Sourcing fresh-cut anthuriums from China

Anthurium duty and import checks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 0603 covers cut flowers and flower buds for bouquets or ornament, fresh or otherwise prepared. Fresh-cut anthuriums fit the residual fresh-flower line 0603 19 70 90. The other table rows are comparisons for florist orders, rather than alternative anthurium codes. See the wider cut-flower guide.

The anthurium line lists 8% duty for goods from China and an autonomous suspension at 0.00 %, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Its suspension excludes mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these products. Ask your broker to confirm eligibility for the actual shipment. The tariff also attaches an organic-products import control; confirm the requirement with your customs broker and, for organic claims, an approved UK organic control body.

Confirm the commodity code using the botanical identity, cut-flower form and any added components. For imports into Great Britain, check the plant-health risk category before dispatch because categories may change. Confirm certificate requirements with the plant-health authority; medium-risk B goods need a phytosanitary certificate but do not need pre-notification. Agree the documents with the exporter before booking freight.

Specify the spathe, stem and packing

Specify the botanical species and cultivar, spathe colour, shape and size, spadix appearance, stem length and straightness, and acceptable harvest maturity. Use photographs and an approved sample to define the grade. State whether flowers are natural or dyed, whether foliage is included, and how substitutions will be handled.

Agree individual spathe protection, stem support, hydration arrangements, carton layout and handling conditions with the grower and freight provider. Keep packing pressure away from the spathe and spadix. Request a trial shipment and assess vase performance after arrival under your own florist conditions.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 fresh-cut anthurium stems under 0603 19 70 90, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,900. Duty at 8% is £552. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,452, so it is £1,490.40. Import taxes total £2,042.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £552 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Spathe: check colour and shape against the approved sample, looking for creases, bruising, tears and brown edges.

Stem and spadix: check stem grade, firmness and straightness, and inspect the spadix for damage or discolouration.

Hydration and packing: check for wilting, leaking hydration packs, crushed supports, damp cartons and mould.

Identity and records: match cultivar, colour mix, stem count and batch details to the order and accompanying documents. Photograph defects before repacking.

What goes wrong

A carton can look intact while the spathes inside are creased by tight packing. Flowers may arrive wilted, with damaged spadices or a colour mix that differs from the approved sample. Inspect at receipt and keep affected batches separate while agreeing the remedy with the supplier.

Do not accept a generic cut-flower document pack without checking the declared species and shipment contents. Added foliage or substituted flowers can change the checks needed, while mixed products may fall outside the recorded duty suspension. Agree responsibility for document corrections and rejected flowers 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.