Brined vegetables for processing from China

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, vegetables provisionally preserved, for example by sulphur dioxide gas, in brine, in sulphurated water or in other preservative solutions, but unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption, heading 0711, carried 0% on goods from China on all thirteen lines, with no anti-dumping measure. Several lines carry the organic import control, which applies only when the goods are sold as organic.

Vegetables ready to eat, such as pickles in vinegar or jars of preserved vegetables, are classified in chapter 20; see our bamboo shoots and preserved vegetables guide. Confirm the commodity code from whether the product needs further processing.

Sulphites and contaminants

Sulphur dioxide and sulphites are food additives with maximum levels in the finished food, and above 10 mg/kg they must be declared as an allergen under retained Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, so the processor needs the residual level on arrival and after desalting. Contaminants such as lead and cadmium are limited under retained Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, and pesticide residues must meet GB maximum residue levels.

The UK processor is the food business that makes the final product, so agree the specification for salt, acidity and sulphite with them before ordering.

Specifying brined vegetables

Specify variety, size grade, firmness, colour, defects, salt content of the brine, acidity, sulphur dioxide level if used, drained weight per drum and the drum type and liner. Brine must cover the product for the whole voyage, so ask for the brine strength at packing and a check of drums for leaks.

Worked duty example

An invented example rather than a quote: 20 tonnes of cucumbers in brine in food-grade drums, commodity code 0711 40 00 00, bought for £9,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance, so the customs value is £11,500. The duty rate is 0%, so no duty is due. Vegetables for food are generally zero-rated for VAT under VAT Notice 701/14, so in that case no import VAT is charged either, but check the liability for the exact product and use. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.

Inspection checklist

Brine and preservative: measure salt content and pH of the brine, and residual sulphur dioxide in the vegetables, on drums sampled from across the lot, against the agreed specification.

Product quality: check size grade, firmness, colour and defects against the approved sample, and weigh drained product from sampled drums against the declared drained weight.

Drums and records: check food-grade drums are sealed, liners intact and brine covering the product, labels show product, lot and packing date, and the pesticide residue and contaminant reports cover the lot.

What goes wrong

Brined vegetables fail on brine, texture and residues. Drums leak so the top layer dries and softens, salt is too low and the product ferments or spoils, sulphur dioxide is above what the processor can remove, vegetables arrive soft or discoloured, and drained weight is short.

Specify brine strength and drum type, inspect drums before loading, and test residues in a UK laboratory on the first lot. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources brined cucumbers, mushrooms, capers and other vegetables for UK processors and pickle makers, usually by the full container. See container programmes.