Sourcing fermented drinks from China
Fermented drinks from China carry UK customs duty of £4.80 to £16.00 per hectolitre; piquette carries £1.00 per % vol per hectolitre. Alcohol Duty is separate and based on pure alcohol. Confirm alcoholic-strength labelling requirements with the relevant food authority, and declare allergens. Cambridge China Bridge sources fermented drinks.
Specific customs duties, plus Alcohol Duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 2206 covers other fermented beverages, including cider, perry, mead and saké, plus mixtures of fermented beverages and mixtures with non-alcoholic beverages not elsewhere specified. Specify the fermentation base, complete recipe, alcoholic strength, whether the drink is sparkling and the container capacity before choosing a code.
For goods from China, sparkling drinks carry £16.00 per hectolitre. Still drinks carry £6.40 per hectolitre in containers holding 2 litres or less, or £4.80 in larger containers. Piquette carries £1.00 per % vol per hectolitre. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duties and no suspensions. These are specific duties, so none of the lines supports the requested percentage-based worked example.
The tariff attaches organic import control throughout this heading. For products labelled organic, confirm whether a certificate of inspection is required for organic release; the exporter’s control body issues it. Confirm the China shipment requirements with your customs broker and organic control body. Alcohol Duty is separate and based on pure alcohol. Confirm the commodity code and plan costs using the duty and VAT guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkling cider and perry | 2206 00 31 00 | £16.00 per hl | None |
| Other sparkling fermented drinks | 2206 00 39 00 | £16.00 per hl | None |
| Still cider and perry, containers of 2 litres or less | 2206 00 51 00 | £6.40 per hl | None |
| Other still fermented drinks, containers of 2 litres or less | 2206 00 59 00 | £6.40 per hl | None |
| Still cider and perry, containers over 2 litres | 2206 00 81 00 | £4.80 per hl | None |
| Other still fermented drinks, containers over 2 litres | 2206 00 89 00 | £4.80 per hl | None |
Specify the fermentation base and bottle stability
State whether the drink is rice-based, fruit-based or honey-based, and obtain the complete recipe, including added alcohol, sweeteners, preservatives and flavourings. Agree alcoholic strength and tolerance, sweetness, acidity, colour, aroma and acceptable sediment against an approved sample.
Specify still or sparkling presentation, carbonation, bottle capacity, closure, fill level, storage conditions and remaining shelf life on arrival. Ask the producer to explain filtration, pasteurisation or another stabilisation process, and obtain batch test results. Confirm the applicable alcoholic-strength, name, net quantity and business name and address labelling requirements with the relevant food authority; allergens must be declared.
Inspection checklist
Liquid: compare aroma, taste, colour, clarity and sediment with the approved sample; test alcoholic strength, acidity and microbiological stability against the agreed specification.
Bottles: check fill levels, cap seals, leakage, glass damage and carton dividers; investigate unexpected pressure in a drink specified as still.
Labels: check the drink name, net quantity, alcoholic strength, business details and allergen information against the approved artwork and recipe.
Documents: match batch identifiers and analysis reports to the shipment; for organic orders, check the certificate of inspection with the broker before dispatch.
What goes wrong
Residual fermentation can change sweetness and strength, create haze or produce pressure after bottling. A clear sample may arrive cloudy, and weak closures can leak during transport. Agree acceptable sediment and test stability in the intended bottle rather than relying only on a tasting sample.
A supplier’s product name does not settle its tariff classification or Alcohol Duty treatment. Missing allergen information and unsupported organic claims can also disrupt the order. Review the recipe, label and import documents before shipment, and use the quality inspection guide to agree the checks.
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 drinks from China?
Sparkling drinks carry £16.00 per hectolitre. Still drinks carry £6.40 in containers of 2 litres or less, or £4.80 in larger containers. Piquette carries £1.00 per % vol per hectolitre. Alcohol Duty is separate.
Is Alcohol Duty included in the customs duty?
No. Alcohol Duty is separate and based on the amount of pure alcohol. Ask your customs agent to confirm the product’s duty category and treatment before ordering.
Can I import organic fermented drinks from China?
Confirm whether organic release requires a certificate of inspection. The exporter’s control body issues it. Confirm the shipment requirements with your customs broker and organic control body before dispatch.
What should I test before approving a fermented drink?
Test alcoholic strength, acidity and microbiological stability against the specification. Compare flavour and sediment with the approved sample, and check bottle pressure, closures and leakage.