Sourcing fresh jackfruit from China

Fresh jackfruit duty and import checks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, fresh jackfruit under heading 0810 has commodity code 0810 90 20 20 and a Chinese-origin duty rate of 0%. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure or suspension is recorded for this line. The table shows buying descriptions within the same tariff line.

The tariff attaches import control of organic products. For organic orders, arrange the certificate of inspection with the exporter and confirm the requirement with your customs broker before dispatch. The exporter’s control body issues that certificate. Separately, confirm the plant health risk category with APHA: medium-risk B fruit requires a phytosanitary certificate.

Give your broker the product description, condition and any processing details when confirming the commodity code. For other fruit covered by this heading, see the berries and exotic fruit guide.

Specify ripeness and usable flesh

Specify whether you want ripe fruit for eating or unripe fruit for cooking. Agree variety, whole-fruit weight range, flesh colour, texture and acceptable skin damage. Ask for photographs of intact fruit and cut samples from the proposed batch, rather than relying on a photograph of yellow flesh.

Agree how usable flesh will be assessed after removing rind, core and seeds. Record harvest and packing information, the proposed transport conditions and the condition expected on arrival. Fresh fruit must meet quality and labelling requirements; agree the label artwork before packing.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of whole fresh jackfruit; values are illustrative under 0810 90 20 20, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £21,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,800, so it is £4,360. 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. This assumes the goods are standard-rated for VAT. Most food for human consumption is zero-rated, and animal feed can be too, in which case no import VAT is due, so check the rate for your product in HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14.

Inspection checklist

Ripeness: cut representative fruit and compare flesh firmness, colour, aroma and seed development with the agreed specification.

Condition: inspect rind and stalk areas for splits, mould, soft patches, insect damage and leaking liquid.

Packing: check cushioning, carton strength, ventilation and the temperature records against the agreed transport plan.

Identity: match batch details, origin information and packing records to the delivered fruit; check organic documents where relevant.

What goes wrong

A ripe-fruit order can arrive too firm to sell, while fruit intended for cooking can arrive soft and sweet. Attractive rind photographs can conceal poor flesh yield or internal deterioration. Record cut-sample findings before dispatch and inspect again on arrival.

Crushed cartons and damaged rind make arrival disputes harder to resolve. Photograph packaging and fruit condition before unpacking, retain batch records and agree the claims procedure in advance. Use the inspection guide to prepare a written brief.

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.