Sourcing brown rice from China
The supplied brown-rice duty range is conditional 0% to £25 per 1000 kg; ordinary China-grown lines carry the weight-based rate. Confirm the applicable food hygiene standards with the relevant food authority. The tariff also attaches GMO controls, so confirm clearance requirements before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources brown rice.
Brown-rice duty and import controls
Heading 1006 covers rice. This guide concerns husked brown rice, with separate lines for parboiled rice, grain shape and specified aromatic varieties. Describe the actual processing condition and grain dimensions before choosing a code. See the wider rice guide for the rest of the heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the supplied brown-rice lines show £25.00 per 1000 kg, except 1006 20 98 13 at conditional 0%. That line carries a restriction on entry into free circulation; ask your customs broker to confirm its requirements before relying on it. The record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties and no suspensions.
Every supplied brown-rice line carries organic and GMO import controls. The UK Trade Tariff attaches the GMO control; confirm the required clearance documents and checks with your customs broker before shipment. For organic food entering Great Britain from China, ask your organic control body and customs broker to confirm whether each consignment needs a certificate of inspection and how to check the exporter’s control body and country against the non-UK organic registers. Use finding your commodity code to confirm classification.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parboiled round-grain brown rice | 1006 20 11 00 | £25.00 per 1000 kg | None |
| Parboiled long-grain brown basmati rice, other varieties | 1006 20 17 18 | £25.00 per 1000 kg | None |
| Round-grain brown rice, not parboiled | 1006 20 92 00 | £25.00 per 1000 kg | None |
| Other brown rice, not parboiled, residual category | 1006 20 99 99 | £25.00 per 1000 kg | None |
| Specified long-grain brown basmati rice, conditional entry | 1006 20 98 13 | 0% | None |
Specify the milling condition and cooking result
Specify variety, growing origin, whether the rice is parboiled, grain shape and the intended food use. Agree that the delivery matches the approved brown-rice sample rather than a more heavily milled substitute. Record acceptable broken kernels, residual husk, foreign matter, moisture, colour and odour without relying on the supplier’s grade name.
Cook representative samples using the intended kitchen method and compare texture, aroma and consistency. Agree packing, storage instructions and remaining shelf life on arrival. Confirm the applicable food hygiene standards and procedures with the relevant food authority. Request batch-specific laboratory results and agree pesticide, mould-toxin and arsenic testing with your laboratory.
No genetically modified rice or rice products are authorised in the UK. Ask the broker and port health authority to settle the China-rice testing and document arrangements before loading. Pre-packed food usually needs a best-before or use-by date on its packaging or label.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative bagged trial consignment of specified brown basmati sourced through China. The supplied percentage-duty line has an entry restriction: obtain broker confirmation before using this example. It does not illustrate ordinary China-grown brown rice. under 1006 20 98 13, invoiced at £1,000 free on board, with £1,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,000, so it is £400. 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
Identity: compare grain shape, bran appearance, milling condition and cooked samples with the order and approved reference sample.
Condition: sample across bags for dampness, musty or rancid odours, insects, stones, residual husk and excessive broken kernels.
Packing: check net delivery weight, seals, damaged bags, water staining and the agreed storage and date information.
Documents: match bag identifiers to batch reports and shipment records; for organic food, match the inspection certificate to the consignment. Plan quality inspection around representative samples.
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What goes wrong
A good cooking sample may come from a different variety or milling run from the shipment. Retain the approved sample and require sampling across the delivered lot. Keep bags with unusual odours or water damage separate while investigating. Visual inspection cannot establish contaminant or GMO results; arrange testing and certification for the actual batch.
A supplier’s organic description or basmati trade name does not settle import paperwork or classification. The conditional zero-duty line should not become the default for Chinese brown rice. Resolve the attached controls and the declaration code before dispatch.
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 brown rice from China?
The supplied ordinary brown-rice lines carry £25.00 per 1000 kg. Code 1006 20 98 13 shows conditional 0% with an entry restriction; confirm eligibility with your broker. No trade remedies or suspensions are listed.
Can I import organic brown rice from China?
For organic food entering Great Britain, ask your organic control body and customs broker to confirm whether each consignment needs a certificate of inspection and how to check the exporter’s control body and country against the non-UK organic registers. Confirm the separate GMO control too.
Does brown rice from China need GMO checks?
The supplied tariff attaches GMO import control to every brown-rice line. No GM rice is authorised in the UK. Confirm the required testing, clearance documents and port arrangements with your broker before shipment.
What should I check when brown rice arrives?
Compare representative grain and cooked samples with the specification. Check odour, dampness, pests, broken kernels, bag seals and net weight. Match batch identifiers to laboratory reports and shipment documents.