Sourcing canned scallops from China
Canned scallops from China carry 20% UK duty on the supplied scallop line. Confirm import eligibility before ordering: the wild scallop muscle exception requires complete separation from the viscera and gonads. Check the factory, entry documents and can integrity. Cambridge China Bridge sources canned scallops.
20% duty on the supplied scallop line
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 1605 covers prepared or preserved crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates. The supplied scallop line, including queen scallops, is 1605 52 00 90 and carries 20% duty for goods from China. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table repeats this supplied code for purchasing formats; these are not separate tariff lines.
The line carries veterinary and organic import controls. Check country and establishment approval before ordering. The wild scallop adductor muscle exception requires complete separation from the viscera and gonads. Have your customs broker confirm eligibility, the applicable health certification, advance notification, designated border control post and common health entry document requirements. For organic goods, confirm the certificate of inspection and certification arrangements with your organic control body; the exporter’s control body issues the certificate.
Confirm the commodity code using the species, complete recipe, preparation and packing details. The listed duty does not establish import permission. See the canned clams guide for the wider heading. The worked order is illustrative, uses this scallop code and does not establish eligibility.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canned scallops, whole adductor muscles | 1605 52 00 90 | 20% | None |
Specify the scallop muscle, filling and tin
Identify the species and whether the scallops are wild or farmed. Specify adductor muscle, whole or cut, and record whether any roe or viscera remain. For a proposed wild-muscle import, obtain evidence of origin and complete separation before approving the order. Ask your broker to confirm the exact product’s eligibility.
Agree piece size, broken-piece acceptance, texture, colour, salt level, filling medium, net weight and drained weight. Specify the tin, opening method, internal coating and carton protection. Ask for heat-processing records, seam checks and evidence supporting shelf life. Retain an approved sample and settle the label artwork before printing.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business pallet order of canned wild scallop adductor muscles; eligibility must be confirmed before ordering under 1605 52 00 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £34,000. Duty at 20% is £6,800. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,800, so it is £8,160. Import taxes total £14,960; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £6,800 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
Documents: match species, wild or farmed origin, muscle preparation, factory approval and shipment records to the goods.
Tin integrity: inspect seams, swelling, leakage, rust and dents around the seam; isolate suspect tins for investigation.
Contents: check net and drained weight, piece size, broken pieces, shell fragments and texture against the approved specification.
Labels: check the food name, ingredients with mollusc allergens emphasised, declared quantities, date mark, storage instructions and food business name and UK address.
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What goes wrong
A supplier’s description says scallop meat without identifying farmed origin or retained roe. Do not assume that canning establishes import eligibility. Obtain the raw-material and preparation records, then confirm the proposed route before production.
Quality disputes arise from excessive filling liquid, broken or tough muscle, shell fragments and damaged seams. Compare sampled contents with the retained sample and investigate swollen or leaking tins before releasing stock. Agree the checks through your inspection brief.
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 scallops from China?
The supplied scallop line, 1605 52 00 90, carries 20% duty. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Import eligibility must be checked separately.
Can I import any Chinese canned scallop product?
Do not assume so. Confirm country and plant approval and the exact preparation. The wild scallop muscle exception requires complete separation from the viscera and gonads; have your broker confirm eligibility.
What should I specify when buying canned scallops?
Specify species, wild or farmed origin, muscle preparation, piece size, filling medium, salt level, net and drained weight, texture, tin construction and shelf-life evidence.
What should I check when scallop tins arrive?
Check seams, leaks, swelling, rust, seam-area dents and batch markings. Sample net and drained weight, piece size, texture and shell fragments, and compare the goods with the approved sample.