Sourcing dried crickets for feed from China

Zero duty, with import restrictions

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 October 2026, heading 0511 covers animal products not elsewhere specified and dead animals unfit for human consumption. The supplied residual line, 0511 99 85 90, carries 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. The table shows buying formats under that line, subject to classification confirmation.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches veterinary, CITES, organic-product and waste import controls to this line, plus CITES and waste export controls. For a proposed Chinese consignment, confirm the veterinary documents and common health entry document with your customs broker. Animal by-product imports require advance notification through IPAFFS and entry through an approved border control post. Ask the broker to confirm how the CITES and waste controls apply to the declared species and material.

Zero duty does not establish permission to import. Official guidance prohibits animal-origin products from China for animal-feed use unless a listed safeguard exception applies. Ask APHA to confirm the exception for the actual crickets, processing and intended animals before ordering. For organic imports, settle the certificate of inspection and exporter eligibility with your control body. Confirm the commodity code and compare the wider heading in our dried mealworms guide.

Specify the cricket species and intended animals

Specify the cricket species, whole-insect form, size distribution, drying method and intended animals. Agree acceptance criteria for moisture, broken bodies, loose legs, dust, foreign matter, odour and packaging against a retained sample. Ask for processing records and batch-specific microbiological reports. Use factory verification to identify the actual processor.

For a proposed wild-bird feed product, assess the official wild-bird import guidance alongside the China safeguard. That guidance requires drying sufficient to destroy pathogens, including salmonella, precautions against recontamination and secure new containers. It also requires an exporter- or manufacturer-signed commercial document identifying the material, species, origin and intended use.

Under that wild-bird route, packages must indicate that the contents are not for human consumption, and ready-to-sell packs must identify the permitted intended animals. Dried terrestrial insects cannot be used in farm-animal feed or hen treats. Most businesses manufacturing or marketing feed require registration or approval; confirm your importing and wholesale activities with the competent authority.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small wholesale lot of whole dried crickets, conditional on import clearance under 0511 99 85 90, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,400, so it is £480. 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.

Inspection checklist

Identity: compare the species, whole-insect appearance, size grading and batch marks with the purchase specification and retained sample.

Condition: sample across packs for damp, mould, unusual odour, excessive fragments, dust and foreign matter; compare moisture results with the agreed specification.

Treatment: reconcile processing records and microbiological reports with the delivered batch; appearance alone cannot demonstrate the effectiveness of drying.

Packing: check seals, liners, carton damage and label artwork against the confirmed intended use. Arrange checks using our inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A sample of intact crickets can be followed by production lots containing loose legs, crushed bodies and dust. Damp liners, weak seals or uneven drying can leave stock with mould or an abnormal smell. Photograph affected packs, retain representative samples and keep suspect stock separate while investigating.

A supplier's description of 'animal feed' leaves the target animals and import route unresolved. Wild-bird packaging does not settle the China safeguard, and hen-treat artwork conflicts with the prohibition on feeding dried terrestrial insects to farm animals. Confirm admissibility before committing to production, then match the specification, documents and labels to the confirmed use.

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.