Sourcing frozen blueberries from China

Blueberry species, sugar and duty suspensions

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 0811 covers frozen fruit and nuts, uncooked or cooked by steaming or boiling in water, with or without added sweetening matter. For blueberries, confirm the botanical species and whether sweetening matter is added. A supplier's description of 'wild blueberries' alone does not establish the commodity code.

Unsweetened Vaccinium myrtilloides and Vaccinium angustifolium carry 2%, suspended to 0%; other blueberry species in 0811 90 95 90 carry 14%, suspended to 0%. Vaccinium myrtillus carries 12%, with 0% only under authorised-use supervision. These suspensions exclude mixtures and preparations containing different components. Sweetened blueberries carry 20%, or 20% plus £7 per 100 kg when sugar exceeds 13% by weight. The supplied tariff facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty on these lines.

The tariff attaches organic import control to these lines. Organic consignments need inspection certificates; confirm the paperwork before shipment. Match species records, ingredients and sugar analysis to the commodity code, and confirm suspension eligibility with your customs broker. The frozen blackberries guide provides related coverage of heading 0811.

Specify the species and intended use

Specify botanical species, growing origin, whole or broken berries, individually frozen or block frozen, size grading, colour, sweetness and added ingredients. Agree tolerances for crushed fruit, stalks, mould and foreign matter, together with pack format and storage conditions. Tell the processor whether the berries will be cooked or used without further heating, and compare thawed samples in the intended recipe.

Imported frozen fruit must meet the same hygiene standards and safety procedures as food produced in Great Britain. Confirm the applicable pesticide residue and contaminant limits with the relevant food authority. Agree batch sampling and laboratory checks, including viral testing where berries may be eaten without cooking, rather than relying on appearance alone.

For organic blueberries from China into Great Britain, your company must be based and certified in the UK. Obtain a Great Britain certificate of inspection for each consignment, issued by the exporter's control body, and check that the control body and export country are on the non-UK organic registers.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of sweetened frozen blueberries, sugar content not exceeding 13% under 0811 90 39 90, 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 20% is £4,360. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,160, so it is £5,232. Import taxes total £9,592; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £4,360 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

Identity: match species, growing origin, added ingredients and sugar analysis to the order and customs description.

Fruit: compare grading and thawed texture with approved samples; check crushed berries, stalks, mould, ice accumulation and clumping.

Cold chain: check core temperature on arrival against the agreed specification, review transport logger records and inspect bag seals and cartons.

Documents and labels: match batch references to laboratory reports and organic certificates where applicable. Pre-packed food sold in Great Britain needs a UK food business address, or the UK importer's address where the operator is overseas.

What goes wrong

An unspecified species can lead to the wrong duty assumption. Adding sugar or mixing blueberries with other fruit can change classification or remove suspension eligibility. Keep the recipe and species fixed in the purchase specification, and have the broker check any substitution before dispatch.

Warm handling can leave berries clumped, damaged or leaking juice after thawing. Residues and viral contamination may be invisible, while an attractive sample may conceal poor grading in the shipment. Check batch evidence before dispatch and inspect on arrival using an agreed inspection plan.

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.