Sourcing dried chrysanthemum flowers from China

Duty and controls for dried chrysanthemum flowers

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 1211 covers plants and plant parts used primarily in perfumery, pharmacy or insecticidal and similar applications, including dried, cut and powdered material. The residual line 1211 90 86 90 carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension. The table shows purchasing forms sharing that provisional line, rather than separate chrysanthemum tariff codes.

The line attaches organic import controls and CITES and Home Office controlled-drug import and export controls. For organic imports, your company must be based and certified in the UK; the exporter’s control body issues the certificate of inspection. Confirm the consignment requirements with your customs broker and organic control body. CITES-listed species require the relevant permits, and importing controlled drugs requires a licence. Have your broker confirm whether these species-dependent controls apply to the flowers supplied.

Give your broker the botanical identity, plant part, processing details and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Do not classify a blend or extract solely by its chrysanthemum ingredient. See the wider medicinal-herbs guide for other products within the heading.

Specify the flower, processing and intended use

Specify the botanical species and cultivar, growing origin, buds or open flower heads, whole or cut form, drying method and any fumigation or additives. Agree colour, aroma, stalk content, broken-flower allowance and moisture against an approved sample. For infusion use, compare the brewed colour, flavour and sediment as well as the dry appearance.

For food or supplement use, check that the exact botanical material is not a novel food or has the necessary authorisation. Traditional medicinal use alone does not establish food-use status. Before making medicinal claims, confirm with MHRA whether herbal registration or marketing authorisation is required. Set the intended sales description before approving packaging, and agree the testing scope through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order only: 500 kg of whole dried chrysanthemum flowers under 1211 90 86 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £30,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,900, so it is £6,180. 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 flowers and supplier botanical records with the approved reference; check for mixed species, excessive stalks and substituted grades.

Condition: inspect representative packs for dampness, mould, insects, foreign matter, crushed heads and abnormal colour or odour; measure moisture against the contract.

Testing: match the batch to laboratory reports for pesticide residues, heavy metals, sulphites and microbiological contamination; agree the panel for the intended use.

Packing: check sealed moisture-resistant liners, carton condition and batch identification; reconcile the delivered lot with the packing list and test samples.

What goes wrong

A sample of intact flower heads can be followed by bulk packs containing broken petals and stalks. Bright-looking flowers can conceal processing differences, while damp packing encourages mould. Record the drying and fumigation process, retain an approved sample and compare the delivered batch before releasing it for use.

A generic herb test report may describe a different species or batch. A Chinese medicinal sales description also does not settle UK food-use status. Resolve identity, intended claims and the tariff’s flagged controls before shipment; keep suspect or mismatched stock separate 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.