Sourcing fresh cut chrysanthemums from China

Fresh cut chrysanthemum duty and controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 0603 covers cut flowers and flower buds for bouquets or ornamental use. Fresh chrysanthemums fall under 0603 14 00 00. The supplied tariff record lists an 8% third-country duty and a 0.00% autonomous tariff suspension. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these flowers.

The record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty for this line and attaches an import control of organic products. Confirm the organic-control requirement with your customs broker before ordering flowers advertised as organic. Plant health requirements depend on the risk category: high risk and medium risk A or B goods need an exporter’s phytosanitary certificate. Confirm any registration, pre-notification, checks and fees with the relevant plant health authority before shipment.

Ask your broker to confirm the suspension applies to the actual shipment and check the commodity code, particularly for mixed bouquets. Only the chrysanthemum line is shown because this guide covers fresh cut chrysanthemums. For the wider importing process, see how to import from China to the UK.

Specify flower form, opening stage and packing

Name the cultivar and colour, and distinguish spray chrysanthemums from stems carrying a single main bloom. Agree stem length, straightness, flower size, opening stage, foliage condition and acceptable damage against an approved sample. Specify bunch contents and how varieties are identified on cartons.

Agree harvesting, hydration, cooling and temperature-controlled transport arrangements with the supplier and carrier. Specify sleeves and carton supports that protect flower heads without crushing foliage. Ask for a trial shipment and assess vase performance after arrival before committing to repeat orders.

Check the plant health risk category and import conditions for the exact flowers and Chinese origin before booking transport. An absence of a phytosanitary measure in the supplied tariff record should not replace that check.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 stems of fresh cut chrysanthemums under 0603 14 00 00, 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

Identity: match cultivar, colour, spray or single-bloom form and bunch contents to the order.

Flowers and stems: check opening stage, bruised petals, broken heads, bent stems and yellowing foliage.

Condition: check wilting, mould, insects, wet sleeves and condensation inside cartons.

Transport and records: review temperature records and match carton identification to the shipment documents. Use the quality inspection guide to agree how findings are recorded.

What goes wrong

Flowers can arrive looking acceptable but fade quickly after hydration. Over-open blooms, dehydration, crushed heads and damp packing reduce the usable stock. Record arrival condition with photographs and retain representative stems for a vase trial.

Mixed varieties and inconsistent opening stages make florist orders difficult to fulfil. Agree substitution approval and rejection criteria before dispatch. Resolve the plant health category and organic-control paperwork before shipment so clearance questions do not consume the flowers’ useful life.

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.