Sourcing dried lupin beans from China

Dried lupin bean duty and organic controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 0713 covers dried shelled leguminous vegetables, whether or not skinned or split. Dried lupin beans not for sowing fall within 0713 90 00 90; sowing seed has the separate line 0713 90 00 10. The table shows different product forms sharing these tariff lines.

The relevant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure or suspension listed. The tariff attaches an organic import control. Organic imports from China into Great Britain need a GB Certificate of Inspection, and an approved UK organic control body must certify your food and business. Confirm exporter eligibility and clearance documents with your control body and customs broker.

Confirm the commodity code against the species, processing and intended use. For sowing seed, confirm any seed and plant-health requirements with APHA or the relevant seed authority. Confirm the VAT treatment of dried pulses sold as food with HMRC or your customs broker; see UK import duty and VAT. For other pulses, use the dried beans and pulses guide.

Specify the lupin variety and preparation

Specify the botanical species and cultivar, food use, whole or split form, skin removal, colour and size grade. Ask for lot-specific alkaloid analysis and preparation instructions rather than accepting a supplier's description of the beans as sweet. Agree moisture, broken beans, discolouration, foreign matter and insect acceptance criteria in writing.

Confirm food-business registration requirements with your local authority before importing. Food businesses must provide allergen information, and lupin labelling rules apply to all lupin species. Make the lupin identity clear on the pack. Agree pesticide residue testing against GB maximum residue levels and match reports to the shipped lot. Arrange testing and certification before approving the shipment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of dried whole lupin beans for food under 0713 90 00 90, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,500, so it is £5,300. 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 and reports: match species, cultivar, product form and bag lot marks to the order and alkaloid analysis; investigate unexplained substitutions.

Moisture and condition: sample bags from different pallet positions; measure moisture against the contract and check for mould, unusual odour, live insects and exit holes.

Grading and cleanliness: compare size, splits, shrivelled and discoloured beans, stones, soil and other seeds with the agreed grade.

Packing and labels: check clean bags, intact seams, net weight and clear lupin identification; match organic documents where applicable. Use quality inspection to record findings.

What goes wrong

A sample can look uniform while the shipment mixes cultivars, sizes or different preparation needs. A generic report may describe another lot. Keep the approved sample, obtain reports tied to bag lot marks and trial the agreed preparation process before accepting bulk stock.

Excess moisture leads to mould, while insects, stones and damaged beans expose weak cleaning and grading. Missing organic documents can interrupt clearance. Hold affected stock apart while the supplier, laboratory or customs broker resolves the discrepancy, and record the condition before repacking.

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.