Sourcing dried persimmons from China

Dried persimmon duty and mixture codes

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 0813 covers dried fruit other than that of headings 0801 to 0806, and mixtures of nuts or dried fruit. For plain dried persimmons, the residual other-dried-fruit line 0813 40 95 80 is the starting point for classification. The mixture rows cover different recipes, not alternative codes for plain persimmons. See the wider dried-fruit guide.

For goods from China, 0813 40 95 80 has a 2% baseline duty and a 0% autonomous suspension. Its footnote excludes mixtures, preparations and products containing different components. The selected mixture lines carry 6% or 8%. Although 0813 50 15 00 also lists a suspension, its exclusion prevents applying it to these mixtures. The supplied tariff facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty on these lines.

The tariff attaches organic-product import control. For organic consignments from China into Great Britain, confirm certificate-of-inspection requirements for each consignment with the relevant authority or your customs broker. The certificate of inspection is issued by the exporter's control body in the country of export. Confirm organic clearance arrangements with your customs broker before dispatch. Use the complete ingredient list and processing description to confirm the commodity code and any suspension claim.

Specify the persimmon form and drying finish

Specify the variety, whole flattened fruit or slices, peeled or unpeeled finish, seeds and calyx removal, size grading, colour and texture. Agree acceptable surface sugar bloom against an approved sample. Set contractual moisture and water-activity targets, added ingredients, preservative treatment, packaging, storage conditions and remaining shelf life on arrival.

Confirm applicable pesticide-residue and contaminant limits for dried fruit with the relevant food authority, including how concentration during drying should be assessed. Ask for batch-specific laboratory results rather than a report for an earlier harvest. Confirm sulphur dioxide allergen-labelling requirements with the relevant food authority before approving labels. Agree the test scope before production through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of plain dried persimmons 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 shape, size, colour, chewiness and surface bloom with the approved sample; inspect for seeds, stalk fragments, insects and foreign matter.

Drying: check moisture and water activity against the contract; investigate wet centres, excessive stickiness, fermentation odours and visible mould.

Packaging: inspect seals, liners and cartons for leaks, condensation and crushing; check that batch markings match the laboratory samples and shipment records.

Labels: food businesses must include a business name and address on the packaging or food label. Check declared ingredients and sulphites against the recipe and test results, and verify organic inspection documents where organic claims are used.

What goes wrong

A soft sample can be followed by hard, unevenly dried bulk fruit. Wet centres and damaged seals can leave fruit sticky, fermented or mouldy on arrival. Do not accept an unfamiliar white coating as sugar bloom without investigation. Undeclared preservative treatment, insects and pesticide-residue failures can also make a batch unsuitable.

Retain the approved sample and inspect the actual shipment batch before release. Keep test results tied to batch markings, and agree how defects will be recorded and resolved. Read the quality inspection guide.

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.