Sourcing Dried Mulberries from China
Plain dried mulberries from China have a 2% base duty, suspended to 0% on the supplied tariff reading; mulberry blends can carry 6% to 8%. Confirm applicable UK pesticide residue and contaminant limits with the relevant authority; organic consignments need an inspection certificate. Cambridge China Bridge sources dried mulberries.
Plain mulberries: 2% base duty, suspended to 0%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 0813 covers dried fruit other than the fruit of headings 0801 to 0806, and mixtures of nuts or dried fruit. For plain dried mulberries, confirm the residual other dried fruit line, 0813 40 95 80. Its duty for goods from China is 2%, with an autonomous suspension to 0%. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components.
Relevant mulberry blends carry base rates of 6% or 8%, depending on their ingredients. The supplied facts also display a suspension on 0813 50 15 00, but its footnote excludes mixtures: do not assume a blend qualifies. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded for the selected lines. For the wider heading, see dried fruit and goji berries.
The tariff attaches an organic import control. Organic consignments from China need an inspection certificate; the exporter’s control body issues it in the country of export. Confirm the paperwork before shipment. Give your broker the full ingredients and processing description, then confirm the commodity code, especially for sweetened fruit or blends.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain dried mulberries: other dried fruit | 0813 40 95 80 | 2% | None |
| Mulberries with other heading 0813 dried fruit, without prunes | 0813 50 15 00 | 6% | None |
| Mulberries with other dried fruit, containing prunes | 0813 50 19 00 | 8% | None |
| Other mulberry and nut blends, without prunes or figs | 0813 50 91 80 | 8% | None |
Specify the mulberry, drying method and texture
Specify white or dark mulberries, variety where known, growing origin, whole fruit or pieces, drying method, colour, texture and flavour. Agree moisture, water activity, broken fruit, stalks and foreign matter against an approved sample. State whether sugar, oil or preservatives are added, and whether the fruit is for snacking, baking or further processing.
Confirm applicable UK pesticide residue and contaminant limits with the relevant authority, including how concentration during drying is assessed. Agree batch testing for residues, sulphur dioxide and microbiological quality with a laboratory. Confirm with the relevant authority whether sulphur dioxide above 10 mg/kg requires allergen declaration for the product. Prepacked food must carry a business name and address.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 5 tonnes of plain dried mulberries, illustrative order under 0813 40 95 80, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £21,800. Duty at 2% is £436. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £22,236, so it is £4,447.20. Import taxes total £4,883.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £436 of duty. 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
Fruit: compare colour, size, flavour and texture with the approved sample; check crushed berries, stalks, grit, insects and visible mould.
Dryness: measure moisture and water activity against the agreed specification; examine sticky clumps, condensation and fermented smells.
Batch evidence: match laboratory reports to the shipment lot and declared ingredients; check sulphite results and any organic inspection certificate.
Packaging: check liner seals, carton condition, net weight and batch identification; compare label wording with the agreed artwork. Use the quality inspection guide to define the inspection brief.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A dry-looking sample can conceal uneven drying across the batch. Damp berries clump or develop mould, while excessive handling leaves crushed fruit and loose stalks. White mulberries can vary noticeably in colour and chewiness. Compare samples drawn from the shipment with the approved sample rather than relying on supplier photographs.
Residue failures, undeclared sulphites and missing organic paperwork can undermine an otherwise acceptable batch. Keep suspect stock separate while you investigate. Buying a mulberry blend on the assumption that it receives the plain-fruit suspension can also change the duty calculation.
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 mulberries from China?
The supplied reading gives 0813 40 95 80 a 2% base duty, suspended to 0% for qualifying plain dried fruit. Relevant mulberry blends carry 6% or 8% base rates. Confirm the ingredients and suspension conditions.
Can I import organic dried mulberries from China?
Organic consignments need an inspection certificate issued by the exporter’s control body in the country of export. Confirm the organic import paperwork before shipment.
What should I test before shipping dried mulberries?
Agree batch tests for pesticide residues, sulphur dioxide, moisture, water activity and microbiological quality. Match reports to the shipment lot; visual inspection cannot establish residue compliance.
Is import VAT due on plain dried mulberries?
Confirm the VAT treatment of plain dried mulberries sold as food with HMRC. Check the exact product and how it is sold, particularly if it is coated or presented as confectionery.