Sourcing dehydrated leek flakes from China

12% base duty, with a 0% leek suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 0712 covers dried vegetables, whole, cut, sliced, broken or powdered, but not further prepared. Plain dried leek flakes fall within 0712 90 90 90. The table shows purchasing variants sharing this code, rather than separate tariff lines.

For Chinese-origin goods, the base duty is 12%. The recorded autonomous suspension is 0% for qualifying dried leeks; mixtures and preparations are excluded. The reference guide records this suspension until 31 December 2028. The supplied tariff facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing measure. The tariff attaches an organic-products import control: an organic importer must be UK-based and certified, and each organic consignment needs a certificate of inspection.

Give your broker the botanical identity, complete ingredients and drying process before confirming the commodity code and suspension eligibility. Do not assume a seasoned product or vegetable blend receives the same treatment. See the dehydrated onion flakes guide for related products within this heading.

Specify the leek cut and green-to-white balance

State that the ingredient is leek, rather than onion or garlic. Agree the green-leaf and white-stem balance, flake dimensions, permitted fines, colour and rehydrated texture against an approved sample. Declare any additives or other ingredients, and distinguish pure leek from a vegetable blend.

Set contractual moisture, foreign-matter and microbiological acceptance criteria for the intended recipe. Confirm applicable GB pesticide residue limits and how processing affects their application with the relevant food safety authority. Ask for batch-linked residue, sulphite and microbiological reports, and agree moisture-resistant inner liners, seals and storage instructions before ordering.

Confirm sulphite allergen declaration requirements with the relevant food safety authority before approving labels. For organic orders, have the importer certification and consignment certificate checked before dispatch; ask your broker and organic control body to confirm the documents for the shipment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 5 tonnes of plain dehydrated leek flakes for a wholesale ingredient order; illustrative figures under 0712 90 90 90, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,500. Duty at 12% is £2,460. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £22,960, so it is £4,592. Import taxes total £7,052; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,460 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

Cut and colour: compare flakes with the approved sample; check the green-to-white balance, fines, browned edges and tough stem pieces.

Moisture and packing: check moisture against the contract, look for clumping or mould, and inspect inner liners and seals for damage on arrival.

Foreign matter and cooking performance: screen for grit, stones, insects and plastic; rehydrate a sample using the agreed method and compare texture and flavour.

Batch and labels: match bag and carton lot codes to test reports; check net weight, product identity, storage instructions and any required sulphite declaration. Use the inspection guide to plan the checks.

What goes wrong

A sample with mostly white leek can become a shipment dominated by green leaves or tough stems. Excess fines change dosing and appearance in soups or sauces. Poor washing leaves grit between leaf layers, while excessive drying can brown the flakes and weaken their flavour.

Moisture entering through damaged liners can cause clumping or mould. A report for another batch does not establish the condition of the delivered goods. Keep suspect stock separate, record the lot and packaging condition, and arrange batch-specific investigation before using it.

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.