Sourcing Dried White Beans from China
Dried white beans from China carry 0% UK duty across the relevant lines, with no anti-dumping duty recorded. Beans imported for food must meet food safety requirements; organic consignments need a certificate of inspection. Specify the species, grade and cooking use before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources dried white beans.
Zero duty on dried white beans
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 0713 covers dried shelled leguminous vegetables, whether or not skinned or split. White kidney beans, including white pea beans, for food fall under 0713 33 90 00. The selected lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure or suspension recorded. Dried beans sold as food are zero-rated for VAT.
The tariff attaches an import control of organic products. Organic white beans from China imported into Great Britain need a certificate of inspection for each consignment. The exporter’s control body issues the certificate. Agree the documentary arrangements with your customs broker before shipment rather than treating the supplier’s organic label as sufficient.
White colour alone does not identify the tariff line. Confirm the species and whether the beans are for food or sowing using finding your commodity code. Sowing beans have separate lines; confirm any seed and plant health requirements with the relevant plant health authority. This guide focuses on cooking beans; see the dried kidney beans guide for wider coverage.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dried white kidney beans, including white pea beans, for food | 0713 33 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Dried white kidney beans for sowing | 0713 33 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other dried white beans of Vigna or Phaseolus species | 0713 39 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Dried white-seeded cow peas | 0713 35 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the white bean variety and cooking result
Write the species and named variety into the order, supported by an approved sample. Specify bean size, colour, harvest batch, moisture, broken and damaged beans, foreign matter and packing. Distinguish small white pea beans from larger white kidney beans, and agree whether skins should remain intact after cooking.
Run a cooking trial on the proposed batch using your normal soaking and cooking process. Record texture, splitting and consistency against the approved sample. State whether the order is bulk food or retail packs. Confirm food-business registration and applicable retail labelling requirements with the relevant food authority, including net weight, storage instructions, business address and language.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of dried white kidney beans for cooking under 0713 33 90 00, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,500, so it is £5,300. 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 and grade: compare samples from different bags with the approved variety, size and colour; record splits, shrivelled beans, discolouration and mixed varieties.
Moisture and pests: measure moisture against the agreed specification; inspect for mould, musty odours, live insects and holes in beans.
Cleanliness and tests: check for stones, soil, stems and other seeds; match the shipped batch to pesticide residue and contaminant test reports against the applicable limits.
Packing and cooking: check clean bags, secure seams, declared net weight and matching batch marks; cook an arrival sample and compare texture and skin splitting with the approved sample. Use the quality inspection guide to agree the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A sample can hide mixed sizes or varieties in the shipment, giving uneven cooking and inconsistent portions. Excess moisture and wet bags can lead to mould; insect damage and stones can survive weak cleaning. Compare arrival samples and batch reports before releasing stock, and keep suspect bags separate while the supplier investigates.
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 white beans from China?
The relevant lines carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff record, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. Dried white kidney beans for food fall under 0713 33 90 00.
Do organic white beans from China need an import certificate?
Yes. Each organic consignment imported into Great Britain needs a certificate of inspection, issued by the exporter’s control body. Arrange the paperwork before shipment.
Are all dried white beans declared under the same code?
No. White kidney beans and white pea beans for food share a line, but other species and sowing beans have different lines. Confirm the species and intended use.
What should I check before accepting a white bean shipment?
Check variety, size, moisture, damaged beans, insects, foreign matter, bag condition and batch reports. Cook an arrival sample to compare texture and splitting with the approved sample.