Sourcing dried thyme from China
Dried thyme from China carries 0% UK duty across the whole, crushed and ground thyme lines. Imported herbs must meet GB food hygiene and safety standards; organic thyme needs an inspection certificate. Specify species, leaf size and stalk content before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources dried thyme.
Dried thyme duty and organic controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 0910 includes thyme alongside other spices. The thyme lines distinguish wild thyme from other thyme when neither crushed nor ground, with a separate line for crushed or ground thyme. The mixture row is for a qualifying spice blend containing thyme, rather than pure dried thyme.
All listed rows carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. They attach an organic import control: organic thyme needs an inspection certificate for release as organic. For imports into Great Britain, the certificate is issued by the exporter’s control body in the country of export. Confirm the paperwork with your customs broker before shipment.
Confirm species, processing and any added ingredients using finding your commodity code. For the wider heading, see dried bay leaves. Confirm the exact product’s VAT treatment with HMRC or your customs broker, using our import duty and VAT guide to prepare your questions.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild thyme, neither crushed nor ground | 0910 99 31 00 | 0% | None |
| Other thyme, neither crushed nor ground | 0910 99 33 00 | 0% | None |
| Thyme, crushed or ground | 0910 99 39 00 | 0% | None |
| Spice mixtures containing thyme, neither crushed nor ground | 0910 91 10 00 | 0% | None |
Specify leaves, stalks and aroma
Specify the botanical species and growing origin, whole leaf, rubbed leaf or powder, and the intended culinary use. Agree leaf size, stalk and dust content, moisture, colour and aroma against an approved sample. Ask the processor to describe drying, cleaning and any microbial treatment.
Set batch acceptance criteria for microbiology and pesticide residues, with laboratory reports matched to the shipment. Confirm applicable GB pesticide residue limits with the relevant food safety authority. Use sealed, lined bags and agree storage instructions. Ask the relevant local authority to confirm food business registration and traceability obligations, and retail labelling requirements covering the name, net weight, best-before date, storage information, business address and language.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative bulk order of dried thyme in lined wholesale bags under 0910 99 33 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,000, so it is £3,600. 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 leaf shape, colour and aroma with the approved sample; investigate other plant material and excessive stalks.
Condition: check moisture, clumping, musty odour, insects and foreign matter against the agreed specification.
Batch evidence: match microbiology and pesticide residue reports to bag lot numbers; keep a retained sample.
Packing: check liners, seals, bag weights and label artwork on dispatch and arrival. Use our quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A leaf sample can conceal a bulk order with excessive stalks or dust. Powder makes visual identification harder, so do not accept appearance alone as proof of purity. Weak aroma, inconsistent particle size and mixed plant material are reasons to investigate the batch before accepting it.
Damp or damaged bags can leave thyme clumped, mouldy or infested. Keep suspect stock separate while checking its condition and batch reports. Imported herbs must meet GB food hygiene and safety standards. A health certificate is not normally needed for herbs and spices, but that does not replace safety checks or organic paperwork.
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 thyme from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 0% duty for whole, crushed and ground thyme from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Does organic dried thyme need an import certificate?
Yes. Organic thyme needs an inspection certificate for release as organic. For Great Britain, the exporter’s control body issues it in the country of export.
Do I need a health certificate for dried thyme?
A health certificate is not normally needed to import herbs and spices. Imported thyme must still meet GB food hygiene and safety standards.
What should I check before accepting dried thyme?
Check species, aroma, leaf size, stalks, dust, moisture, insects and sealed liners. Match batch numbers to microbiology and pesticide residue reports.