Sourcing black soldier fly larvae from China
Dried black soldier fly larvae provisionally classified under 0511 99 85 90 carry 0% UK duty from China. Animal-feed imports from China face a safeguard: ask APHA to confirm an applicable exception and the intended feed use before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources dried black soldier fly larvae for animal feed.
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Zero duty does not establish import eligibility
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 October 2026, heading 0511 covers animal products not elsewhere specified or included and dead animals unfit for human consumption. The residual line 0511 99 85 90 carries 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure or suspension recorded. The table shows purchasing forms under the same provisional code.
That line attaches veterinary, CITES, organic-product and waste import controls, alongside CITES and waste export controls. Animal by-product imports require advance notification through IPAFFS and entry through an approved border control post. Ask your broker to confirm the common health entry document and supporting documents, and whether the other attached controls apply to these larvae.
APHA guidance prohibits animal-origin feed imports from China unless a listed exception applies. Obtain confirmation for the actual product and use before ordering. Confirm the commodity code against the species, whole-larva form and treatment. For the wider heading, see dried mealworms for animal feed.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dried whole black soldier fly larvae, bulk packed | 0511 99 85 90 | 0% | None |
Specify whole larvae and the intended feed use
Specify black soldier fly larvae, whole and dried, rather than an unspecified insect meal. Record the rearing substrate, harvesting stage, drying process, any added ingredients and whether the larvae retain their natural fat. Agree moisture, protein, fat, ash, size grading, broken material and dust against a retained sample.
Ask APHA whether the dried-invertebrate guidance covers your proposed use, including feed for wild birds, wild animals or pet fish. It requires packages to indicate that the goods are not for human consumption and forbids packaging that indicates uses outside its scope, including feeding farmed land animals. Ask APHA to confirm the route for your intended use and Chinese origin.
For a feed establishment in England or Wales, apply to the local authority for registration or approval as applicable. Ask the supplier for treatment records, batch test reports and proposed consignment documents before agreeing the order. Specify sealed packing that protects the larvae from moisture and crushing.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative pallet of bulk-packed dried whole black soldier fly larvae, conditional on import eligibility under 0511 99 85 90, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,400, so it is £480. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: compare whole-larva appearance, declared species, size grading and added ingredients with the retained sample and production records.
Condition: check representative packs for damp, mould, rancid odour, clumping, foreign matter, broken larvae and excessive dust.
Tests: compare batch-linked moisture, protein, fat, ash, microbiological and contaminant results with the agreed acceptance criteria.
Packing and records: check seals, batch marks, intended-use wording and the statement that the goods are not for human consumption; match the shipment to its treatment records.
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What goes wrong
A supplier's general description of 'animal feed' leaves the destination animals and import route unresolved. A tariff code and zero duty do not resolve the China safeguard. Ask APHA to assess the product description, processing and intended use before paying for production.
Uneven drying, moisture entering damaged bags and excessive crushing can make the delivered batch differ from the sample. An attractive sample does not establish the condition of the shipment. Agree representative sampling and batch-linked testing, and investigate substituted lots or missing treatment records.
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 black soldier fly larvae from China?
The supplied tariff reading gives 0% for 0511 99 85 90, with no trade remedy or suspension recorded. Confirm classification and import eligibility separately.
Can I import dried black soldier fly larvae from China?
Do not assume eligibility. APHA guidance restricts animal-origin feed from China unless a listed exception applies. Ask APHA to confirm the proposed product and intended use before ordering.
Can I label dried larvae as chicken feed?
The dried-invertebrate route described here excludes packaging indicating feed for farmed land animals. Do not use that route to justify a chicken-feed label.
What should I check when dried larvae arrive?
Check species and batch identity, moisture, odour, mould, dust, broken larvae and pack seals. Compare batch test results and treatment records with the contract and retained sample.