Sourcing decorative ceramic fruit from China
Decorative ceramic fruit from China carries UK duty of 2% to 6%, depending on the ceramic body. Confirm the applicable consumer-product safety requirements in Great Britain with Trading Standards; food-imitation rules apply to fruit replicas. Check realistic shapes, detachable stalks and transit packing before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources decorative ceramic fruit.
Decorative ceramic fruit: 2% to 6% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6913 covers statuettes and other ornamental ceramic articles, including purely decorative ceramic fruit. Goods from China carry 2% duty for common pottery and 6% for porcelain or china, earthenware or fine pottery and other ceramics. The supplied tariff data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no duty suspensions.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and waste import controls. Products containing cat or dog fur are banned from import. For waste from China entering England under notification controls, consent from the competent authorities of destination, dispatch and transit is needed before shipment. If the consignment includes ceramic scrap or discarded goods, confirm its status and the applicable waste procedure with your customs broker.
Confirm the ceramic body and whether the article is hand-made before choosing the commodity code. A fruit-shaped container intended for food needs a separate classification and food-contact assessment. For the wider ornamental ceramic heading, see ceramic decorative pumpkins.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decorative porcelain fruit, hand-made | 6913 10 00 10 | 6% | None |
| Decorative porcelain fruit, other | 6913 10 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Decorative fruit of common pottery, hand-made | 6913 90 10 10 | 2% | None |
| Decorative fruit of common pottery, other | 6913 90 10 90 | 2% | None |
| Decorative fruit of earthenware or fine pottery, hand-made | 6913 90 93 10 | 6% | None |
| Decorative fruit of earthenware or fine pottery, other | 6913 90 93 90 | 6% | None |
| Decorative fruit of other ceramics, other | 6913 90 98 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the fruit shape, body and finish
Specify the fruit variety, dimensions, weight, hollow or solid construction, ceramic body and glaze finish. Agree the colour, speckling, leaf position and stalk shape against a physical master sample. State whether stalks and leaves are integral or attached, and specify a stable base with pads where needed. Ask for individual packing that protects projecting parts and prevents pieces rubbing together.
Confirm with Trading Standards how the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 apply to consumer ornaments sold in Great Britain. Food replicas also fall within the Food Imitations (Safety) Regulations 1989. Assess whether realistic fruit shapes or loose components could be mistaken for food and put in the mouth. Have the proposed design assessed before approving production, using testing and certification support where needed.
If the fruit is presented as a plaything, assess whether toy rules apply. If it opens into a bowl or jar intended for food, assess the food-contact rules. Ask Trading Standards to confirm whether toy or food-contact obligations apply despite a decorative-use label.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,000 decorative porcelain fruit ornaments under 6913 10 00 90, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,500. Duty at 6% is £570. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,070, so it is £2,014. Import taxes total £2,584; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £570 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Shape and attachments: compare the fruit profile with the master sample, inspect stalks and leaves for cracks or loose joints, and check that the base stands without rocking.
Glaze and colour: check for pinholes, crawling, unintended crazing, exposed body and colour variation, especially around leaf recesses and stalk joins.
Arrival condition: unpack sampled pieces from different cartons, check projecting parts and bases for chips, and keep damaged pieces apart from saleable stock.
Packing and identification: check individual separation, cushioning around stalks and leaves, carton contents and design labels; inspect the pieces again after the agreed carton drop test.
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What goes wrong
Stalks and leaf tips break when packing supports only the fruit body. Loose inserts let pieces collide, while glazed bases can scratch furniture. Colour shading may change between firing batches, and a replacement glaze can alter the agreed appearance. Inspect the production batch against the approved sample and review the quality inspection process.
A visually convincing replica can introduce mouth-contact risks that a colour and finish check misses. Review realistic grapes, berries and detachable details during design approval. Keep the safety assessment separate from the packing trial, and reassess proposed changes to shape, attachments or presentation.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on decorative ceramic fruit from China?
The supplied tariff data gives 2% for common pottery and 6% for porcelain or china, earthenware or fine pottery and other ceramics, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Do ceramic fruit ornaments need a safety assessment?
Confirm the applicable consumer-ornament safety requirements in Great Britain with Trading Standards. Food-imitation rules also apply to fruit replicas. Assess realistic shapes and detachable parts before ordering.
Can I sell ceramic fruit as children's play food?
Assess whether toy rules apply if the product is presented as a plaything. Ask Trading Standards to confirm whether toy obligations apply despite a decorative-use label.
How should decorative ceramic fruit be packed?
Separate each piece, support projecting stalks and leaves, and prevent glazed surfaces rubbing. Agree a carton drop test and inspect the contents afterwards.