Sourcing frozen peach slices from China

Peach slices: sugar changes the duty

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. Plain frozen peach slices fall within the residual other-fruit line. The peeled and skin-on entries below are buying variants sharing that commodity code.

Unsweetened peach slices under 0811 90 95 90 have a 14% base duty and a 0.00 % autonomous suspension. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these goods. Sweetened slices carry 20% under 0811 90 39 90, or 20% plus £7.00 per 100 kg under 0811 90 19 90 when sugar content exceeds 13% by weight. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty on these lines.

The tariff attaches organic import control. For organic slices from China into Great Britain, obtain an inspection certificate for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and country against the non-UK organic registers. The exporter’s control body issues the certificate. Confirm the formulation and commodity code before ordering. See the wider frozen fruit guide for other fruits.

Specify peach variety, slice shape and intended use

Specify yellow or white flesh, variety, ripeness, peeled or skin-on, slice thickness, colour and firmness after thawing. Agree limits for broken slices, bruising, brown edges, peel remnants and stone fragments. Choose individually frozen slices or a frozen block, and record every added ingredient, including sugar and any treatment used to reduce browning.

Approve a sample in the intended recipe. Peach slices for a baked filling need a different texture assessment from slices served after thawing. Agree pack format, net weight, storage instructions, loading temperature and temperature records through delivery.

Imported frozen fruit must meet the same hygiene standards and safety procedures as food produced in Great Britain. Confirm applicable pesticide residue and contaminant limits with the relevant authority. Agree batch sampling and laboratory checks before shipment. Retail pre-packed food needs a business name and physical UK address; include storage instructions needed for appropriate use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of sweetened frozen peach slices 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

Slices: compare colour, thickness and thawed firmness with the approved sample; inspect for stone fragments, bruising, peel remnants and broken pieces.

Cold chain: check core temperature and transport records at loading and arrival; investigate clumps, excessive ice, damaged liners and signs of thawing.

Batch evidence: match carton batch references to production records and pesticide, contaminant and agreed microbiological test reports.

Packaging: check seals, net weight, date marking and storage instructions against the approved artwork; verify organic paperwork where claimed.

What goes wrong

Stone fragments can remain after pitting, while uneven ripeness produces slices that soften differently after thawing. Browning, broken slices and excessive clumping can make an otherwise acceptable sample unsuitable for the buyer’s recipe. Compare arrival samples with the approved product and review temperature records before releasing a disputed batch.

An undisclosed sugar addition changes both the specification and tariff treatment. A mixed-fruit formulation can lose the unsweetened suspension, while an organic claim needs the relevant import paperwork. Record the complete recipe before classification and organise checks through the quality inspection guide.

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.