Sourcing glace cherries from China
Glacé cherries from China pay 20% UK duty plus £20 per 100 kg when sugar exceeds 13%; qualifying sugar-preserved cherries at 13% or less pay 20%. Confirm with the relevant food authority which additives are permitted for the food category and the applicable sulphite allergen-labelling requirements. Cambridge China Bridge sources glacé cherries.
Sugar content decides the cherry duty line
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 November 2026, heading 2006 covers plant products preserved by sugar, including drained, glacé and crystallised cherries. Cherries containing more than 13% sugar by weight pay 20% plus £20 per 100 kg from China. The cherry lines distinguish sugar below 70% from sugar at or above 70%, although their duty is identical. Whole and halved cherries can share a code.
Sugar-preserved cherries containing 13% sugar or less fall within the residual line at 20%, provided their classification under this heading is confirmed. This is a conditional illustration, rather than a typical glacé cherry specification. The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duties and no suspensions. They attach an organic import control: organic cherries from China entering Great Britain need a valid Certificate of Inspection. Confirm the shipment procedure with your customs broker.
Give your broker the formulation, processing method and measured sugar content to confirm the commodity code. Cherries in syrup may fall outside this heading. See the wider candied fruit and ginger guide. For VAT, distinguish cherries sold for home baking from confectionery and check the import duty and VAT guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole glacé cherries, sugar over 13% but under 70% | 2006 00 31 10 | 20% + £20.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Glacé cherries, sugar 70% or more | 2006 00 31 90 | 20% + £20.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Sugar-preserved cherries, sugar 13% or less, if classification is confirmed | 2006 00 99 99 | 20% | None |
Specify cherries for the intended bake
Specify whole or halved cherries, pitting, size tolerance, colour, firmness and the required drained finish. Agree sugar content, moisture, water activity, sulphite residue, named colours and preservatives, microbiological limits, pack size, storage conditions and shelf life. Approve a sample in the intended cake or decoration: check whether the fruit keeps its shape and whether colour bleeds into the surrounding mixture.
Confirm with the relevant food authority which additives are permitted for the food category and the applicable sulphite allergen-declaration requirements. For Sunset yellow, Quinoline yellow, Carmoisine, Allura red, Tartrazine and Ponceau 4R, confirm whether a warning about adverse effects on activity and attention in children is required. Match the agreed formulation to the label before approving production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative: 5 tonnes of sugar-preserved cherries, only if sugar is 13% or less and classification under this heading is confirmed under 2006 00 99 99, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,200. Duty at 20% is £3,240. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,440, so it is £3,888. Import taxes total £7,128; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £3,240 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step. Drained cherries for home baking, often described as glacé cherries, are among the items HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14 allows to be zero-rated even though most confectionery is standard-rated, so if your product qualifies no import VAT is due; the 20% figures show the standard-rated case.
Inspection checklist
Fruit: check whole or halved presentation, size, residual stones, broken pieces, firmness and foreign matter against the approved sample.
Finish: check colour consistency, surface stickiness, crystallisation and loose syrup; repeat the agreed baking check.
Laboratory: check batch results for sugar content, sulphite residue, colours, moisture, yeasts and moulds against the specification.
Packs and labels: check seals and leakage. Confirm with the relevant food authority which retail label particulars are required, including the food name, ingredients, allergens, net quantity, date mark, storage conditions and UK business name and address; check any required colour warning.
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What goes wrong
A matching red colour can conceal a changed formulation. Undeclared colours or excessive sulphite residue can leave labels inconsistent with the goods. Sugar content crossing 13% changes the duty calculation. Excess moisture can cause fermentation or mould, while soft fruit and colour bleeding can spoil the intended bake.
Keep the approved sample and written formulation, test each lot and compare arrival samples with the agreed specification. Record residual stones, damaged fruit and leaking packs separately so the supplier can address the cause. Use the quality inspection guide to organise the checks.
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 glacé cherries from China?
Above 13% sugar by weight, duty is 20% plus £20 per 100 kg. Qualifying sugar-preserved cherries at 13% or less carry 20%. Confirm the code from the actual product.
Are glacé cherries zero-rated for VAT?
Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker the VAT treatment of glacé cherries for home baking and glacé fruit sold as confectionery, using VAT Notice 701/14. Confirm the intended sale before calculating import VAT.
Do sulphites in glacé cherries need allergen labelling?
Confirm the applicable sulphite allergen-labelling requirements with the relevant food authority. Obtain a batch result for sulphite residue and check the ingredient list against the confirmed declaration and emphasis requirements.
Can I import organic glacé cherries from China?
Organic food entering Great Britain from China needs a valid Certificate of Inspection. Confirm the organic shipment requirements with your customs broker before ordering.