Sourcing frozen mussel meat from China
The supplied mussel lines carry 8% to 10% duty, with frozen Perna mussels at 8%. Confirm with the relevant UK authority whether frozen mussel meat originating in China is eligible for import into Great Britain under the authorised bivalve country list before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge checks whether a product can be imported before any order is placed.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
Published duty does not establish import permission
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 0307 covers molluscs, including frozen mussels with or without shells. The supplied frozen Perna line, 0307 32 90 00, carries 8% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded. The other table entries compare neighbouring mussel forms; they are not alternative codes for frozen meat.
Confirm with the relevant UK authority whether frozen mussel meat originating in China can be imported into Great Britain before ordering. The bivalve import rule permits consignments only from countries listed in its authorised annex; confirm China's current status on that list. Do not treat a published duty rate, factory approval or health certificate as confirmation of country eligibility. The tariff also attaches veterinary and organic import controls; confirm their application with your customs broker, without treating them as permission to import.
Confirm the scientific name, shell removal and processing history before choosing the commodity code. The supplied data does not include a frozen Mytilus line, so do not apply the Perna code to that genus. The frozen squid and octopus guide covers other products within this wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen Perna mussels, including meat | 0307 32 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Live, fresh or chilled Mytilus mussels for food, comparison only | 0307 31 10 10 | 10% | None |
| Other Mytilus mussels, other forms, comparison only | 0307 39 20 90 | 10% | None |
| Other Perna mussels, other forms, comparison only | 0307 39 80 90 | 8% | None |
Specify origin, species and processing first
Before requesting samples, establish where the mussels were harvested and where the meat was processed. Ask for the scientific name, farmed or wild origin, raw or cooked condition, shell-removal method and freezing method. Do not place an order for Chinese-origin frozen mussel meat for Great Britain until the relevant UK authority has confirmed its import eligibility.
For an alternative source whose import eligibility has been confirmed, agree meat size, broken-piece tolerance, beard removal, shell-fragment checks, glaze measurement, drained weight and pack format. Keep the approved sample and written specification together. Ask a laboratory to propose a product-specific testing plan for microbiology, marine biotoxins and contaminants.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative tariff calculation only: 2 tonnes of frozen Perna mussel meat; not an importable order originating in China under 0307 32 90 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,500. Duty at 8% is £1,400. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,900, so it is £3,780. Import taxes total £5,180; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,400 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
Origin and identity: reconcile harvest origin, scientific name, processor details and carton descriptions before approving any purchase.
Weight and glaze: deglaze representative samples using the agreed method and compare drained meat weight with the purchase specification.
Meat condition: inspect for shell fragments, retained beards, broken meat, freezer burn and clumping; compare thawed texture with the approved sample.
Arrival records: review transport temperature records, pack integrity, batch marks and laboratory reports before releasing eligible stock.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Do not assume that approval to export other fishery products also establishes eligibility to export frozen mussels. Bivalves have a separate country list. Removing shells or freezing the meat does not avoid the rule, which expressly covers frozen bivalve molluscs. Confirm China's current eligibility with the relevant UK authority before paying a deposit or arranging freight.
For eligible alternative supplies, excessive glaze, broken meat, shell fragments and poor thawed texture can undermine the agreed specification. Keep batch samples and record deviations on arrival. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on frozen mussel meat from China?
The supplied frozen Perna line carries 8%; the supplied mussel lines span 8% to 10%. That tariff rate does not establish import eligibility; confirm with the relevant UK authority whether Chinese-origin frozen mussel meat can be imported into Great Britain.
Can I import frozen mussel meat originating in China into Great Britain?
Frozen bivalve molluscs must come from an authorised listed country. Confirm China's current status and the product's import eligibility with the relevant UK authority before ordering.
Does removing the shells make Chinese mussel meat importable?
No. Shell removal does not change its identity as a bivalve mollusc. The country restriction covers frozen bivalves.
How should I specify frozen mussel meat from an eligible source?
Agree scientific name, origin, raw or cooked condition, meat size, glaze method, drained weight, beard removal, shell-fragment checks and pack format before approving samples.