Sourcing chia seeds from China
Whole food-use chia seeds from China carry 0% UK duty under the supplied other-oilseeds line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Check the intended use against the novel food register before selling in Great Britain, and arrange organic import documents where relevant. Cambridge China Bridge sources chia seeds.
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Chia seed duty and organic import controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 1207 covers other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, whether or not broken. For whole chia seeds intended as food, the relevant candidate in the supplied tariff lines is 1207 99 96 90. Black, white, bulk-packed and organic examples share this candidate code; these are product variants, not separate tariff lines.
The supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension listed. It attaches an organic-products import control. Organic imports from China into Great Britain need a certificate of inspection for each consignment, issued by the exporter's control body. Check the exporter certification arrangements against the non-UK organic registers and have an approved UK control body certify your importing business.
Confirm the product's processing and intended use with your customs broker using our commodity code guide. This guide concerns whole food-use chia seeds; obtain separate advice for sowing seed, powders and prepared products. See the wider sesame and pumpkin seeds guide. Confirm the VAT treatment for seeds sold for making food with HMRC or your customs broker, taking account of the intended sale and our duty and VAT guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole black chia seeds for food | 1207 99 96 90 | 0% | None |
Specify whole chia seeds and their intended food use
State the botanical identity, black or white colour specification, whole-seed form, growing origin and cleaning location. Agree acceptance criteria for moisture, foreign seeds, stones, plant fragments, damaged seeds and odour. A supplier shipping from China may be cleaning or packing seeds grown elsewhere, so request growing-origin records alongside the packing records.
Chia appears in official novel food guidance. Before ordering, check that the intended food use and product specification match the applicable authorisation conditions in the Great Britain novel food register. Treat a change to powder, extraction or another food application as a fresh check rather than assuming the whole-seed position covers it.
Agree lined packaging, storage conditions, batch identification and the sampling plan. Confirm applicable aflatoxin and pesticide residue limits for food seeds with the relevant authority. Request batch-specific laboratory results and check that the tested sample represents the shipment. Discuss the testing scope through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 kg of whole chia seeds for a food business; illustrative order under 1207 99 96 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,400, so it is £680. 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 and grade: compare a drawn sample with the approved chia sample; check colour mix, foreign seeds, stones, plant fragments and damaged seeds against the contract.
Condition: check moisture results, free-flowing seeds, odour, insects and signs of dampness or mould when the shipment arrives.
Batch evidence: match bag and carton lot codes to the packing list and laboratory reports; retain a sealed sample and check the report's sample description.
Packing and organic papers: check liners, seals and agreed artwork. For organic stock, match the consignment to its certificate of inspection and check the certification arrangements before dispatch.
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What goes wrong
A clean sample can conceal a shipment with excess plant fragments, stones or another seed species. Colour proportions can differ from the approved sample, while damp bags can leave seeds clumped or musty. Use representative shipment samples and compare arrival condition with the agreed specification.
A generic laboratory report does not establish the condition of the shipped batch. Organic certification paperwork can also be confused with the consignment's certificate of inspection. Check both before dispatch, and settle the intended novel food use before printing packs or accepting a processing change.
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 chia seeds from China?
The supplied other-oilseeds line, 1207 99 96 90, carries 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Confirm that it fits your whole food-use chia seeds.
Can I use imported chia seeds in any food?
Check the intended use and specification against the Great Britain novel food register. Selling an authorised novel food must follow its authorisation conditions.
What paperwork do organic chia imports need?
For China-to-Great-Britain organic imports, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter certification arrangements. Your importing business also needs approved UK control-body certification.
What should I test before buying chia seeds?
Agree batch sampling for identity, purity, moisture, aflatoxins, pesticide residues and microbiological quality. Match reports to the shipment and inspect bags for dampness, insects and broken seals.