Sourcing Amaryllis bulbs from China

Amaryllis bulb duty and import controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 0601 covers bulbs and other underground planting material, dormant, growing or flowering, and chicory plants and roots. For Amaryllis, the relevant candidate lines are 0601 10 90 00 for dormant bulbs and 0601 20 90 00 for bulbs in growth or flower. The table separates buying forms that share commodity codes. See the wider heading in our lily bulbs guide.

The recorded base duties for goods from China are 4% and 6% respectively. Both lines show an autonomous tariff suspension at 0.00 %, excluding mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these goods. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. Confirm suspension eligibility before costing the order.

Both lines carry organic import controls and CITES export controls; the dormant line also carries CITES import control. Confirm applicability and organic certificate requirements with your customs broker. CITES species listed in Annex A, B or C need permits. Ask an approved UK organic control body about organic imports. Confirm the commodity code using the botanical identity, growth state and complete shipment contents.

Specify the bulb, variety and growth state

Ask the grower to identify the botanical genus and species rather than relying on the trade name Amaryllis. Record the cultivar, flower colour, bulb circumference grade, permitted size variation, root condition and whether the bulbs must remain dormant. Agree how damaged basal plates, soft bulbs and premature shoots will be handled.

Specify bare bulbs or the exact growing medium, treatment history, batch identity and ventilated packaging. Use a growing trial to assess variety identity and flowering performance; an arrival inspection cannot confirm those results. Ask for packing that protects the neck and basal plate without trapping moisture.

Confirm the plant-health risk category and species-specific entry requirements before ordering for Great Britain. Ask the plant-health authority to confirm whether IPAFFS registration, an exporter phytosanitary certificate, pre-notification, checks and fees apply to the shipment. Risk categorisations may change. Plan resale paperwork with the plant-health authority. A UK plant passport is required for online sales directly to customers buying for personal use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 dormant Amaryllis bulbs for planting under 0601 10 90 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,900. Duty at 4% is £276. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,176, so it is £1,435.20. Import taxes total £1,711.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £276 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and grade: match cultivar labels and batch records to the order; measure bulb circumference using the agreed method.

Bulb condition: check firmness, basal-plate integrity, neck damage, mould, soft rot and visible pests.

Growth and packing: check dormancy or the agreed growth stage, crushed shoots, damp cartons and ventilation.

Shipment records: reconcile counts, botanical names and batch references across labels, packing lists and plant-health paperwork. Use the inspection guide to agree the inspection scope.

What goes wrong

Mixed cultivars, undersized bulbs and damaged basal plates can pass a superficial carton check. Damp packing can conceal rot, while premature growth leaves shoots exposed to breakage. Agree condition checks before dispatch and repeat them on arrival; retain labelled samples for a growing trial.

Paperwork can describe only the trade name or a growth state that differs from the shipment. Resolve botanical identity and import requirements before dispatch, and have the broker confirm how any accompanying pots, growing medium or other components affect classification and suspension eligibility.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.