Sourcing freeze-dried bloodworms from China

Zero duty, with import-route checks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 11 November 2026, heading 0511 covers animal products not elsewhere specified or included and dead animals unfit for human consumption. Its supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded. This guide concerns unformulated freeze-dried bloodworms, without added ingredients.

The table shows packing and grade variants against the residual animal-product line 0511 99 85 90, subject to classification confirmation. That line attaches veterinary, CITES, organic-product and waste import controls, plus CITES and waste export controls. Have your customs broker confirm applicability to the actual species, treatment and intended use; the tariff listing does not establish that every control applies to every bloodworm consignment.

Confirm the scientific species name and processing description through finding your commodity code. Do not choose the aquatic-invertebrate line solely because the larvae live in water. Resolve the import route with APHA before ordering, including the China animal-feed safeguard. For the wider product family, see ornamental fish feed.

Specify bloodworm identity and drying treatment

Specify the scientific species name, origin, intended pet-fish use and absence of added ingredients. Agree whole versus broken material, acceptable dust, moisture, foreign matter, odour and net contents against a retained sample. Ask for drying records and batch-specific laboratory results rather than accepting 'freeze-dried' as proof of pathogen control.

For material accepted under the official pet-fish material route, drying must be sufficient to destroy pathogens, including salmonella. Prevent recontamination and use secure new containers. A signed commercial document must accompany the consignment. All packages need the prescribed non-human-consumption label, and ready-to-sell packages must identify the permitted intended use.

Animal by-product imports require advance notification through the official animal-product import system and entry through an approved border control post. Ask your broker to confirm the veterinary entry document and supporting records for the China consignment. In England and Wales, discuss feed-business registration or approval with the local authority; importing and wholesale supply should be assessed separately from pet-food retailing.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative only: 5 cartons of bulk unformulated freeze-dried bloodworms, subject to code and import-route confirmation under 0511 99 85 90, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,400, so it is £480. 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.

Inspection checklist

Identity: compare species, ingredient declaration and batch references with the retained sample and supplier records; investigate other larvae or added material.

Condition: sample across cartons for damp, clumping, mould, unusual odour, foreign matter and excessive dust; compare moisture and laboratory results with the contract.

Packing: check inner seals, punctures, closure fit and net contents; inspect the unopened packing before exposing this dry material to warehouse humidity.

Documents and labels: match treatment records, commercial documents and permitted-use labels to the shipment. Arrange representative checks using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Whole worms can arrive as crumbs when loose packs are crushed. A visually full jar can disguise inconsistent net contents. Leaking seals allow moisture uptake, while sorting and packing after treatment can introduce contamination. Agree acceptance criteria for breakage, dust and moisture before production, then compare dispatch and arrival samples.

A generic 'fish food' invoice leaves species, composition and use unresolved. China's animal-feed safeguard prohibits animal-origin products unless an applicable listed exception covers them. Ask APHA to confirm whether the actual unformulated product qualifies before paying for production. A tariff code, freeze-drying claim or supplier's previous exports does not settle that question.

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.