How to export soft drinks from the UK to China

Start with the drink’s registration route

Soft drinks and flavoured waters are a start category, but approval is still needed. Under GACC Decree 280, the manufacturer applies itself or through an agent: these drinks fall outside the recommended-registration categories by name. Confirm the product in GACC’s registration system before relying on that route. Allow months, not weeks for registration; the Chinese authority decides the outcome.

HMRC recorded £1.7m of UK goods exports to mainland China under HS 220210, 220291, 220299 in 2025 (2024: £2.6m, -36.5%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £3.6m. January to July 2026: £1.9m against £1.2m in the same months of 2025 (+55.1%).

The largest UK export line to mainland China in 2025 was 22021000, waters with added sugar, sweetener or flavour, at £1.3m under HS 220210. HS 220291 covers non-alcoholic beer up to 0.5% alcohol; HS 220299 covers other non-alcoholic beverages with the stated exclusions. The food safety MoU that took effect on 29 January 2026 provides the cooperation mechanism required for simplified UK batch registration; confirm the manufacturer’s application arrangements with GACC.

Build duty and VAT into the importer’s price

These Chinese tariff lines each have a 5% MFN rate. Import VAT normally uses the 13% rate, subject to the statutory exceptions, on customs value plus duty plus any applicable consumption tax. The importer’s customs broker or adviser confirms whether consumption tax applies to this drink. These border charges increase landed cost and shape the price the importer can offer you.

Prepare the Chinese pack before shipping

For ordinary trade, imported prepackaged drinks need a compliant Chinese label, including origin and the domestic agent’s name, address and contact details. Chinese instructions are required where applicable. The registered manufacturer must also mark its China registration number, or the number approved by its home authority, on the packaging.

GB 7101-2022 is the national food safety standard for beverages. Have the importer check its application to your formulation alongside the Chinese label requirements. Supply the proposed artwork and product details for review before committing to packaging.

Arrange the UK declaration and food filings

For exports from England, Scotland or Wales, obtain a GB EORI and classify the drink under the correct UK commodity code. Arrange the online export declaration with value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing-list references; the carrier needs the invoice and any required licences or certificates. The overseas exporter or agent files with GACC, while the food importer files with its local customs office.

Assess cross-border retail separately

Chinese lines 22021000, 22029100 and 22029900 appear on the cross-border e-commerce retail import list. Each entry excludes goods listed in the wildlife trade commodity catalogue when the specified certificate confirming that the goods are outside that catalogue cannot be provided. Check the drink’s ingredients against this remark before choosing the channel.

Listed drinks entering through bonded 1210 or direct 9610 retail channels are supervised as personal-use articles. First-import licence, registration and filing requirements are not applied, subject to epidemic-area suspensions and emergency risk handling. The overseas business carries product quality and safety responsibility and must appoint a mainland-registered company to register with customs, declare truthfully and share civil liability.

Before ordering, consumers must accept a notice explaining that origin-country standards may differ from Chinese standards, that a Chinese electronic label may replace a physical Chinese label, and that the drink is for personal use and cannot be resold. This channel therefore needs a retail plan suited to individual consumers.

Find an importer who can handle your drink

Before agreeing a shipment, establish whether the proposed buyer plans ordinary distribution or cross-border retail. Request its food-import filing details for ordinary trade, and agree who will review the formulation, Chinese artwork and manufacturer registration number. Use that discussion to test whether its proposed buying price accounts for border charges.

Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If a Chinese 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. Regulated roles remain with licensed partners in China, including the importer of record and, where required, the cross-border e-commerce agent; your own filings remain yours. We check with licensed partners. See our export-to-China service.