Tea Export Compliance Guide — Everything Importers Must Demand

Compliance is where bulk tea orders succeed or get stuck at customs. This guide lists the documents, standards and commercial terms that should be written into every contract. Per-lot COA and EU MRL reports ship with every Smileaf Tea container.

1. The Document Set (per shipment)

Commercial Invoice & Packing List — grade, item number, net/gross weight, carton marks.
Certificate of Origin — CO, or preferential Form A / RCEP where the destination qualifies for reduced duty.
Phytosanitary Certificate — issued by Chinese customs after plant-health inspection.
Health / Sanitary Certificate — food-safety attestation for the destination authority.
COA (Certificate of Analysis) — per lot: moisture, total ash, dust ratio, water extract, tea polyphenols.
Pesticide-residue report — SGS / Intertek, scoped to the destination MRL (see section 2).
MSDS — required for tea powders (matcha) by many carriers and ports.

2. Residue Standards by Destination

European Union: Regulation (EC) 396/2005 — the strictest global MRL list; test scope must cover anthraquinone, epoxiconazole and other tea-relevant actives.
Japan: Positive List System — any substance without a set limit defaults to 0.01 ppm.
USA: FDA tolerance list + FSVP supplier-verification expectations.
Middle East: Halal certification essential; SFDA registration for Saudi programs.
West & North Africa, Central Asia: phytosanitary + health certificate + CO generally sufficient; Halal appreciated.

Deep dive: EU MRL limits explained · Halal for Middle East

3. Organic Certification

For the EU/US organic channel: EU Organic and USDA NOP lots from certified gardens. Verify the certificate number against the certifier database (not just the PDF), and expect transaction certificates per shipment.

4. Container Loading & Logistics

Bulk woven-bag tea loads 20GP ≈ 10–12 MT and 40GP ≈ 18–22 MT; carton-packed specialty teas load less (6–16 MT by format). Summer shipments to tropical routes need PE-lined bags and dry containers — see container loading guide →

5. Commercial Terms Cheat-Sheet

Term	Typical setting
MOQ	500 kg per item; OEM from 300 kg
Payment	T/T 30% deposit + 70% against B/L copy; L/C at sight
Trade terms	FOB Ningbo / Shanghai / Xiamen; CIF; DDP on request
Lead time	7 days stock; 15–25 days OEM
Third-party inspection	SGS / Intertek welcome before loading