Sourcing dried cayenne chillies from China

Whole cayenne is duty free; ground cayenne has a suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 0904 covers pepper and dried, crushed or ground Capsicum and Pimenta fruit. Whole dried cayenne falls within 0904 21 90 20 at 0%; crushed or ground cayenne falls within 0904 22 00 19 at a 4% base rate, with a 0% autonomous suspension. The suspension excludes mixtures and preparations. No anti-dumping duty is recorded on these lines.

The tariff attaches an organic import control. Confirm inspection-certificate requirements for release as organic with your customs broker; the certificate is issued by the exporter's control body in the country of export. Confirm the paperwork with your customs broker before shipment. Also check the current high-risk food list for the product and Chinese origin, and ask the relevant port-health authority to confirm pre-notification and border-check requirements if the goods are listed.

The sweet-pepper rows are classification comparisons, not alternative descriptions for cayenne. Confirm the species, ingredients and whole, crushed or ground form using our commodity code guide. Sauces and seasoning blends are classified elsewhere. For another dried-chilli family within the wider heading, see our dried bird's eye chillies guide.

Specify cayenne identity, heat and drying

Specify cayenne variety and growing origin rather than accepting a generic red-chilli description. Agree whole pods, flakes or powder; stem removal; seed content; pod appearance or particle size; colour; pungency; moisture; and allowable foreign matter. Use a sealed approved sample alongside the written specification.

Ask the processor to describe drying, cleaning, grinding and any microbial treatment. Agree batch testing for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, pesticide residues, illegal dyes and Salmonella before shipment. Record whether the product is irradiated, and confirm applicable facility-approval and labelling requirements with the relevant food authority. Arrange testing and certification support around the actual batch.

Confirm the importer's food business registration and traceability requirements with the relevant food authority. Ask that authority to confirm retail label requirements for the product name, net quantity, business address and ingredients where blended. Match supplier batch references to the bags, laboratory reports and delivery records.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of whole dried cayenne chillies under 0904 21 90 20, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,500, so it is £3,300. 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. 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: compare pods and powder with the approved cayenne sample; check variety records, colour, aroma and pungency.

Condition: check moisture, mould, insect damage, stems, stones and other foreign matter; compare flake or powder size with the specification.

Safety: match laboratory reports to the supplied batch and review mycotoxin, pesticide residue, illegal dye and microbiological results.

Packing: inspect liners, seals and bags for tears or dampness; check batch references, label wording and organic documents where applicable.

What goes wrong

A supplier can deliver a different red-chilli variety with a similar appearance but different heat. Powder can conceal excess stalk material or substitution, while uneven drying and damp storage lead to mould and contamination. Colour alone does not establish cayenne identity or food safety.

Keep arrival stock separate while checking it against the approved sample and batch reports. Investigate musty odours, caking, wet liners or inconsistent heat before releasing the lot. Agree rejection and replacement arrangements with the supplier before ordering.

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.