Sourcing dried senna leaves from China

Zero duty, with product and species checks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 1211 covers plants and plant parts used primarily in pharmacy, perfumery or similar purposes, including dried, cut, crushed and powdered material. For bulk dried senna leaves, 1211 90 86 90 is the provisional line. The table shows forms sharing that line. See the wider medicinal herbs guide.

The supplied China tariff record shows 0% duty, no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. It attaches organic, CITES and Home Office controlled-drug import controls, alongside CITES and controlled-drug export controls. Listed CITES specimens need permits; controlled drugs or precursor chemicals need import licences. Have your customs broker confirm applicability to the declared senna species and preparation. Organic food from China needs a Great Britain certificate of inspection for each consignment.

Give your broker the botanical identity, plant part, processing description and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Ask separately about classification of extracts or finished medicinal products. Confirm VAT treatment for the actual presentation rather than assuming that bulk leaves qualify as food.

Specify leaf identity and intended use

Agree the botanical species and synonyms, leaves rather than pods, whole or cut form, acceptable stem content, dust, foreign matter and moisture. Keep an approved reference sample. Ask where the plants were grown and where the leaves were dried and packed; dispatch from China alone does not establish cultivation origin.

For a medicinal ingredient, agree the sennoside assay method and acceptance criteria with the receiving manufacturer. Confirm with MHRA whether products presented with medicinal claims require herbal registration or marketing authorisation. Senna is used in stimulant laxative medicines, for which official guidance describes pack-size restrictions, age recommendations and safety warnings. Check the intended finished product before commissioning retail packaging.

If proposing a food or supplement, check the species and intended use against novel-food requirements before ordering. The wider herbs guide explains this distinction. Arrange testing and certification support around the intended product rather than accepting a generic supplier certificate.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 kg of dried senna leaves under 1211 90 86 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,400, so it is £680. 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 representative leaf samples with the approved reference and verify the botanical identity through laboratory examination.

Condition: check moisture, musty odour, mould, insects, excessive stems, foreign matter and the agreed balance of leaf pieces and dust.

Batch testing: match the sampled lot to its report and check the agreed sennoside assay, pesticide residues, heavy metals, sulphite and microbiological results.

Packaging and documents: check intact liners, dry bags, batch identification and matching invoice, packing list and test reports. For organic consignments, check the certificate arrangements with your broker and control body.

What goes wrong

A common name on an invoice leaves species and plant part unclear. Pods, excess stalk or dust can replace the agreed leaf grade, while different lots can give different assay results. Damp bags and damaged liners can spoil the shipment. Sample the actual shipment lot and hold it for review when identity, condition or reports do not match.

A supplier's suggested tea or supplement label does not settle the UK sales route. Resolve medicinal claims, novel-food questions and tariff-control applicability before printing packs. A finished laxative product needs its own regulatory review; a bulk leaf purchase does not establish that retail presentation is acceptable.

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.