Sourcing dehydrated spinach flakes from China
Plain dehydrated spinach flakes from China carry 12% UK duty, with no applicable suspension or recorded trade remedy. Imported flakes must meet GB food hygiene and safety standards; organic consignments need a certificate of inspection. Cambridge China Bridge sources dehydrated spinach flakes.
Spinach flakes carry 12% duty
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 dehydrated spinach flakes fall within the other-vegetables line, 0712 90 90 90, subject to confirmation of the actual product. The table also shows separately supplied recipe ingredients, not alternative spinach classifications.
Chinese-origin spinach flakes carry 12% duty. The recorded 0.00 % suspension on this line names asparagus, broccoli, leeks, pumpkins and cabbages, not spinach. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. The tariff attaches an organic-products control: organic imports from China into Great Britain require a certificate of inspection for each consignment and a check against the non-UK organic registers.
Give your broker the ingredient declaration, drying process and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Seasoned, oiled or fried vegetables leave this heading. For the wider heading and another flake ingredient, see dehydrated carrot flakes.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dehydrated spinach flakes, not further prepared | 0712 90 90 90 | 12% | None |
| Dried carrots, supplied separately for recipe blending | 0712 90 50 00 | 12% | None |
| Dried onions, supplied separately for recipe blending | 0712 20 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Dried tomatoes, supplied separately for recipe blending | 0712 90 30 00 | 12% | None |
Specify leaf content, flake size and cooking use
Specify spinach leaf flakes rather than a leaf-and-stem mixture. Agree flake size, permitted fines, stem content, colour, moisture, foreign matter and packaging against an approved sample. Record whether the ingredient will be cooked in soup, dough or sauce, and test its rehydrated texture and flavour in that recipe.
Imported dried vegetables must meet GB hygiene and food safety standards. Specify batch testing for pesticide residues against GB maximum residue levels and for microbiology. Ask the laboratory to assess applicable contaminant requirements and the treatment of drying when interpreting results. Agree sealed moisture-resistant liners and storage instructions before shipment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 kg of plain dehydrated spinach flakes; illustrative values only under 0712 90 90 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,350 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,850. Duty at 12% is £462. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,312, so it is £862.40. Import taxes total £1,324.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £462 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
Leaf and cut: compare samples from different bags with the approved sample for green colour, stem content, fines and flake size; rehydrate a sample in the intended recipe.
Moisture and condition: check measured moisture against the contract, then inspect for clumping, musty odour, insects, grit and damaged liners.
Batch evidence: match bag and carton lot codes to the residue and microbiology reports. Check that the tested material represents the shipment, using the inspection guide.
Packaging and labels: check seals, net weight, product identity and storage instructions. For organic goods, match the shipment to its certificate of inspection and verify the exporter’s control body and export country against the official registers.
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What goes wrong
A sample can look leafy while the shipment contains more stems and powder. Excess moisture encourages clumping and mould, while poor sorting leaves grit or insect fragments. Colour alone does not establish safety: drying can concentrate pesticide residues.
Keep suspect bags separate while you investigate and compare retained samples with shipment results. Do not assume that another vegetable’s suspension covers spinach, or that a supplier’s organic certificate replaces the consignment certificate of inspection.
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 dehydrated spinach flakes from China?
Plain flakes under 0712 90 90 90 carry 12% duty. The recorded suspension covers named vegetables, not spinach, and no anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Can I import organic spinach flakes from China?
For Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check that the exporter’s control body and export country appear on the non-UK organic registers.
What tests should I request for dried spinach flakes?
Request batch-linked pesticide residue and microbiology results, moisture checks and foreign matter screening. Ask the laboratory to assess applicable contaminant requirements for the dried product.
How do I check spinach flakes on arrival?
Compare leaf, stem and fines content with the approved sample. Check moisture, odour, clumping, bag seals and lot codes, then rehydrate a sample in your intended recipe.