Sourcing brined radishes from China

Duty and classification for processing radishes

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 October 2026, heading 0711 covers vegetables provisionally preserved but unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption. Brined radishes for further processing fall within the candidate line for other vegetables, 0711 90 80 00. The table shows purchasing forms within that line. For the wider heading, see brined vegetables for processing.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension listed for this line. It attaches an organic import control. Organic consignments from China into Great Britain require a certificate of inspection issued by the exporter's control body; check that the exporter’s control body and country or territory of export are on the recognised organic registers. An approved UK organic control body must certify an organic importer's food and business.

Confirm the commodity code using the recipe, preservation method, condition at import and processing still needed. Ready-to-eat pickled radishes require a different classification assessment. The supplier's description of the goods as salted or pickled does not establish whether they belong in this heading.

Specify radishes for your desalting process

Specify radish variety, skin colour, peeled or unpeeled condition, whole or cut form, cut dimensions, firmness and acceptable blemishes. Agree salt content in the brine and radish flesh, acidity, any preservative used, drained weight and drum lining. Test a sample through the buyer's intended desalting and processing method before approving the specification.

Imported processed vegetables must meet the same hygiene standards and safety procedures as food produced in Great Britain. Confirm applicable pesticide residue and contaminant limits with the relevant food authority. Ask for batch-linked laboratory reports and agree which residue and microbiological checks the processor needs. If sulphites are used, check the residual level both on arrival and after the agreed desalting process.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of brined radishes for processing in food-grade drums under 0711 90 80 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

Radish condition: compare cut size, skin colour, firmness, fibrous centres, splits and discolouration with the approved sample. Cut open whole roots during inspection.

Brine and residues: measure salt content and acidity against the specification, check any declared preservative residue and trial the agreed desalting method.

Drums and weight: check seals, liners, leaks and brine coverage. Weigh drained radishes using the agreed draining method so retained brine does not distort acceptance.

Batch records: match drum lot marks with packing records and laboratory reports. For organic orders, check the certificate of inspection covers the consignment and settle the documents before dispatch.

What goes wrong

A radish can look acceptable outside but have a fibrous or discoloured centre. Uneven cuts desalt unevenly, while soft roots can break during slicing. Leaking drums expose the upper layer, and a shipment with excess brine can deliver less usable radish than the buyer expected.

Approve a processed sample as well as an arrival sample. Set acceptance criteria for drained weight, texture after desalting and preservative residues. Inspect drum closures before loading and use quality inspection to check the shipment against the written 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.