Sourcing dried anchovies from China
Dried anchovies from China carry 10% UK duty, with no duty variation between salted and unsalted whole dried fish on this line. Imports into Great Britain need an approved establishment, health certification and border notification; wild-caught fish also needs a validated catch certificate. Cambridge China Bridge sources dried anchovies.
10% duty on dried anchovies
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 9 November 2026, dried anchovies under 0305 54 50 00 carried 10% duty for goods from China. This line covers dried anchovies of Engraulis species, whether salted or unsalted, but not smoked. Heading 0305 covers a wider range of dried, salted and smoked fish. The table shows purchasing forms sharing the same tariff line.
The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line. It attaches veterinary, illegal fishing and organic import controls. For Great Britain, ask the relevant authority or your customs broker to confirm establishment approval, official health certification, IPAFFS pre-notification and border control post clearance requirements. For wild-caught anchovies, also confirm whether a catch certificate validated by the flag state is needed. Organic consignments from China also need a Great Britain certificate of inspection.
Confirm the commodity code using the scientific species name and processing description. State whether the fish is whole, dried, salted or smoked, rather than relying on the supplier's description of small dried fish. Other products are covered in our dried, salted and smoked fish guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole dried anchovies, unsalted | 0305 54 50 00 | 10% | None |
Specify species, drying and salt
Ask for the scientific species name, fishing origin and intended use, such as stock-making, cooking or direct consumption. Agree whole-fish size, whether heads and guts remain, acceptable broken pieces, drying method, moisture, salt, colour and odour against an approved sample. Record ingredients and treatments, pack material, net weight, storage conditions and the evidence supporting shelf life.
Check the factory's approval before ordering and match its identity to the shipment documents. Ask the relevant food authority to confirm the retail labelling requirements, including language, species, catch or production method and area, allergens, storage and business address. Agree who prepares and checks the artwork before printing.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of whole dried anchovies under 0305 54 50 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,500. Duty at 10% is £1,750. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,250, so it is £3,850. Import taxes total £5,600; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,750 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
Identity and documents: match the species, factory approval, batch references and quantities across the goods, invoice, packing list, health certificate and catch certificate.
Dryness and condition: inspect samples from different cartons for dampness, mould, insects, foreign matter, rancid odour and excessive breakage.
Batch testing: compare laboratory results for moisture, salt, histamine and microbiology with the agreed specification. A visual inspection cannot establish histamine content.
Packs and labels: check seals, net weight, batch identification, storage instructions and approved English artwork against the delivered goods.
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What goes wrong
A supplier may send a different small-fish species, mix size grades or deliver a saltier batch than the sample. Uneven drying and moisture entering damaged packs can leave fish damp or mouldy. Agree sampling and acceptance criteria before dispatch and hold suspect batches separately on arrival.
Border clearance can fail when the establishment is unapproved or certificates do not match the load. Dry appearance does not demonstrate safe handling or acceptable histamine results. Arrange factory verification and use a written inspection brief tied to the actual shipment.
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 dried anchovies from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 10% for 0305 54 50 00, covering dried anchovies, salted or unsalted but not smoked. It shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Can I import dried anchovies from China into Great Britain?
Ask the relevant authority or your customs broker to confirm whether the product can be imported into Great Britain and which fishery-product import conditions apply, including establishment approval, health certification, IPAFFS pre-notification and use of a suitable border control post.
Do dried anchovies need a catch certificate?
For wild-caught anchovies, ask the relevant authority or your customs broker to confirm whether a catch certificate validated by the competent authority of the fishing vessel's flag state is required. Do not assume drying removes any applicable catch-documentation requirement.
What should I test before buying dried anchovies?
Agree batch testing for histamine, moisture, salt and microbiology, alongside checks for species, size, broken fish, mould, insects and pack seals. Compare the delivered batch with the approved sample.