Sourcing dried dandelion root from China

Dandelion root classification and duty

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, crushed and powdered material. The relevant candidate is 1211 90 86 90, carrying 0% duty from China. The supplied facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on that line.

The line attaches organic import control, CITES import and export controls, and Home Office controlled-drug import and export controls. Organic root imported from China into Great Britain requires a Great Britain certificate of inspection. For listed species, CITES documentation applies; controlled drugs or precursor chemicals require a licence. Have your customs broker confirm how these tariff controls apply to the declared botanical species and shipment.

The table shows different presentations against the same candidate tariff line, rather than separate commodity lines. Confirm the species, preparation and intended use through finding your commodity code. For the wider heading, see dried liquorice root.

Specify the root, preparation and intended use

Write the botanical species and root-only requirement into the purchase specification. Agree whole roots, cut pieces or powder, the acceptable fines and foreign material, moisture specification and packaging. Record washing, drying, sulphur treatment and any roasting. Keep an approved reference sample; a common name alone does not establish botanical identity.

For food or supplement use, establish the novel food status of the actual species, plant part and preparation. Novel foods need authorisation before sale in Great Britain. Before selling products with medicinal claims, confirm any herbal registration or marketing authorisation requirements with MHRA. Agree batch testing for pesticide residues, heavy metals, sulphites, microbiological contamination and moisture through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 kg of cut dried dandelion root; illustrative order, not a quotation under 1211 90 86 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,400, so it is £680. 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 the roots with the approved sample and verify the botanical identification report; check for leaves, stems and unrelated roots.

Preparation: check cut consistency, powder fineness and the amount of dust, soil and stones against the agreed specification.

Condition: check moisture results, mould, musty smells, insects, clumping and damaged bag liners on arrival.

Batch evidence: match bag markings, packing records and laboratory reports to the delivered lot; have the broker check organic paperwork and the tariff control declarations before dispatch.

What goes wrong

A supplier can interpret dandelion as a different species or supply mixed plant parts. Powder makes substitution and residual soil harder to spot. Poor drying or leaking liners can leave roots damp and mouldy; sulphur treatment can leave residues. Use botanical identification and batch-linked laboratory results alongside the physical inspection.

A supplier's organic certificate is not a substitute for checking import documentation. Settle the organic route with your broker before shipping. Keep food, supplement and medicinal uses clear in the specification and proposed sales claims.

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.