Business Terms & Conditions

1. Pricing & Quotations

All prices are quoted in USD on an FOB basis from named ports in Hong Kong or Mainland China, unless otherwise explicitly agreed in the quotation. Prices are subject to change due to market conditions and are binding — for all sides — upon our final written confirmation. Discounted Pricing is available for full container load (FCL) shipments — please enquire.

2. Weight

All sales are conducted on a net Shipped Weight basis, as verified at the port of loading, unless an alternative weight basis is explicitly agreed in the contract at the time of order.

3. Crop Year

Goods shall be from the latest available crop period at the time of production and/or packaging, unless a specific crop year is explicitly agreed in advance and confirmed in writing.

4. Sampling

We arrange for a representative shipment sample to be taken and retained under our or our supplier's control for a period of up to 30 days after cargo arrival at the destination port, unless a different arrangement is agreed in advance. Buyers may request to review the retained sample within this period.

5. Product Suitability

Our products fall into two broad categories, each carrying the following warranty:

Untreated agro products (e.g. Cassia/Cinnamon and similar natural spices in their natural dried state) are warranted to be of fair average merchantable quality. As natural agricultural commodities, such products will inherently carry elevated levels of Total Plate Count, Yeast & Mould, and coliforms consistent with their natural origin. They are suitable for human consumption subject to appropriate processing by the buyer — such as washing, re-cleaning, heat or steam treatment, sterilisation, and/or cooking — before use.

Treated agro products (e.g. Dehydrated Garlic in all forms — flakes, granules, powder — and steam-treated or heat-treated Cassia/Cinnamon, Agar Agar, and similar factory-processed items) have been processed in a food factory prior to shipping. Such products carry tighter and more detailed specifications, and microbiological standards appropriate to their level of processing. Full specifications are available on request.

We do not use, and do not accept, ETO (ethylene oxide) treatment or irradiation as a sterilisation method for any of our products.

All retail-packed products, including White Label and Private Label orders, are additionally warranted to meet the destination country's applicable regulations for pesticide residues, heavy metals, ETO, mycotoxins, microbiological standards, and any other criteria explicitly pre-agreed in writing.

6. Pre-Shipment Inspection

All goods are inspected by our nominated inspectors — which may include our own staff, contractors, and/or independent surveyors or laboratories — to verify compliance with contracted specifications prior to shipment.

For suppliers holding current IFS or equivalent recognised food safety certification, with an uninterrupted trading relationship of 10 or more years with us and a documented history of zero quality complaints over that period, we may allow pre-shipment inspection to be conducted by the supplier's own qualified QC staff. This exception is applied on a case-by-case basis at our discretion and does not waive the Buyer's right to nominate their own inspector.

Buyers may, at their own option and cost, nominate their own independent inspectors, provided such nomination is made at the time of contract formation.

7. Shipping Costs & Modes

We supply FOB from the named sea port in China or Hong Kong for quantities of one pallet and above. The Buyer is responsible for:

• Ocean freight from the port of loading to the port of discharge;
• Import customs clearance;
• All applicable import taxes, duties, and levies;
• Final inland transportation at the destination.

Recommended shipping modes: Courier or Air Freight for quantities below one pallet; LCL (Less than Container Load) for 1–5 pallets; FCL (Full Container Load) for quantities above 5 pallets. We are happy to arrange freight on your behalf if requested — see Section 9.

We can also supply on CFR or CIF basis if preferred. Under these terms, freight charges are prepaid by us and added to our commercial invoice. Cargo insurance under CIF terms is arranged at standard minimum cover unless otherwise agreed. Please indicate your preferred Incoterm at the time of order placement.

Please note that we ship only from the origin factory or port of loading. This minimises cargo handling and reduces the risk of damage. Combining multiple products from different origins in a single shipment typically results in delays, additional costs, and increased handling risk. Please verify compatibility and logistics feasibility at the time of ordering.

8. Lead Times

Small orders (up to 500 kg) with no special documentary requirements: dispatched within approximately one week of order confirmation.

Larger orders or orders requiring special shipping documents or laboratory test reports: typically 30 days from order confirmation.

Customised orders with bespoke quality specifications, custom packaging, or private label requirements will require additional time — please contact us for a specific lead time estimate.

9. Shipping Carrier

You may appoint your own courier, freight forwarder, or shipping line, in which case you should provide us with their contact and booking details as early as possible, and in any event before goods are ready for shipment. Where payment is made by D/P or L/C, Transport Documents such as Bills of Lading must be issued by an NVOCC licensed carrier, FIATA member, or Ocean Liner to ensure the integrity of the document of title.

Alternatively, if you prefer us to arrange freight on your behalf, we will do so — carrier charges will be prepaid by us and itemised on our commercial invoice. Please indicate your preference at the time of order placement.

10. Documentation

Additional documents may be available depending on product type and destination country. Please enquire at the time of ordering.

11. Customs, Taxes & Duties

China Business Limited handles all export customs clearance and pays all applicable export duties and taxes at the point of origin.

The Buyer is solely responsible for import customs clearance and all import duties, taxes, VAT, and regulatory fees at the destination. Where courier companies or freight forwarders offer to handle import clearance and tax payments on the Buyer's behalf, associated service charges and out-of-pocket expenses are the Buyer's responsibility and should be agreed directly with the service provider.

12. Payment

We accept the following payment methods, all payable to our Hong Kong account:

• International Wire Transfer (T/T / RTGS / CHATS / FPS)
• Irrevocable Letter of Credit at Sight (L/C)
• Documents against Payment at Sight (D/P)
• Cheque or Demand Draft (payable in Hong Kong)

Standard payment terms: 30% deposit upon order confirmation; balance payable by international wire transfer against presentation of shipping documents. Alternative terms (including L/C, D/P) may be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the transaction and trading history. You may change your payment method at any time prior to actual remittance.

13. Returns & Refunds

Returns are accepted on the following conditions:

• Shipping charges (outbound) are non-refundable;
• Return shipping costs are borne by the Buyer;
• Refunds are processed upon receipt and verification of returned goods.

If an entire delivery is returned due to an inherent product defect attributable to the Seller, China Business Limited will also bear the cost of return shipping.

Please note that damage caused during transit due to accidents, weather events, or other circumstances beyond our control is not covered. Buyers are strongly advised to arrange cargo insurance for the full value of goods.

14. After-Sales Support

All customers receive regular market reports and product updates for a minimum of 3 months from the date of their most recent purchase. Full product usability information, specifications, and related technical data can be provided on request at any time, for as long as a product remains within its shelf life.

Status reports on active orders, shipment progress, and shipping documentation are available on request at any time.

15. Claims

Should defective quality or cargo condition issues be discovered upon receipt of goods — whether delivered by sea container, courier, air freight, or any other mode — the Buyer must notify China Business Limited within 15 days of arrival at the destination. For sea shipments, the 15-day period runs from the date of vessel arrival at the port of destination. For air freight and courier shipments, it runs from the date of delivery. Notification should be made immediately upon discovery, and the Buyer should arrange an independent survey or inspection report by a qualified party.

If the defect is determined to be attributable to a fault on our part, China Business Limited shall suitably reimburse the Buyer for verified losses or take back cargo, as appropriate to the circumstances.

16. Disputes & Governing Law

Unless otherwise agreed in writing at the time of contracting, all sales are subject to the standard shipping terms of the International General Produce Association Ltd. (IGPA), London. In the event of a dispute, the parties shall first seek amicable resolution.

Failing amicable settlement, any dispute shall be referred to arbitration in accordance with the IGPA Rules of Arbitration. Emergency or protective proceedings may be referred to the courts of Hong Kong, which shall have jurisdiction for such matters.

For transactions not governed by IGPA contract terms, Hong Kong law shall apply, and disputes shall be referred to the courts of Hong Kong.

17. Force Majeure

China Business Limited shall not be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations where such failure or delay arises from a cause beyond its reasonable control — including but not limited to acts of nature, pandemics, government actions, war, civil unrest, strikes, or failure of third-party logistics providers — which could not reasonably have been foreseen or prevented. The Seller shall notify the Buyer of any force majeure event by appropriate means as soon as reasonably practicable.