Sourcing brined capers for processing from China
Brined capers from China pay 0% UK duty under 0711 90 70 00; the heading's duty range is uniformly 0%. They must be provisionally preserved and unsuitable for immediate consumption. Agree salt, sulphite residues and drained weight with the processor. Cambridge China Bridge sources brined capers for processing.
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Duty on capers that still need processing
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 13 November 2026, capers under 0711 90 70 00 carried 0% duty from China. Heading 0711 covers provisionally preserved vegetables unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for capers.
The tariff attaches an organic import control. Organic capers imported from China into Great Britain require a British certificate of inspection, issued by the exporter's control body. Confirm the full clearance requirements with your customs broker before shipping an organic lot.
Confirm the commodity code using the preservation method and condition supplied. Ready-to-eat preserved vegetables belong in chapter 20. The other table rows are comparisons for related processing ingredients, not alternative caper codes. See the wider brined vegetables guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capers provisionally preserved for processing | 0711 90 70 00 | 0% | None |
| Other provisionally preserved vegetables | 0711 90 80 00 | 0% | None |
| Provisionally preserved mixtures of vegetables | 0711 90 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Provisionally preserved olives, other than for oil production | 0711 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
Specify caper grade and desalting performance
Specify caper size grade, firmness, colour, permitted open or broken buds, stems and foreign matter. Agree brine salt content, acidity, any preservative used, drained weight and drum liner. Approve a sample after the processor's intended desalting treatment, checking texture and remaining salt rather than judging the packing brine alone.
Importers must ensure goods are safe and legal before import into Great Britain. Confirm the applicable pesticide residue limits with the relevant food authority. If sulphites are used, obtain residual results for the incoming capers and the finished food. Confirm the sulphur dioxide and sulphite allergen-declaration requirements with that authority before approving the finished-food label.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business processing lot of brined capers in food-grade drums under 0711 90 70 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,500, so it is £2,300. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. 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
Capers: compare size distribution, firmness, colour, open buds, broken pieces and stems with the approved sample.
Brine and residues: measure salt content and acidity, and check sulphite results against the processor's specification; match pesticide and contaminant reports to the shipment lot.
Drained weight: use an agreed draining method and compare the weighed capers with the declared drained weight.
Drums and records: check seals, liners, leaks and brine coverage; match product and lot identification to packing records. Agree sampling through the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Mixed grades give uneven results after desalting. Capers can arrive soft, discoloured or with too many open buds and stems. Leaking drums leave the upper layer exposed, while excess brine hides a short drained weight. Record these checks before loading and repeat them on arrival.
A lot may match the appearance sample but retain more salt or sulphites than the processor can remove. Run the intended processing trial before accepting bulk supply, and agree acceptance against the processed sample as well as the incoming specification.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on brined capers from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% for 0711 90 70 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Are ready-to-eat pickled capers covered by this guide?
No. This guide covers provisionally preserved capers unsuitable for immediate consumption. Ready-to-eat preserved vegetables belong in chapter 20; confirm the exact code.
What should I test before buying brined capers?
Check salt, acidity, sulphite residues if used, drained weight, firmness and size grade. Trial the processor's desalting method and match residue reports to the lot.
Do organic capers from China need an import certificate?
Yes. Organic imports into Great Britain from China require a British certificate of inspection. The exporter's control body issues it; confirm clearance arrangements before shipment.