Sourcing crispbread from China
Crispbread from China carries UK duty of 4% plus £10 per 100 kg, rather than a range of percentage rates. Animal ingredients can bring composite-product import rules, so check the complete recipe and eligibility before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources crispbread.
Crispbread duty and recipe-dependent controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, crispbread under 1905 10 00 00 carries 4% plus £10 per 100 kg for goods from China. The supplied facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line. Heading 1905 covers bread and other bakers' wares. The other table rows are comparisons, not alternative crispbread codes; the illustrative rusks order uses a plain-percentage line because crispbread has compound duty.
The tariff attaches veterinary control, a restriction on entry into free circulation and organic import control. For animal ingredients, check composite-product eligibility and any exemption; exempt composite products still need an exporter’s commercial document. Ask your customs broker whether the Chinese recipe falls within the high-risk food restriction and requires a Common Health Entry Document. If covered, high-risk food requires pre-notification and entry through a designated border control post. Organic consignments from China need a Great Britain certificate of inspection.
Give your broker the recipe, manufacturing process, product photographs and net weight to confirm the commodity code. Include both the percentage and weight-based duty in costing. For products outside crispbread, see the wider bakery guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crispbread | 1905 10 00 00 | 4% + £10.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Rusks, for comparison with crispbread | 1905 40 10 00 | 8% | None |
| Other toasted bread and similar products, for comparison | 1905 40 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Matzos, for comparison with crispbread | 1905 90 10 00 | 2% + £13.00 per 100 kg | None |
Specify the grain, snap and moisture barrier
Specify the grain blend, wholegrain content, seeds, seasoning, added oil and every animal ingredient. Agree sheet dimensions, thickness, colour, crispness and the amount of broken product acceptable on arrival. Retain an approved sample to compare with production.
Agree moisture or water-activity checks, shelf-life evidence, storage instructions and packaging that protects against moisture and crushing. Ask for the production line’s allergen matrix, including shared equipment, and arrange laboratory checks against the agreed recipe.
Confirm food-business registration and labelling requirements with the relevant food authority, including ingredients with allergens emphasised, net weight, best-before date and a UK address in English. Check the label against the actual recipe before approving artwork.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative comparison only: 12 tonnes of rusks, not crispbread under 1905 40 10 00, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £22,500. Duty at 8% is £1,800. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,300, so it is £4,860. Import taxes total £6,660; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,800 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
Texture: compare the snap, colour and flavour with the approved sample; check for softening and rancid odours.
Breakage: open cartons from different pallet positions and record cracked sheets, crumbs and crushed inner packs.
Packaging: check seals, moisture protection, net weights and readable batch and date coding.
Recipe and labels: match ingredients and allergen wording to production records and the approved artwork. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Thin crispbread arrives broken when inner packs leave room for movement or cartons are crushed. Leaking seals allow moisture in and destroy the crisp texture. Seeded recipes can develop rancid flavours before the intended shelf life. Check transit samples as well as fresh factory samples.
A recipe change can introduce milk or egg without the buyer updating import checks or labels. Keep a signed recipe and require approval before substitutions. Do not treat a dry texture as proof of an import-control exemption, or cost crispbread using the comparison lines’ duty.
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 crispbread from China?
Under 1905 10 00 00 it is 4% plus £10 per 100 kg. The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Can crispbread containing milk or egg be imported?
Check the complete recipe under composite-product rules before ordering. Eligibility, documents and any exemption depend on the ingredients and processing; dryness alone does not establish exemption.
What should I specify for crispbread packaging?
Specify moisture protection, seal integrity, protection against crushing and movement, and shelf-life evidence. Compare texture and breakage after transit with the approved sample.
What paperwork does organic crispbread need?
Organic consignments from China into Great Britain need a Great Britain certificate of inspection. Confirm the organic arrangements with your control body before shipment.