Sourcing Canned Asparagus from China
Canned asparagus from China carries 16% UK duty, with no rate variation across the asparagus lines supplied. Imported food must be safe and legal, and asparagus packed in brine must show its drained net weight. Check thermal processing, can seams and texture before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources canned asparagus.
16% duty on canned asparagus
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, canned asparagus under 2005 60 00 00 carried 16% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. Heading 2005 covers vegetables prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid, not frozen. The table separates asparagus buying formats sharing the same code and includes the separate homogenised asparagus line.
The tariff attaches veterinary control and import control of organic products. Ask your customs broker to confirm the veterinary requirement for the exact recipe before shipping. Organic asparagus from China needs a certificate of inspection for each consignment; the importing company must be based and certified in the UK. Confirm the organic arrangements before agreeing organic labels.
Give your broker the complete recipe, preservation method, physical form and packaging details to confirm the commodity code. Do not assume that any asparagus purée qualifies as a homogenised preparation. For other vegetables within this heading, see the preserved vegetables guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canned white asparagus spears, otherwise than vinegar-preserved | 2005 60 00 00 | 16% | None |
| Homogenised asparagus preparations, subject to classification | 2005 10 00 40 | 16% | None |
Specify spears, drained weight and heat processing
Specify white or green asparagus, whole spears or cuts and tips, spear length and diameter, peeling, tenderness, colour and permitted broken pieces. Approve an opened sample for the intended dish, especially the fibrous lower ends and the condition of the tips. Agree net and drained weights, brine recipe, can dimensions, internal coating and remaining shelf life on arrival.
Ask for the factory's validated thermal process, batch processing records and incubation results. Match the evidence to the actual asparagus recipe and can format. Review the label for ingredients, best before date, drained weight and a UK food business address. Imported food must be safe and legal before it enters Great Britain.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative catering stock order of canned white asparagus under 2005 60 00 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,000. Duty at 16% is £3,040. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £22,040, so it is £4,408. Import taxes total £7,448; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £3,040 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
Spears and tips: compare opened samples with the approved grade, checking woody bases, peeling, broken tips, colour and softness.
Drained weight: drain sampled cans consistently and weigh the asparagus against the declaration. Solid food packed in liquid must show its drained net weight.
Cans and processing: inspect seams, dents, rust, leakage and swelling; check the internal coating and match batch codes to processing and incubation records.
Labels and cartons: compare the printed recipe, date and business address with approved artwork; check that carton markings and batch records identify the same goods.
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What goes wrong
A sample with intact spears can become a production batch dominated by broken tips or fibrous bases. Excess liquid can hide a shortage of asparagus, while overprocessing leaves spears too soft to plate. Seam damage, leakage, swelling and internal corrosion need investigation before the affected stock is released.
Agree how samples will be drained and graded before production. Review process records alongside physical samples, and record arrival damage by batch and carton. Keep suspect cans separate while the food safety issue is assessed. Plan these checks using the quality inspection guide.
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 canned asparagus from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 16% under 2005 60 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded.
Is there import VAT on canned asparagus?
Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether the exact preserved asparagus recipe qualifies for zero-rated VAT treatment. The published preserved vegetables guide provides further context.
Can I import organic canned asparagus from China?
Organic consignments need a certificate of inspection, and your importing company must be based and certified in the UK. Confirm the product and exporter arrangements with your organic control body before ordering.
What should I check when canned asparagus arrives?
Check drained weight, spear grade, woody bases, broken tips, can seams, leakage, swelling and internal coating. Match batch codes to the factory's processing records and investigate suspect cans before release.