Sourcing fermented blueberry wine from China
Fermented blueberry wine from China carries UK customs duty of £4.80 to £16.00 per hectolitre, depending on whether it is still or sparkling and the container size. Alcohol Duty is separate; confirm alcoholic-strength labelling requirements with the relevant local authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources fermented blueberry wine.
Customs duty depends on presentation and volume
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2206 covers other fermented beverages and certain beverage mixtures. For fermented blueberry wine, the relevant other-beverage lines carry £16.00 per hectolitre for sparkling products, £6.40 for still products in containers holding 2 litres or less, and £4.80 for still products in larger containers. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for these lines.
The tariff attaches an import control of organic products. Organic consignments from China need an inspection certificate; the exporter’s control body issues it. Confirm the certificate and clearance arrangements with your customs broker before shipping. Alcohol Duty is charged separately on imported alcoholic products. Agree the duty route and include it in the landed-cost calculation.
Confirm the recipe, fermentation process, sparkling presentation and container capacity before choosing the commodity code. The fermented plum wine guide covers the wider heading. The supplied blueberry-wine lines have specific duties rather than percentages, so a percentage-duty worked calculation is unavailable; the FOB and freight figures are illustrative only.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkling fermented blueberry wine in bottles | 2206 00 39 00 | £16.00 per hl | None |
| Still fermented blueberry wine, containers holding 2 litres or less | 2206 00 59 00 | £6.40 per hl | None |
| Still fermented blueberry wine, containers holding more than 2 litres | 2206 00 89 00 | £4.80 per hl | None |
Specify blueberry fermentation and bottle stability
Ask for the complete recipe and process description: blueberry fruit, juice or concentrate, any other fermentation substrate, added water, sugar, flavourings, preservatives and any added spirit. Agree the blueberry contribution, alcoholic strength and tolerance, sweetness, acidity, colour and whether sediment is acceptable. Record whether the finished drink is still or sparkling.
Approve a retained sample and agree tests for strength, residual sugar, acidity, sulphites and microbiological stability. Specify bottle or can capacity, closure, carbonation where relevant, storage conditions and transport packing. Review the label before printing: confirm alcoholic strength, product name, net quantity and business name and address requirements with the relevant local authority, and include applicable allergen information.
For permanent retail sales in England and Wales, the premises must have a premises licence from the local authority. Settle the sales route before approving retail packaging.
Inspection checklist
Batch analysis: compare tested alcoholic strength, sweetness, acidity and sulphites with the agreed specification and approved sample.
Appearance and stability: check colour, aroma, unexpected haze or sediment, and unwanted gas in a still product; compare retained samples under the agreed storage conditions.
Packing: check fill levels, closure seals, leakage, glass damage and carton dividers; inspect sparkling packs for signs of pressure or seal failure.
Labels and documents: check strength, net quantity, UK business details and allergen information; match batch identification to the analysis report and organic certificate where applicable. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.
What goes wrong
A blueberry-flavoured drink may differ from the fermented blueberry recipe the buyer approved. Recipe changes can alter strength, sweetness and classification. Residual fermentation can cause unwanted gas, leakage or unstable flavour; colour and sediment can also differ between the approved sample and shipment.
Another failure is budgeting only for customs duty and overlooking Alcohol Duty. Confirm both before ordering. Reject unapproved recipe substitutions, compare shipment samples with the retained sample, and resolve label or organic-document gaps 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 fermented blueberry wine from China?
Sparkling: £16.00 per hectolitre. Still: £6.40 in containers holding 2 litres or less, or £4.80 in larger containers. Alcohol Duty is separate.
Does fermented blueberry wine also pay Alcohol Duty?
Yes. Alcohol Duty is separate from customs duty. Confirm the applicable strength band and duty route with your customs broker before ordering.
Can I import organic blueberry wine from China?
Organic consignments need an inspection certificate issued by the exporter’s control body. Confirm the certificate and clearance arrangements with your customs broker before shipment.
What should I test before buying blueberry wine?
Test alcoholic strength, residual sugar, acidity, sulphites and microbiological stability against the agreed specification. Check flavour, sediment, closure seals and transport packing.