Sourcing dried cherries from China
Plain dried cherries from China carry 2% UK duty, suspended to 0% for eligible goods; cherry-containing mixtures can pay 6% to 8%. Confirm the applicable pesticide residue, contaminant and sulphite declaration requirements with the relevant UK food authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources dried cherries.
Dried cherry duty and suspension conditions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 0813 covers dried fruit and mixtures of nuts or dried fruit. Plain dried cherries fall within the residual other dried fruit line, 0813 40 95 80: its base duty for China is 2%, with an autonomous suspension to 0%. The supplied snapshot shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty on the selected lines.
The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products containing different components. Cherry-containing dried fruit mixtures can carry 6% or 8%, depending on composition. The snapshot also displays a suspension on 0813 50 15 00 with the same exclusion, so do not assume a fruit blend qualifies. Confirm eligibility with your customs broker. Each selected line carries an organic import control; confirm the inspection certificate requirements for organic consignments from China with your organic control body.
Confirm the commodity code using the full recipe and processing description. Sugar-preserved or candied cherries need a separate classification check. See the wider dried fruit guide for other products within the heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain dried cherries | 0813 40 95 80 | 2% | None |
| Dried cherry and other dried fruit mixtures, excluding prunes | 0813 50 15 00 | 6% | None |
| Dried fruit mixtures containing cherries and prunes | 0813 50 19 00 | 8% | None |
| Other cherry-containing fruit and nut mixtures, excluding prunes and figs | 0813 50 91 80 | 8% | None |
Specify the cherries, pitting and drying
Specify sweet or sour cherries, variety, growing origin, whole or cut fruit, pitted condition, colour, texture and permitted defects. Agree moisture and water activity targets with the processor, together with the sampling method. Describe any sugar infusion, surface oil or preservative explicitly, and retain an approved sample for comparison.
Confirm the applicable UK pesticide residue and contaminant limits with the relevant food authority. Agree batch testing that accounts for concentration during drying. Confirm whether sulphur dioxide above 10 mg/kg needs to be declared as an allergen. If the product contains added ingredients, they must all be listed.
For organic purchases, the importing company must be based and certified in the UK. Confirm with your organic control body whether each consignment from China needs an inspection certificate, issued by the exporter’s control body in the country of export. Check the paperwork with your organic control body before shipment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order only: 5 tonnes of plain dried cherries under 0813 40 95 80, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £21,800. Duty at 2% is £436. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £22,236, so it is £4,447.20. Import taxes total £4,883.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £436 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
Pitting: cut open sampled cherries and check for whole stones, sharp pit fragments, stalks and foreign matter.
Condition: compare colour, size and chewiness with the approved sample; check moisture, water activity, clumping, mould and insect damage.
Testing: match pesticide, contaminant and sulphur dioxide reports to the shipment batch; investigate results that do not match the agreed specification.
Packing: check liner seals, carton condition, batch identification and ingredient information; reconcile organic certificates with the consignment where applicable.
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What goes wrong
A pitted sample can conceal poor pitting in production. Excess moisture can leave cherries sticky, fermented or mouldy on arrival, while uneven drying produces a mixture of hard and soft fruit. Sugar-infused fruit can also differ substantially from the plain cherries used for recipe trials.
Undeclared sulphites, residue failures and organic paperwork gaps can undermine an otherwise acceptable batch. Hold suspect stock apart while investigating, and agree how arrival samples will be compared with retained shipment samples. Use the inspection guide to organise the checks.
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 cherries from China?
Plain dried cherries under 0813 40 95 80 have a 2% base duty and a 0% suspension for eligible goods. Cherry-containing mixtures can pay 6% or 8%. The suspension excludes mixtures and preparations.
Do dried cherries qualify for zero-rated VAT?
Confirm with HMRC whether dried fruit sold as food is zero-rated for VAT. Check the exact product if it is sugar-preserved, coated or otherwise prepared.
What paperwork do organic dried cherries need?
Confirm with your organic control body whether each organic consignment from China needs an inspection certificate issued by the exporter’s control body. The importing company must be based and certified in the UK.
What should I check in pitted dried cherries?
Check for whole stones and sharp pit fragments, then compare moisture, texture, colour and size with the agreed specification. Match laboratory reports to the batch being shipped.