Sourcing brassicas from China
Fresh or chilled brassicas from China pay 8% to 12% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty in the supplied tariff data. Organic consignments entering Great Britain need a certificate of inspection. Agree variety, trimming, residue testing and arrival condition before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources brassicas.
Duty depends on the brassica and its form
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 0704 covers fresh or chilled cabbages, cauliflowers, kohlrabi, kale and similar edible brassicas. Headed broccoli and cauliflowers carry 8% duty from China. Other broccoli, Brussels sprouts, white and red cabbages and the remaining brassicas carry 12%. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.
Every supplied line attaches an import control of organic products. For organic goods from China entering Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and export country against the recognised organic registers. The exporter’s control body issues the certificate. Confirm the consignment paperwork with your customs broker before dispatch.
Specify the botanical identity and whether broccoli is headed or another form, then confirm the commodity code. These rates concern fresh or chilled goods; compare the frozen vegetables guide if your order is frozen.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh or chilled headed broccoli | 0704 10 10 10 | 8% | None |
| Fresh or chilled cauliflowers | 0704 10 10 90 | 8% | None |
| Other fresh or chilled broccoli | 0704 10 90 00 | 12% | None |
| Fresh or chilled Brussels sprouts | 0704 20 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Fresh or chilled white and red cabbages | 0704 90 10 00 | 12% | None |
| Other fresh or chilled brassicas, including kale and kohlrabi | 0704 90 90 00 | 12% | None |
Specify heads, trimming and arrival condition
Give the supplier the variety, head or bunch size, weight range, stem length, leaf trimming and pack format. For broccoli, agree tightness of buds and acceptable yellowing; for cauliflower, curd colour and leaf cover; for cabbage, head firmness and outer-leaf condition. Set written acceptance limits using photographs of acceptable and rejected produce.
Agree pre-cooling, chilled transport, temperature records and remaining saleable life on arrival. Ask for a lot-specific pesticide residue report against GB maximum residue levels. Fresh produce must meet marketing quality and labelling requirements in England and Wales. Include country of origin, lot identity and pack weight in your artwork brief, and confirm any plant-health paperwork with your customs broker before shipment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of chilled headed broccoli under 0704 10 10 10, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,500. Duty at 8% is £1,640. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £22,140, so it is £4,428. Import taxes total £6,068; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,640 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step. This assumes the goods are standard-rated for VAT. Most food for human consumption is zero-rated, and animal feed can be too, in which case no import VAT is due, so check the rate for your product in HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14.
Inspection checklist
Condition: sample across the load for yellowing broccoli, loose buds, discoloured cauliflower, wilted leaves, split cabbage heads, soft rot and pest damage.
Temperature: compare product temperatures and transport records with the agreed specification; inspect wet cartons, condensation and signs of freezing damage.
Packing: check trimming, head size, net weight, carton strength, ventilation and labels against the order. Use the quality inspection guide to arrange checks before loading.
Documents: match carton lot codes to residue reports and shipping records; for organic orders, check the certificate of inspection identifies the consignment being shipped.
What goes wrong
Warm loading and interrupted cooling leave broccoli yellow and leafy brassicas wilted. Excess moisture encourages decay, while crushing damages cauliflower curds and cabbage leaves. A sound-looking outer layer can hide soft rot, so open sampled heads and cartons rather than judging the load from its top layer.
A supplier may substitute a different broccoli form, trim away too much saleable weight or ship produce with too little useful life left. Record rejection limits and arrival checks in the purchase specification. An organic order also needs its consignment certificate arranged before dispatch.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on brassicas from China?
The supplied tariff data gives 8% for headed broccoli and cauliflowers and 12% for the other lines in heading 0704. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.
Do organic cabbages from China need a certificate?
Yes. Each organic consignment entering Great Britain needs a certificate of inspection. Check the exporter’s control body and export country against the recognised organic registers.
What tests should I request for fresh broccoli?
Request a pesticide residue report against GB maximum residue levels for the shipment’s lot codes. Agree the testing scope before ordering and match the report to the cartons.
What should I check when chilled brassicas arrive?
Check temperature records, firmness, yellowing, decay, pest damage, trimming and net weight. Compare remaining saleable life and sampled heads with the agreed acceptance specification.