How to export herbs from the UK to China

Match the product and processing form to its tariff line

For herbs, spices and seasonings, identify the ingredient and whether it is whole, crushed, ground or mixed before offering a Chinese buyer a price. The tariff lines below distinguish these forms and sometimes split an HS6 heading further. The largest UK export line to mainland China was 09041100, pepper of the genus Piper, neither crushed nor ground, at £20k in 2025.

HMRC recorded £30k of UK goods exports to mainland China under 29 HS6 subheadings in 2025 (2024: £204k, -85.1%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £34k. January to July 2026: £25k against £21k in the same months of 2025 (+20.1%). These are UK exports under HS 0904-0910 (29 subheadings).

Build the buyer's price around duty and VAT

The listed Chinese tariff lines give whole and ground pepper MFN duty of 20%, cloves 3% and saffron 2%. Cinnamon illustrates why processing matters: 09061100 and 09061900 carry 5%, while ground cinnamon under 09062000 carries 15%. Use the exact Chinese line when discussing the buyer's landed cost and the price it can offer.

China's VAT Law sets a standard import rate of 13% and a 9% rate for agricultural products, without defining that term. Have the importer's customs broker confirm the rate for your spice and whether consumption tax applies. Import VAT is calculated on customs value plus customs duty plus any applicable consumption tax; it adds to the landed cost.

Prepare the manufacturer's registration and pack artwork

GACC Decree 280 requires overseas food manufacturers, processors and storage enterprises to register. These spices are likely to follow the seasoning-powder recommendation route; confirm in GACC's registration system. The manufacturer applies itself or through an agent, with a competent-authority recommendation, audit report and recommendation letter. Plan for months, not weeks; the Chinese authority decides the registration outcome.

Keep manufacturer registration separate from exporter and importer filings: the overseas exporter or agent files with GACC, and the food importer files with local customs. The registered manufacturer's China registration number, or its home-authority-approved number, must appear on packaging. The overseas manufacturer's registration number must also be entered correctly on the import declaration, otherwise customs does not accept it.

For prepackaged spices, prepare a Chinese label identifying origin and the domestic agent's name, address and contact details, plus Chinese instructions where required. Labels must meet Chinese law and food safety standards. GB 7718-2025 takes effect on 16 March 2027, so check artwork against both current requirements and the incoming standard before printing.

Set up the UK export declaration

For exports from England, Scotland or Wales, obtain a GB EORI and classify each spice correctly. Agree who makes the online export declaration and supply the commodity code, value, weight, packaging, destination, transport details, and invoice and packing list references. Give the carrier the invoice and any required export licences or certificates; have the importer identify the documents needed for the particular shipment before dispatch.

Consider bonded e-commerce only for the listed lines

The cross-border retail import list covers pepper under 09041100 and 09041200, dried chilli under 09042100 and 09042200, other whole cinnamon under 09061900, and ground cinnamon under 09062000. Each entry is restricted to online-shopping bonded goods. Treat this as an option for those specific lines, rather than a route for every spice or a direct-shipping entitlement.

Qualifying cross-border retail imports receive personal-use supervision, with first-import licence, registration and filing requirements not applied, subject to the stated risk exceptions. The overseas business must appoint a mainland-registered company for customs registration, truthful declaration and shared civil liability. Consumers must accept a risk notice, and the goods may not be resold; this route therefore cannot supply a distributor's resale stock.

Find and check the Chinese buyer before committing stock

Ask a prospective importer which spice lines it wants, whether it intends resale or qualifying bonded retail sales, and how it will handle registration details, Chinese artwork and landed costs. Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If an importer has already approached you, our staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed.

We prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record and, where required, the cross-border e-commerce agent remain licensed partners in China; your own filings remain yours. Use those partners to check the proposed route and packaging before committing to a shipment.

Use our export-to-China service to arrange importer checks and preparation of the registration and label work for your spices.