Sourcing dried chlorella biomass from China
Dried chlorella biomass from China carries 0% duty on the relevant algae lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Before food sale in Great Britain, check the exact product’s novel-food status; organic consignments need separate import documentation. Cambridge China Bridge sources dried chlorella biomass.
Dried chlorella: 0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 1212 covers algae, including dried material whether or not ground, alongside other vegetable products. Its relevant dried-algae lines carry 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension shown. The table repeats codes to distinguish powder from unground biomass; these are not separate tariff subdivisions.
The relevant lines attach an organic-products import control. For organic food from China entering Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and export country against the non-UK organic registers. The exporter’s control body issues the certificate. Confirm the arrangements with your organic control body before dispatch.
Human-consumption suitability distinguishes 1212 21 00 00 from the other dried-algae line, 1212 29 00 90. Give your broker the species, manufacturing process, composition and intended use to confirm the commodity code. This guide concerns dried biomass; see the dried spirulina guide for another algae family within the heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dried chlorella biomass, unground, fit for human consumption | 1212 21 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Dried chlorella biomass, unground, not fit for human consumption | 1212 29 00 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the species and biomass process
Specify the botanical species, cultivation method, drying method and whether the cell wall is intact or disrupted. Describe the supplied form and disclose any carriers or other added ingredients. Agree moisture, particle size, colour, odour and dispersibility against an approved sample. Ask for batch-specific microbiological and contaminant testing rather than accepting a generic specification sheet.
Before food sale in Great Britain, the food business must verify novel-food status. Request supporting information for the exact species, process and intended use. Novel foods require authorisation before sale; do not treat a supplier’s food-grade description as proof of status. If importing the finished product as a food supplement, you are responsible for its composition, safety and labelling.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 kg of dried chlorella biomass powder for food manufacture; illustrative order under 1212 21 00 00, invoiced at £7,700 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,600, so it is £1,720. 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: match the species, supplied form and cell-wall treatment to the order and batch documents.
Powder: compare colour, odour, particle size and dispersibility with the approved sample; check for hard lumps and foreign material.
Testing: match the laboratory sample and report to the delivered lot; review moisture, microbiological results and the agreed contaminant panel.
Packaging: inspect liners, seals and moisture damage; match batch markings and net weight to the packing list. Use testing and certification support to agree the testing brief.
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What goes wrong
A common name can conceal a species or process change. A sample made with disrupted cells may be followed by untreated biomass, or added carriers may change composition and dispersibility. Put these details in the purchase specification and compare the arrival sample before releasing the batch.
Poorly sealed liners allow moisture pickup and caking. A report for another lot leaves the delivered batch unchecked. Organic paperwork and novel-food status are separate questions: resolve both before committing to food stock, and keep suspect material apart while investigating.
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 chlorella from China?
The relevant dried-algae lines, 1212 21 00 00 and 1212 29 00 90, carry 0% duty from China. The supplied tariff snapshot shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Can I sell any chlorella powder as food in Great Britain?
Check the exact product’s novel-food status before sale. Novel foods need authorisation. The supplier’s description alone does not establish the status of your species, process and intended use.
What documents do I need for organic chlorella from China?
For organic food entering Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and export country against the non-UK organic registers.
How do I check broken-cell-wall chlorella?
Agree the treatment and the supplier’s method for demonstrating it before ordering. Match the production record and test evidence to the delivered lot, then compare dispersibility with the approved sample.