Sourcing dried cider yeast from China
Dried cider yeast from China carries 0% UK duty across the relevant yeast lines, with no listed trade remedy. Imported food must be safe and legal, and organic consignments need a certificate of inspection. Specify the strain and test fermentation in apple juice. Cambridge China Bridge sources dried cider yeast.
Zero duty and organic import controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 2102 covers active and inactive yeasts, other dead single-cell micro-organisms and prepared baking powders. All listed lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table compares active yeast with separately supplied inactive yeast nutrients; inactive yeast is not a substitute for the fermentation culture.
The tariff attaches import control of organic products. Organic dried cider yeast from China entering Great Britain needs a certificate of inspection for each consignment, including samples not intended for sale. Your importing company must be based and certified in the UK. Ask your organic control body to confirm the exporter’s certification and the paperwork before shipment.
Confirm the commodity code from the yeast’s active or inactive state, culture specification, composition and intended use. Treat 2102 10 90 90 as a candidate for active dried cider yeast rather than a classification guarantee. Use the active dried wine yeast guide for the wider heading context.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other active yeast, non-feed: candidate line for dried cider yeast | 2102 10 90 90 | 0% | None |
| Culture yeast, non-feed: compare with the supplied culture specification | 2102 10 10 90 | 0% | None |
| Other inactive yeast, non-feed: separately supplied yeast nutrient | 2102 20 19 90 | 0% | None |
| Inactive yeast, non-feed, in tablets, cubes or packs not exceeding 1 kg | 2102 20 11 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the strain and apple-juice performance
Ask for the strain identity, complete formulation, batch certificate of analysis and rehydration instructions. Agree acceptance criteria for viable yeast, moisture, microbiological quality, fermentation temperature, alcohol tolerance, nutrient needs and remaining shelf life. Specify the sealed pack format and storage conditions.
Trial the sample in your own apple juice with your intended nutrient programme. Record fermentation start, completion, residual sweetness, aroma, sulphurous notes and settling. Agree the trial method and acceptance criteria before approving production. Importers must ensure their goods are safe and legal before import into Great Britain.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: sealed packs of dried cider yeast for a small cider producer, subject to code confirmation under 2102 10 90 90, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,500, so it is £700. 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 strain, formulation and batch references across the purchase specification, packs and certificate of analysis.
Activity: rehydrate an arrival sample as instructed and compare fermentation in apple juice with the approved sample; review viability, moisture and microbiological results.
Packing: check seals, moisture damage, clumping, carton condition, date marks and remaining shelf life against the agreed specification.
Labels: for retail packs sold in Great Britain, check the product name, ingredients, net quantity, date mark and UK food-business address. Check organic import documents where applicable. Plan the sampling with the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A supplier substitutes a general fermentation yeast for the approved cider strain, or the production lot behaves differently in your juice. Fermentation starts slowly, leaves unwanted sweetness or produces an unacceptable aroma. A batch certificate alone does not show how the yeast performs in your recipe.
Leaking packs, moisture and heat exposure can undermine the delivered yeast’s activity. Compare arrival samples with retained approved samples and investigate affected lots before production use. Approve retail labels and organic paperwork before dispatch so packaging changes do not hold up the shipment.
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 cider yeast from China?
The relevant yeast lines carry 0% duty for goods from China in the supplied tariff snapshot, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the exact code from the product specification.
Which commodity code covers dried cider yeast?
2102 10 90 90 is a candidate for other active yeast not used for feed. Check the culture specification and formulation with your customs broker before declaring it.
Can I import organic dried cider yeast from China?
For Great Britain, your company must be based and certified in the UK, and each organic consignment needs a certificate of inspection. Confirm the exporter’s certification with your organic control body.
How do I check cider yeast before using it?
Match the strain and batch documents, inspect pack seals and date marks, then trial an arrival sample in your apple juice against the approved sample using the agreed rehydration method.