Sourcing dried saffron from China
Dried saffron from China carries 0% UK duty, whether supplied as threads, crushed saffron or powder. Confirm food business registration, retail labelling and GB pesticide residue requirements with the relevant food authority. Organic saffron needs an inspection certificate. Check authenticity against dyed plant fibre before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources dried saffron.
Dried saffron duty and organic controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, dried saffron under heading 0910 carried 0% duty from China. Threads neither crushed nor ground use 0910 20 10 00; crushed or ground saffron uses 0910 20 90 00. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for these lines. The table separates buying forms that share the same commodity code.
The tariff attaches import control of organic products. Organic spices need an inspection certificate for release as organic. For organic imports, your company must be based and certified in the UK; the exporter’s control body issues the certificate in the country of export. Before ordering organic saffron from China, ask your approved organic control body to confirm the exporter’s eligibility and the certificate arrangements.
Confirm the physical form and ingredients using finding your commodity code, particularly if the product contains other ingredients. See the wider spices guide for other heading 0910 goods. Confirm the VAT treatment for the exact intended use with HMRC or your customs broker, using the import duty and VAT guide as background.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dried saffron threads, bulk packs | 0910 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Crushed dried saffron | 0910 20 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify saffron identity, threads and packing
Specify dried saffron for culinary use, the growing origin, processor and packing site, and whether you want threads, crushed material or powder. Ask the supplier to distinguish where the saffron was grown from where it was packed. Agree the permitted broken threads, yellow material, foreign matter and moisture, together with the colour, aroma and flavour expected from the approved sample.
Set the authenticity tests with an accredited laboratory before approving the order. Ask for batch-specific pesticide residue, microbiological and adulteration reports. Confirm applicable GB pesticide residue limits with the relevant food authority. For retail sale, ask that authority to confirm the importer’s food business registration obligations and the requirements for the name, net weight, best-before date, storage information, UK address and English-language labelling. Agree sealed packaging that protects the product from moisture.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 1 kg of dried saffron threads for a small spice retailer; illustrative order, not a quote under 0910 20 10 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £50 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,050. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,050, so it is £410. 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 threads with the approved sample and check for dyed plant fibre and foreign matter. Use laboratory authenticity testing for powder rather than relying on colour alone.
Condition: check aroma, moisture, broken threads, powder clumping, mould and insects against the agreed specification.
Batch evidence: match the delivered lot numbers to the packing list and laboratory reports; keep a retained sample. Arrange quality inspection before shipment and repeat arrival checks.
Packs and labels: check seals, net weights and English retail label information. For an organic order, check that the inspection certificate relates to the shipment.
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What goes wrong
Saffron can be adulterated with dyed plant fibre. A sample that looks convincing does not establish that the shipment is genuine, especially when the product is ground. Draw test samples from the shipment lot and agree what happens if the authenticity result fails before paying the balance.
Other disputes concern excessive broken or yellow material, damp packs, weak aroma and batch reports that cannot be matched to the delivered goods. Keep the approved sample, specification and lot records together. Resolve organic certification and certificate arrangements before dispatch.
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 saffron from China?
The supplied UK Trade Tariff record shows 0% for both 0910 20 10 00, neither crushed nor ground, and 0910 20 90 00, crushed or ground, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Should I buy saffron threads or powder?
Threads allow visual checks for foreign fibre and broken material. Powder needs particular attention to laboratory authenticity testing. Choose the form for your intended use and approve a batch specification.
Can I import organic saffron from China?
Organic spices need an inspection certificate. Your company must be based and certified in the UK. Ask your organic control body to confirm the exporter’s eligibility and certificate arrangements before ordering.
Is there UK VAT on dried saffron?
Confirm the VAT treatment with HMRC or your customs broker for the exact product and use, particularly if the saffron is marketed as a supplement or remedy.