Sourcing butterhead lettuce from China
Butterhead lettuce from China carries 10% UK duty, with no rate variation across the whole-head presentations covered here. Fresh produce must meet quality and labelling requirements; confirm the tariff's conformity controls before dispatch. Cambridge China Bridge sources butterhead lettuce.
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Butterhead lettuce duty and import controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 0705 covers fresh or chilled lettuce and chicory. Whole-head butterhead lettuce belongs in the head-lettuce line, 0705 11 00 00, carrying 10% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line.
The tariff attaches “HMI Conformity Certificate (fruit and veg) issued in UK”, “Certificate of Conformity” and “Import control of organic products”. Confirm the applicable documents and clearance procedure with your customs broker before shipment. Separately, ask the broker to confirm plant-health requirements for Chinese-grown lettuce; do not treat a produce conformity document as confirmation that plant-health requirements have been settled.
The table shows buying presentations sharing the same tariff line. Confirm the exact product and commodity code, particularly if the offer includes roots, growing medium or separated leaves. See the lettuce and chicory guide for the wider heading. This guide addresses imports into Great Britain.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green butterhead lettuce, fresh whole heads | 0705 11 00 00 | 10% | None |
Specify the butterhead and the arrival condition
Specify the cultivar, leaf colour, whole-head presentation, trimming, head-weight range and heads per carton. Agree photographs showing acceptable heart development and outer-leaf condition. State whether the crop is field-grown or grown under protection. Ask for packaging that supports the heads without crushing their soft leaves.
Agree pre-cooling, refrigerated handling, temperature records and the usable condition required on arrival. Ask for harvest and packing records linked to the shipment. For an organic offer, ask the broker to confirm the organic import procedure: the certificate of inspection is issued by the exporter's control body in the country of export.
Fresh produce must meet quality and labelling requirements. Confirm food business registration requirements and applicable pesticide residue limits with the relevant authority. Ask for lot-specific residue results and nitrate testing; nitrate safety limits also apply to imported lettuce.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative air-freight pallet of trimmed whole butterhead lettuce under 0705 11 00 00, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £1,290 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,790. Duty at 10% is £479. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,269, so it is £1,053.80. Import taxes total £1,532.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £479 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
Heads: check cultivar, colour, heart development, trimming and head weights against the agreed specification; open cartons from different pallet positions.
Leaves: inspect outer leaves and hearts for wilting, crushed tissue, brown edges, slime, decay, insects and trapped growing medium.
Cold chain: check product condition, arrival temperature and logger records against the agreed transport specification; photograph condensation and wet cartons.
Records: match carton identification to packing records and laboratory reports, and compare labels with the approved artwork. Use an agreed inspection checklist.
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What goes wrong
Butterhead's soft leaves can arrive flattened even when the carton looks intact. Overfilled packs, pressure from stacked cartons and poor head support are points to investigate. Open heads as well as checking their outside appearance; outer leaves can hide damaged hearts.
Wilting, wet leaves, slime and browning reduce the usable yield. Photograph defects before trimming and record the rejected quantity against each lot. Agree who assesses arrival claims and what evidence they need before placing the order.
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 butterhead lettuce from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 10% for head lettuce under 0705 11 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Does butterhead lettuce need import certificates?
The tariff attaches produce conformity controls and an organic-products control. Confirm the applicable documents with your broker, including a separate check of plant-health requirements.
What should I specify when buying butterhead lettuce?
Specify cultivar, colour, heart development, trimming, head-weight range, carton count and packing method. Agree the required arrival condition and temperature records.
What should I check when butterhead lettuce arrives?
Open cartons and heads. Check wilting, crushed leaves, brown edges, slime, decay and insects; compare weights and cold-chain records with the order specification.