Dried fruit and goji berries from China

0% to 8%, with suspensions

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, dried apricots carried 4% duty on goods from China, dried apples 2%, prunes 8%, goji berries and other dried fruit of heading 0813 2%, dried tamarinds, lychees and other listed tropical fruit 0%, and mixtures of dried fruit or nuts up to 8% depending on what they contain, with no anti-dumping measure. Suspensions give 0% to prunes, goji berries and other dried fruit to 31 December 2026, and to dried apples to 31 December 2028; none covers mixtures.

Dried grapes and raisins are in heading 0806, dried citrus peel in 0814, and sugared or candied fruit in chapter 20, so check the product before choosing the code. Confirm the commodity code. Our raisins and sultanas guide covers dried vine fruit.

Residues, contaminants and labels

Dried fruit must meet the maximum residue levels for pesticides in retained Regulation 396/2005, which apply to the dried product after allowing for concentration, and the contaminant limits in retained Regulation 1881/2006. Goji berries in particular have a history of residue failures, so ask for a recent multi-residue test from an accredited laboratory on each lot before shipment.

Sulphur dioxide is widely used to keep apricots and other light fruit bright, and above 10 mg/kg it must be declared as an allergen under retained Regulation 1169/2011. Dried fruit is food and zero-rated for VAT under VAT Notice 701/14, but organic claims need an inspection certificate for each consignment, and border checks apply where a product is listed as a higher-risk food.

Worked duty example

A hypothetical order, not a quote: 5 tonnes of dried apricots under 0813 10 00 00, bought for £20,000 free on board with £1,800 of freight and insurance, so the customs value is £21,800. Duty at 4% is £872. Dried fruit is food and zero-rated for VAT, so no import VAT is due, and the landed cost before clearance fees is £22,672. Goji berries under 0813 40 95 10 would enter at 0% until 31 December 2026 under the suspension. See UK import duty and VAT for the method.

What goes wrong

Dried fruit fails on residues, moisture and pests. Pesticide residues exceed UK limits, sulphites are present but undeclared, moisture is too high so fruit ferments or grows mould in transit, and insects or larvae appear in cartons after a warm voyage. Goji berries sold as organic arrive without a valid inspection certificate, and colour and size vary from the approved sample.

Test each lot for pesticide residues and sulphur dioxide at an accredited laboratory, measure moisture against the specification, inspect samples for insects, stones and foreign matter, compare size grading and colour with the approved sample, check organic certificates before shipment, and ship in liners with controlled temperature where the route is hot.

Cambridge China Bridge sources dried apricots, apples, goji berries and mixed dried fruit for food brands and wholesalers, including trial pallets before a regular contract. See our service for smaller orders.