Sourcing Crocus corms from China

Crocus corm duty and recorded suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 0601 covers dormant and growing bulbs, tubers, corms and related planting material. For Crocus, the relevant entries are 0601 10 90 00 when dormant and 0601 20 90 00 when in growth or flower. The table repeats these codes for ornamental and saffron planting stock. For the wider heading, see our Gladiolus corm guide.

For Chinese goods, the supplied base rates are 4% and 6%, respectively. Both entries record an autonomous tariff suspension at 0.00 %, excluding mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these products. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded. Both attach organic import controls; the dormant entry also attaches CITES import control, and both attach CITES export control. Ask your customs broker to confirm the suspension and applicable controls for the exact consignment.

Check the commodity code against the species and condition at import. Do not classify growing corms as dormant merely because the supplier calls them bulbs. The illustrative order uses the dormant entry's base percentage for comparison; confirm suspension eligibility before calculating the payable duty.

Specify the species, corm grade and planting condition

Specify the botanical species and cultivar, ornamental or saffron-growing purpose, flowering season, corm circumference or diameter, grading method and dormant or growing condition. Agree acceptable firmness, intact buds and basal plates, treatment history, batch identification and ventilated packaging. Require the supplier to identify the grower and packing site rather than supplying an untraceable mixture.

Confirm the plant-health risk category before ordering. Ask the relevant plant-health authority to confirm whether high risk, medium risk A or medium risk B goods need IPAFFS registration, an exporter's phytosanitary certificate, pre-notification, checks and fees. Confirm any ISPM 15 requirements for wood packaging with your customs broker. For organic stock, the tariff attaches an import control: confirm certificate requirements with your customs broker and approved organic control body.

CITES can cover living plants and their parts. Check the exact species with your customs broker rather than assuming the tariff's CITES control applies to every Crocus order. For onward online sales to customers buying for personal use, a plant passport is needed.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 dormant Crocus corms; values illustrate calculation only under 0601 10 90 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,900. Duty at 4% is £276. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,176, so it is £1,435.20. Import taxes total £1,711.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £276 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: check species, cultivar and batch labels against the purchase order and supplier records; retain samples for a planting trial.

Grade: measure corms using the agreed method, check grading consistency and compare the delivered count with the packing list.

Condition: check firmness, intact basal plates and buds, mould, soft rot, insect damage and unexpected sprouting.

Packing and documents: check ventilation, damp cartons, crushed corms and attached soil; reconcile shipment documents with batch labels. Use our quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

Mixed cultivars, undersized corms and damaged growing points can undermine the planting plan. Damp packing can leave corms mouldy or soft, while unexpected sprouting changes their handling needs. Agree the grade and condition in writing, inspect before dispatch and repeat the condition checks on arrival.

A dormant-stock description can disagree with the actual growing condition. Missing plant-health paperwork or insufficient pre-notification can also disrupt delivery; official guidance warns that insufficient notice may delay a consignment. Confirm the documents before dispatch and plan plant passports for onward online sales.

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.