Sourcing canned chickpeas from China
Plain canned chickpeas from China generally fall under 2005 99 80 98 at 16% UK duty, with no suspension or trade remedy shown. Related vegetable lines below range from 16% to 18%. Imported chickpeas must meet the same food hygiene standards as food produced in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources canned chickpeas.
Canned chickpeas: 16% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 2005 covers vegetables prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid, not frozen. Plain canned chickpeas are a candidate for the residual vegetable line 2005 99 80 98, carrying 16% duty from China. The table includes related mixtures, beans and peas for comparison; these are not interchangeable chickpea codes. See the canned peas guide for the wider heading.
The chickpea candidate line shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Vegetable mixtures carry 16%, but their listed suspension concerns a specified fermented cabbage preparation, not canned chickpea mixtures. The tariff attaches veterinary and organic import controls. Confirm the veterinary-control requirement for the exact Chinese recipe with your customs broker, particularly if it contains animal ingredients.
Ask your approved UK organic control body and customs broker to confirm the inspection certificate requirements and how to handle organic references in labelling, advertising and accompanying documents. The exporter's control body issues the certificate; ask your approved UK organic control body to confirm the certification route before ordering. Confirm the commodity code using the complete recipe and preservation method. Confirm the VAT treatment of plain preserved vegetables sold as food with HMRC or your customs broker; see import duty and VAT.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other preserved vegetables, including plain canned chickpeas | 2005 99 80 98 | 16% | None |
| Vegetable mixtures, including chickpea mixtures where classified here | 2005 99 50 90 | 16% | None |
| Shelled beans, for comparison with canned chickpeas | 2005 51 00 00 | 16% | None |
| Preserved peas, for comparison with canned chickpeas | 2005 40 00 00 | 18% | None |
Specify drained yield and chickpea texture
Specify whole chickpeas in water or brine, the ingredient list, salt level, chickpea size, skin retention, firmness and acceptable broken pieces. State whether the buyer needs firm chickpeas for salads or softer chickpeas for blending. Agree net weight, drained weight, can format, lining, closure and shelf life against an approved sample.
Imported chickpeas must meet the same food hygiene standards and procedures as food produced in Great Britain. Ask for the factory's validated heat-process records and batch incubation results. Ask the relevant food authority to confirm ingredient, best-before and UK food business address requirements for the labels; chickpeas packed in liquid must also show drained net weight. Approve the English artwork before printing.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business order of catering cans of chickpeas in brine under 2005 99 80 98, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,500. Duty at 16% is £2,960. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,460, so it is £4,292. Import taxes total £7,252; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,960 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
Drained yield: drain and weigh sampled cans using the agreed method, then compare the chickpea weight with the label and purchase specification.
Texture and appearance: compare firmness, size, colour, loose skins and broken chickpeas with the approved sample, including a trial in the intended dish.
Can integrity: inspect seams, dents, rust, leaks and swelling; review seam measurements, heat-process records and incubation results for the supplied batch.
Labels and traceability: match ingredients, drained weight, date marking and batch identification to the approved artwork and production records. Plan checks through the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A can can meet its total net weight while containing less chickpea and more brine than agreed. Other failures include hard centres, mushy beans, loose skins, inconsistent salt and transit damage at seams. Approving appearance alone leaves drained yield and performance in the buyer's recipe unresolved.
Under-processing and poor seams can lead to spoilage, swelling or leakage. Hold suspect stock apart while investigating the batch records and test results. A supplier may also describe chickpeas simply as peas or beans on shipping documents; check the full product identity and recipe before accepting the declared code.
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 chickpeas from China?
The candidate line 2005 99 80 98 carries 16% duty from China, with no suspension or trade remedy shown in the supplied tariff snapshot. Confirm the code against the exact recipe.
Do canned chickpeas need drained weight on the label?
Yes. Solid foods packed in liquid must show drained net weight. Check the drained chickpea weight separately from the total weight of chickpeas and brine.
What paperwork should I ask the Chinese canning factory for?
Ask for batch-linked heat-process records, incubation results, seam checks and the approved ingredient specification. For organic packs, confirm the inspection certificate with the exporter's control body.
Are canned chickpeas charged import VAT?
Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether plain canned chickpeas sold as food qualify for VAT zero-rating. Check the VAT treatment again if the recipe or presentation changes.