Sourcing fresh longan from China
Fresh longan from China carries 8% UK duty under the residual fresh-fruit line; the related fruit lines shown range from 0% to 8%. Fresh fruit must meet quality and labelling requirements. Confirm plant-health paperwork before dispatch. Cambridge China Bridge sources fresh longan.
Fresh longan duty and import controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 0810 covers other fresh fruit. Fresh longan falls within the residual line 0810 90 75 90 at 8% duty for goods from China. The supplied snapshot shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line.
The tariff attaches an organic-products import control. If buying organic longan for Great Britain, arrange an inspection certificate for each consignment. The certificate is issued by the exporter's control body in the country of export. Check the paperwork before approving dispatch.
Confirm the fruit identity and fresh condition with your broker using finding your commodity code. The comparison rows cover different fruits, not alternative longan codes. See the fresh lychees guide for related purchases within this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh longan, within other fresh fruit | 0810 90 75 90 | 8% | None |
| Fresh lychees, for classification comparison | 0810 90 20 90 | 0% | None |
| Fresh dragon fruit, for classification comparison | 0810 90 20 10 | 0% | None |
| Fresh jackfruit, for classification comparison | 0810 90 20 20 | 0% | None |
Specify longan maturity, flesh and packing
Specify variety, growing area, harvest maturity, fruit size, sweetness, flesh firmness and whether fruit is supplied loose or on trimmed bunches. Agree limits for split shells, shrivelling, mould, insect damage and detached fruit. Record any post-harvest treatments and agree carton ventilation, liners, net weight and cold-chain arrangements.
Fresh fruit must meet quality and labelling requirements throughout production and marketing. Agree arrival acceptance criteria separately from appearance at packing. Ask your broker to confirm the plant-health risk category for longan from China; medium-risk B goods require a phytosanitary certificate but do not require plant-health pre-notification.
Confirm the applicable pesticide residue limits for longan with the relevant authority. Ask for treatment records and batch-linked laboratory results assessed against those limits. Arrange testing and certification support around the actual fruit and treatments.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small wholesale consignment of chilled fresh longan in ventilated cartons under 0810 90 75 90, invoiced at £3,800 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,300. Duty at 8% is £504. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,804, so it is £1,360.80. Import taxes total £1,864.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £504 of duty. 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
Fruit: open sampled fruit and check flesh firmness, juiciness, flavour and signs of fermentation; compare shell condition and size with the agreed specification.
Cold chain: examine loading and transport temperature records, then check fruit temperatures on arrival against the agreed handling conditions.
Packing: check ventilation, crushed cartons, wet liners, net weight and label artwork against the approved packing brief.
Documents: match grower, packer and batch details across treatment records, laboratory reports and shipping documents; check the inspection certificate where sold as organic.
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What goes wrong
Acceptable-looking shells can conceal watery, softened or fermenting flesh. Delayed cooling, warm handling and condensation can leave cartons with mould or leaking fruit. Sampling only the top layer can miss damage deeper in the pack.
Longan can also be described loosely as lychee on purchasing documents, creating a classification mismatch. Use the actual fruit name throughout the order and packing documents. Agree who records arrival defects and how affected cartons are separated while the supplier reviews the evidence.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on fresh longan from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot gives 8% under 0810 90 75 90, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for that line.
Does fresh longan need a phytosanitary certificate?
Confirm the China-origin plant-health risk category with your broker before dispatch. Medium-risk B goods require a phytosanitary certificate but no plant-health pre-notification.
What paperwork do I need for organic longan?
For organic imports into Great Britain, arrange an inspection certificate for each consignment. It is issued by the exporter's control body in the country of export.
What should I check when fresh longan arrives?
Check transport records, fruit temperature, carton condition and batch identity. Open sampled fruit to assess firmness, flavour, mould and fermentation rather than judging the shells alone.