Sourcing fermented strawberry wine from China
Fermented strawberry wine from China carries UK customs duty of £4.80 to £16.00 per hectolitre, depending on whether it is still or sparkling and its container size. Alcohol Duty is separate, and organic imports need an inspection certificate. Cambridge China Bridge sources fermented strawberry wine.
Specific customs duty, with Alcohol Duty separate
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2206 covers other fermented beverages and specified mixtures. For fermented strawberry wine, the relevant lines are sparkling other beverages and still other beverages, divided by container capacity. Confirm the recipe and production process rather than relying on the supplier's English product name.
Goods from China carry £16.00 per hectolitre for sparkling wine, £6.40 for still wine in containers holding 2 litres or less, and £4.80 for still wine in larger containers. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. They attach an organic import control: products presented as organic need an inspection certificate. For imports from China, the exporter's control body issues that certificate.
Alcohol imports become liable for UK Excise Duty on arrival; settle the payment route with your customs broker before shipment. Confirm the commodity code using the recipe, sparkling status and container capacity. Only the relevant tariff lines are shown; none supports a percentage-duty worked example. See the fermented blueberry wine guide for related heading coverage.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkling fermented strawberry wine | 2206 00 39 00 | £16.00 per hl | None |
| Still fermented strawberry wine, containers holding 2 litres or less | 2206 00 59 00 | £6.40 per hl | None |
| Still fermented strawberry wine, containers holding more than 2 litres | 2206 00 89 00 | £4.80 per hl | None |
Specify the strawberry fermentation and finished wine
Specify whether strawberries or strawberry juice form the fermentation base, and record any other fruit, flavouring, colouring, sweetener or added alcohol. Agree alcoholic strength and tolerance, sweetness, acidity, colour, aroma and acceptable sediment. Keep an approved sample of the finished wine for comparison.
Define still or sparkling presentation, bottle capacity, closure, fill level, carton dividers and storage conditions. Request batch analysis covering strength, residual sugar, acidity, sulphites and microbiological stability. Confirm label requirements with the relevant food authority, including the product name, net quantity, responsible business name and address, and alcoholic-strength declaration. Allergen information is required.
Inspection checklist
Wine: compare colour, strawberry aroma, sweetness, acidity and sediment with the approved sample; investigate cloudiness or unexpected fizz in a still product.
Analysis: match the batch report to the delivered lot and compare measured strength, sugar, acidity and sulphites with the agreed specification.
Bottles: check fill consistency, closure integrity, leakage, cracked glass and carton dividers; assess sparkling closures against the agreed packing specification.
Labels and documents: check alcoholic strength, net quantity, UK business details and allergen information. For organic goods, check the inspection certificate with the broker. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspection.
What goes wrong
A strawberry-flavoured drink may differ from the strawberry-fermented sample the buyer approved. Other failures include faded colour, oxidised aroma, excessive sediment, renewed fermentation and leaking closures. Agree the recipe and stability evidence before approving production, then compare the delivered batch with the retained sample.
Costing can omit Alcohol Duty or use the wrong container category for customs duty. Organic paperwork can also be missing despite an organic label. Resolve the duty route and documents before dispatch, and use the duty and VAT guide when preparing the landed-cost calculation.
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 strawberry wine from China?
£16.00 per hectolitre for sparkling wine; £6.40 for still wine in containers holding 2 litres or less; £4.80 for still wine in larger containers. Alcohol Duty is separate.
Is fermented strawberry wine duty charged as a percentage?
The relevant customs duties in the supplied tariff facts are charged per hectolitre, rather than as a percentage of the goods' value.
Can I import organic strawberry wine from China?
Products imported as organic need an inspection certificate. The exporter's control body issues it. Confirm the applicable organic import requirements with your customs broker before dispatch.
What should I check when strawberry wine arrives?
Match the batch analysis and labels to the specification, compare taste and colour with the approved sample, and inspect sediment, unexpected fizz, fill levels, closures and glass damage.