Ginseng and medicinal herbs from China
Ginseng roots and most plants used in medicine, food supplements, teas and perfumery from China pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty, but the tariff flags CITES and Home Office controlled drug checks, and what you may sell depends on the species: some herbs are novel foods, and medicinal claims need MHRA herbal registration or marketing authorisation. Cambridge China Bridge sources herbs.
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Zero duty, with species checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, ginseng roots (1211 20 00 00) and other plants and parts of plants used primarily in perfumery, pharmacy or as insecticides and fungicides (1211 90 86 90) carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure; only tonquin beans carried 2%. The ginseng line carries a CITES import control, and the other line carries CITES and Home Office controlled drug controls, because the heading covers protected species and plants such as coca leaf and poppy straw.
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is listed under CITES, so its roots need permits even when grown in China; the documents must name the botanical species. See the GOV.UK guidance on CITES imports and exports. Culinary spices, ginger and turmeric are covered in our spices guide, and tea in our tea guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ginseng roots | 1211 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other plants for pharmacy, perfumery or insecticides | 1211 90 86 90 | 0% | None |
| Dried oregano | 1211 90 86 40 | 0% | None |
| Tonquin beans | 1211 90 30 00 | 2% | None |
Food, supplement or medicine
A herb sold as food or in a food supplement must not be a novel food, meaning it was consumed to a significant degree in the UK or EU before 15 May 1997, unless it has been authorised; many herbs used in Chinese medicine have no such history, so check the FSA novel foods guidance before ordering. Products sold with medicinal claims need a traditional herbal registration from the MHRA or a licence.
Food-grade herbs must meet the lead, cadmium and mercury limits for food supplements in retained Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 where they apply, and pesticide residue limits under retained Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Whether VAT is zero-rated depends on how the product is held out, so check Notice 701/14.
Worked duty example
Take a hypothetical order of 500 kg of dried Panax ginseng roots under 1211 20 00 00: £30,000 free on board plus £900 of air freight and insurance gives a customs value of £30,900. The duty is nil. If the product is standard-rated, import VAT is 20% of £30,900, or £6,180, which a VAT-registered importer normally reclaims; if it qualifies as zero-rated food, no import VAT is due. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.
What goes wrong
Herb lots fail on identity, contamination and paperwork. A cheaper species or root of the wrong age is supplied under the right common name; roots and herbs carry pesticide residues, heavy metals or sulphur dioxide from sulphur fumigation; damp lots grow mould and aflatoxin; and a CITES species arrives without its permit, so it is seized.
Confirm the Latin name and plant part on the contract, check identity by macroscopic and microscopic examination or DNA testing against a reference sample, test pesticide residues, lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, sulphite and aflatoxins at an accredited laboratory, measure moisture, and have CITES permits and phytosanitary papers checked before the goods leave China. Check species permits and phytosanitary papers before arranging UK customs clearance for medicinal herbs.
Cambridge China Bridge sources ginseng and dried herbs for food, supplement and cosmetic makers, with species, testing and licence questions settled first. See how we verify suppliers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on ginseng from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, ginseng roots carried 0% from China, with a CITES import control on the line.
Does ginseng need a CITES permit?
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) does, even when grown in China; check the species on the documents.
Can I sell Chinese herbs as food in the UK?
Only if the herb is not a novel food or has been authorised; medicinal claims need MHRA herbal registration or marketing authorisation.
How do I check herb quality?
Confirm identity against a reference sample and test pesticides, heavy metals, sulphite, aflatoxins and moisture.