Step 1: Registration and securing importation license
Registration—or the process of becoming an importer so you can have products shipped from a stateside supplier—pairs with the need for an import license. To begin, operators need to work with suppliers to ensure all ingredients in products they plan to import meet local codes and requirements.
Hurdle: Each market has its own codes, Schwartz says, and some can get into extreme detail regarding the ingredients that go into products. For example, operators looking to expand in a Middle Eastern market may find their soy sauce banned if it contains trace amounts of alcohol.
Operators should anticipate four to six months on average to complete the process of registration and securing an import license, says Schwartz. And while the process gets less difficult over time, Schwartz notes that each new region presents its own challenges that will require its own solutions.