verify whether the actual packaging of the goods is consistent with the declared information. Taking a batch of canned foods to be cleared through US food sea freight as an example, the packing list should detail the number of cans in each carton, the net content of each can, the weight of the whole carton, and the size of the outer packaging, enabling the customs to intuitively understand the packaging situation of the goods.
3. Bill of Lading
   The bill of lading, as a key document in the goods transportation process, is divided into original bill of lading and telex release bill of lading. The original bill of lading symbolizes the ownership of the goods, and only the consignee holding the original bill of lading can pick up the goods at the port of destination. The telex release bill of lading allows for pick – up upon notice, which is more convenient and rapid. However, it should be noted that the consignee information must be completely consistent with other clearance documents. When choosing the form of the bill of lading, enterprises need to carefully weigh according to their actual business needs and transportation arrangements to ensure the safety and timeliness of goods delivery.
4. FDA Registration Number
   For food enterprises involved in US food sea freight clearance, completing the FDA registration and obtaining the corresponding registration number is a basic prerequisite for food to legally enter the US market. The FDA registration number is an important identifier for enterprises in the FDA regulatory system, indicating that the enterprise has passed the FDA registration review and the food it produces meets certain safety and quality standards. Enterprises should complete the registration process in a timely manner in strict accordance with FDA regulations and properly keep the registration number for inspection during the customs clearance process.

Specific USDA Requirements

1. Veterinary Health Certificate for Meat and Poultry Products
   The USDA has particularly strict supervision over meat and poultry products. The veterinary health certificate is a necessary document for the import of such products through US food sea freight clearance. This certificate is issued by the official veterinary department of the exporting country to prove that the meat and poultry products meet the US animal health and food safety standards in all aspects of breeding, slaughtering, and processing. For example, the certificate needs to record in detail the breeding environment of the animals, vaccination status, hygiene control during the slaughtering process, and the hygiene conditions of the processing facilities, ensuring that US consumers can safely consume imported meat and poultry products.

New Additions in 2025

1. Mandatory Electronic origin traceability label
   In 2025, the US implemented an important new regulation for imported food – the mandatory electronic origin traceability label. This means that enterprises engaged in US food sea freight clearance must affix electronic traceability labels to food in accordance with relevant regulations. This label, like an “electronic ID card” for food, can quickly and accurately trace the origin information of the product. Through the electronic traceability label, regulatory authorities and consumers can clearly understand the entire process information of the food from the production source to the sales terminal, including the raw material procurement place, production and processing location, transportation route, etc., thereby strengthening the comprehensive supervision of food safety and further enhancing consumers’ confidence in imported food.

II. Key Nodes in the Sea Freight Process

During the transportation of food via US food sea freight, from the loading of goods to the arrival at the US port, every link is under strict supervision and regulation. Paying close attention to these key nodes is of great significance for ensuring the safe transportation of food and the smooth completion of US food sea freight clearance.

Pre – shipment Pre – review

1. Submission Time Limit of FDA Prior Notice
   Before the goods arrive in the US, enterprises need to submit a Prior Notice through the FDA’s dedicated electronic system. This Prior Notice is an important basis for the FDA’s pre – review of imported food, providing the FDA with the basic information of the goods so that it can make preparations for inspection in advance. Generally, the Prior Notice can be submitted within five days before the expected arrival of the product in the US. However, enterprises must ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the submitted information. Once there are errors in the submitted information or the submission is delayed, it may lead to clearance delays or even fines. For example, for a batch of seafood products to be shipped to the US, the enterprise should plan the submission time in advance and carefully check the detailed information of the goods, such as product type, quantity, origin, expected arrival time, etc., to ensure the accuracy of the notice content.

Special Requirements for Containers

1. Update of Food – grade Container Certification Standards
   In 2025, the certification standards for food – grade containers have been significantly updated. Given the special requirements of food for the storage environment, the new certification standards emphasize the hygiene conditions and temperature – control capabilities of containers, aiming to ensure that the quality and safety of food are not affected throughout the US food sea freight process. Specifically, the requirements for the cleanliness of containers are more stringent. They must undergo professional cleaning and disinfection to ensure no residual contaminants. The sealing standards have also been raised to prevent external air, moisture, etc., from entering and affecting the food quality. The requirement for temperature – control accuracy has been further improved, especially for perishable foods. Containers need to be equipped with precise temperature – control systems that can maintain a stable temperature within the specified range, thus ensuring the freshness and quality of food.

In – transit Supervision

1. Transportation Temperature Control Records and New FDA Sampling Regulations
   During the transportation of food via US food sea freight, transportation temperature control records are crucial for ensuring food quality. Especially for some temperature – sensitive perishable foods, such as fresh fruits and dairy products, strict temperature control is particularly important. Enterprises need to be equipped with professional temperature – recording equipment to record the temperature data during the transportation process in real – time and keep them properly. At the same time, the FDA may conduct sampling inspections on the goods during the sea freight. According to the new sampling regulations in 2025, if the temperature records do not meet the requirements or product quality problems are found during the sampling inspection, the enterprise will face corresponding penalties. This requires enterprises to strengthen the monitoring and management of temperature during the transportation process to ensure that the food is always within the appropriate storage temperature range.

III. Core Clearance Process upon Arrival: The Crucial Stage of US Food Sea Freight Clearance

When food arrives at the US port via US food sea freight, the customs clearance work enters the most critical stage. At this time, the FDA and USDA will conduct strict inspections of the imported food based on their respective responsibilities to ensure that it fully complies with US regulations and standards.

FDA Review Highlights

1. 2025 Labeling New Regulations
   • Allergen Labeling
     In 2025, the FDA has put forward more explicit and strict requirements for allergen labeling on food labels. Food labels must clearly and prominently mark all possible allergen ingredients, such as common nuts, dairy products, soybeans, wheat, etc. Moreover, these allergen labels need to be marked separately and prominently after the ingredient list to ensure that consumers can clearly understand whether the product contains ingredients that may cause allergies at the first glance. For example, if a chocolate product contains trace amounts of nuts, it must be clearly marked “Contains nuts” on the label to fully protect consumers’ right to know and health and safety.
   • Nutrition Facts Table Format
     The format of the nutrition facts table for food has also been standardized and updated in 2025. The nutrition information table needs to comprehensively and accurately include key nutritional component information such as calories, fat, sugar, and sodium content, and present it in a standardized format. At the same time, it is necessary to clearly indicate the content per serving of food and the percentage of these nutrients in the daily intake, so that consumers can reasonably choose food according to their own needs. For example, the nutrition facts table of a breakfast cereal should clearly mark the specific values of calories, fat, sugar, sodium, etc., per 100 – gram product, as well as the proportion of these values in the daily recommended intake, enabling consumers to intuitively understand the nutritional composition of the product.
2. Electronic Declaration Process for Low – acid Canned Food (LACF) Certification
   For low – acid canned foods, an electronic declaration process was implemented in 2025. This measure aims to improve the efficiency of LACF certification in US food sea freight clearance and the accuracy of supervision. Enterprises need to submit relevant declaration materials through the FDA’s dedicated electronic system, covering detailed product ingredients, production and processing technology, sterilization parameters, etc. Through electronic declaration, the FDA can more quickly receive and review the materials submitted by enterprises, and enterprises can also query the declaration progress and results in real – time, greatly shortening the certification cycle and improving the clearance efficiency.

USDA Review Highlights

1. Increased Sampling Proportion of Animal and Plant Quarantine (APHIS)
   The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), a subordinate department of the USDA, is responsible for the animal and plant quarantine of imported food, aiming to prevent the introduction of pests, diseases, and other harmful organisms into the US and protect the country’s agricultural and ecological safety. In 2025, the sampling proportion of APHIS for imported food via US food sea freight has increased, which means that enterprises’ products face a higher probability of quarantine review. APHIS quarantine personnel will conduct detailed inspections of the food, including the food itself, packaging materials, and transportation vehicles, to ensure that no harmful organisms are carried. Enterprises should strengthen the self – inspection and self – control of their products and strictly abide by relevant animal and plant quarantine regulations to reduce the risk of problems being detected.
2. Specification for the Use of USDA Organic Seal for Organic Foods
   If a food claims to be organic, it must follow the organic food standards set by the USDA and correctly use the USDA organic seal. In 2025, the regulations for the use of the USDA organic seal have become more strict and detailed, including clear provisions on the scope of use, labeling method, size specifications, etc. of the seal. For example, only products that fully meet the USDA organic certification standards can use this seal, and the seal must be clearly and accurately marked in a prominent position on the product packaging, and relevant information such as the certification body should also be indicated to ensure the standard and orderly operation of the organic food market and effectively protect consumers’ legitimate rights and interests.

IV. Solutions to Common Clearance Delays

During the US food sea freight clearance process, enterprises may encounter clearance delays due to various reasons. Understanding common problems and corresponding solutions can help enterprises respond in a timely manner and minimize losses caused by delays.

Quick Handling of Non – compliant Documents

1. Application Conditions for FDA’s “Green Channel”
   When non – compliant clearance documents are found, under certain conditions, enterprises can apply for the FDA’s “Green Channel”. For example, if the document error is caused by force majeure or unforeseeable reasons, and the enterprise can provide correct information and relevant supporting materials in a timely manner within the specified time to prove that it is not intentionally non – compliant. In addition, a good compliance record of the enterprise in the past can also help increase the probability of the application being approved. Through the “Green Channel”, enterprises can speed up the processing of problem documents, effectively reduce the clearance delay time, and ensure that the goods can be released as soon as possible.

Response to Unqualified Inspections

1. Re – inspection Path of Third – party Laboratories
   If the food is judged to be unqualified by the FDA or USDA inspection, the enterprise has the right to apply for a re – inspection by a third – party laboratory. However, enterprises need to note that the re – inspection must be carried out within the specified time, and a third – party laboratory that meets the qualification requirements should be selected. When applying for a re – inspection, the enterprise needs to submit a detailed re – inspection application to the relevant department and explain the reasons for the application. At the same time, the enterprise has to bear the costs required for the re – inspection, including laboratory testing fees, sample transportation fees, etc. The re – inspection result will be an important basis for the final determination of whether the product is qualified. If the re – inspection is qualified, the product can continue to complete the US food sea freight clearance process.

Changes in Penalty Rules in 2025

1. Calculation Standard for Storage Fees due to Illegal Detention
   In 2025, the calculation standard for storage fees due to illegal detention of goods has changed and become more detailed and strict. The calculation of storage fees will comprehensively consider factors such as the type of goods, detention time, and warehouse type. Generally, the storage fees for perishable foods will be relatively high because they have more stringent requirements for storage conditions. The longer the detention time, the higher the calculation standard of storage fees will be. For example, for a batch of detained fresh fruits, the storage fees will be accurately calculated based on the freshness period of the fruits, the number of detention days, and the temperature control and ventilation conditions of the warehouse. Enterprises need to understand these regulations in detail so as to accurately estimate costs in case of problems and reasonably arrange subsequent handling measures.

V. Forecast of Future Compliance Trends

Looking ahead, US food sea freight clearance will present some new trends in terms of compliance. These trends not only reflect the strengthening of supervision but also bring new development opportunities and challenges to enterprises.

Application Scenarios of Blockchain Traceability Technology

1. Improving the Efficiency of Food Safety Traceability
   With its characteristics of decentralization and non – tampering, blockchain traceability technology is expected to be more widely applied in future US food sea freight clearance. Through blockchain technology, every link in the food supply chain, from raw material procurement, production and processing, transportation to sales, can record relevant information on the blockchain in real – time. This means that regulatory authorities, enterprises, and consumers can quickly and accurately trace the origin and circulation process of food through the blockchain platform. For example, after purchasing food, consumers only need to scan the QR code on the product to obtain all the production and transportation information of the food, including the origin of raw materials, planting methods, hygiene conditions during the processing process, and temperature records during transportation, greatly improving the transparency and traceability of food safety.
2. Strengthening Supply Chain Risk Management
   For enterprises engaged in US food sea freight clearance, blockchain traceability technology can also help them better manage supply chain risks. By monitoring the flow of food in the supply chain in real – time, enterprises can promptly detect potential problems, such as raw material supply disruptions, transportation delays, abnormal storage conditions, etc., and quickly take corresponding measures to deal with them. At the same time, blockchain traceability technology can promote information sharing and cooperation between enterprises and suppliers, improve the collaborative efficiency of the supply chain, and effectively guarantee the safety and quality of food.

Pilot of FDA’s Artificial Intelligence Sampling System

1. Improving Sampling Accuracy
   The FDA is actively exploring the pilot application of an artificial intelligence sampling system. Traditional sampling methods often have certain limitations, making it difficult to comprehensively cover all imported foods, and the accuracy and efficiency of sampling need to be improved. The artificial intelligence sampling system can accurately assess the risks of imported food by using technologies such as big data analysis and machine learning, and more targeted selection of sampling objects. For example, the system can quantitatively evaluate the risk level of each batch of imported food based on various information such as the origin of the food, the reputation of the production enterprise, past sampling records, and market feedback, and prioritize the sampling of high – risk foods, greatly improving the accuracy and effectiveness of sampling.
2. Optimizing the Allocation of Regulatory Resources
   By introducing the artificial intelligence sampling system, the FDA can allocate regulatory resources more rationally. Traditional sampling methods may waste excessive human and material resources on some low – risk foods, while the artificial intelligence sampling system can help the FDA concentrate resources on the strict supervision of high – risk foods, improve supervision efficiency, and reduce supervision costs. At the same time, this also prompts enterprises to pay more attention to product quality and strengthen their own quality management system construction to avoid being included in the high – risk list.

Progress of the China – US Food Safety Mutual Recognition Agreement

1. Promoting Trade Facilitation
   The cooperation between China and the US in the field of food safety is constantly deepening, and the negotiation of the food safety mutual recognition agreement is also in progress. If this agreement can be reached, it will bring many conveniences to the food trade between China and the US and have a positive impact on US food sea freight clearance. On the one hand, for foods that meet the mutual recognition standards, they may enjoy simplified inspection and quarantine procedures during the customs clearance process, reducing customs clearance time and costs. On the other hand, it will also help to eliminate trade barriers, promote exchanges and cooperation between food enterprises of the two countries, and expand the market space.
2. Promoting the Coordination and Unification of Standards
   The conclusion of the food safety mutual recognition agreement will prompt China and the United States to further coordinate and unify food safety standards. This will not only help companies better adapt to the requirements of both markets and reduce production and compliance costs, but also help improve the consistency of global food safety standards and effectively protect the rights and interests of consumers. Companies should pay close attention to the progress of the agreement and make preparations in advance so that they can quickly seize opportunities and expand their business after the implementation of the agreement.