Sourcing fresh cut carnations from China

Carnation duty and import controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 0603 covers cut flowers and flower buds for bouquets or ornamental purposes, fresh or otherwise prepared. Fresh cut carnations fall under 0603 12 00 00. The table also shows companion flowers for buyers ordering alongside carnations; see the fresh cut chrysanthemums guide for related coverage.

The supplied tariff record gives carnations from China an 8% third-country duty and an autonomous tariff suspension of 0.00%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these goods. Ask your broker to confirm eligibility, especially for mixed bouquets. The tariff attaches organic import control; confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker before ordering goods advertised as organic.

For cut carnations entering Great Britain from China, the importer must upload a phytosanitary certificate copy through the plant import notification system as part of advance notification. Arrange the paperwork with the exporter before dispatch. Confirm the commodity code, describing the flowers and any other bouquet components separately.

Specify stem grade and opening stage

Specify the cultivar, colour, standard or spray carnations, stem length and straightness, flower head size, opening stage, and stems per bunch. Agree acceptable petal damage and split calyces against photographs or samples. State whether colour is natural or applied.

Agree harvesting and packing records, hydration treatment, the transport temperature specification and how temperature records will accompany the shipment. Specify sleeves, bunch restraints and cartons that protect flower heads without trapping moisture. Trial vase performance after a comparable transport and handling cycle.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 6,000 fresh cut carnation stems, illustrative order under 0603 12 00 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,900. Duty at 8% is £232. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,132, so it is £626.40. Import taxes total £858.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £232 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and grade: compare cultivar, colour, stem length, bunch count and opening stage with the order.

Flower condition: check for bruised petals, split calyces, broken stems, wilting, mould and visible pests.

Packing and transport: inspect damp or crushed cartons, head protection and temperature records against the agreed specification.

Arrival performance: photograph condition before unpacking, then hydrate a sample and record opening and vase performance. Use the quality inspection guide to plan checks.

What goes wrong

Carnations can arrive with tight buds that do not open as expected, over-open flowers, bent stems or split calyces. Moisture around packed flower heads can accompany mould, while poor hydration and interrupted temperature control can leave flowers wilted. Agree how arrival evidence and vase trials will be assessed before paying the supplier.

Paperwork prepared after dispatch leaves little room to correct a mismatch between the flowers, invoice and certificate. Check botanical identity and consignment details before shipping. Keep organic claims out of the purchase specification until your broker has confirmed how the tariff's organic control applies.

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.