Sourcing Grapeseed Oil from China
Grapeseed oil from China carries 2% to 8% UK duty across the relevant liquid-oil lines; edible crude oil pays 6% and refined oil 8%. Specify food use and processing, and confirm the tariff's organic, CITES and waste controls for the shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources grapeseed oil.
Grapeseed oil duty by processing and use
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 1515 covers fixed vegetable or microbial oils and their fractions, whether refined or not, without chemical modification. For liquid grapeseed oil from China, the relevant lines carry 6% for crude edible oil and 8% for other edible oil. The technical or industrial lines, excluding food manufacture, carry 2% and 4%; confirm eligibility before using them.
The supplied lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. The 0.00 % suspension on 1515 90 99 99 is restricted to specified arachidonic-acid or docosahexaenoic-acid oils, not a general grapeseed-oil concession. The UK Trade Tariff attaches CITES and waste import controls, plus organic controls on the edible lines. Ask your customs broker to confirm their application and the documents needed for your Chinese shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, processing and intended use. For the wider heading, see our food-grade rice bran oil guide. Do not classify a blend solely from its grapeseed-oil ingredient.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude liquid grapeseed oil for food | 1515 90 59 00 | 6% | None |
| Refined liquid grapeseed oil for food | 1515 90 99 99 | 8% | None |
| Crude grapeseed oil for technical or industrial use, excluding food manufacture | 1515 90 40 00 | 2% | None |
| Other grapeseed oil for technical or industrial use, excluding food manufacture | 1515 90 60 00 | 4% | None |
Specify edible grapeseed oil and batch evidence
State whether the oil is crude, cold-pressed or refined, its extraction method and whether it contains other oils or additives. Agree colour, odour, flavour, fatty acid profile, acid value, peroxide value, moisture and impurities against an approved sample. Specify bottle or drum material, closure, storage conditions and remaining shelf life on arrival.
For food sales, prepare labelling under the food information rules described in the published reference guide. Cooking oils do not normally need a health certificate. For an organic order, confirm the tariff's inspection-certificate requirement with your broker before dispatch; the exporter’s control body issues the certificate in the country of export.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of refined edible grapeseed oil under 1515 90 99 99, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 8% is £1,560. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,060, so it is £4,212. Import taxes total £5,772; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,560 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 the batch analysis and an independent fatty acid profile to the agreed grapeseed-oil specification; investigate evidence of blending.
Freshness: check acid and peroxide values, colour and odour against the approved sample. Investigate rancid or unexpected flavours before releasing stock.
Packing: inspect drums or bottles for leaks, damaged closures and broken seals. Match batch identifiers to the analysis and packing documents.
Documents: check the declared processing and use, food-label artwork and organic paperwork where relevant. Keep the retained sample linked to the delivered batch.
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What goes wrong
A refined lot supplied against a cold-pressed brief changes the expected flavour and appearance. Undeclared blending undermines authenticity, while oxidation and leaking closures can make a batch unsuitable for the agreed use. Compare arrival samples with retained pre-shipment samples and investigate differences before distribution.
Do not treat a shared tariff control as proof that every grapeseed-oil shipment needs the same permit. CITES specimens require an import permit; confirm whether the control applies to this oil with your broker. If material is waste subject to notification controls, the exporter must apply for consent in the dispatch country. Confirm waste status and the applicable procedure before shipping.
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 grapeseed oil from China?
Edible liquid grapeseed oil carries 6% when crude and 8% when refined or otherwise processed. The technical-use lines carry 2% and 4%, excluding food manufacture; confirm eligibility.
How can I check that grapeseed oil is not blended?
Agree a fatty acid profile and test a batch sample independently. Match the result, batch identifier and supplier analysis to the approved specification.
Does imported grapeseed oil need a health certificate?
Cooking oils do not normally need a health certificate. Separately confirm the tariff's attached controls and any organic paperwork for your shipment.
What should I specify for refined grapeseed oil?
Specify food use, extraction and refining, any additives, colour, odour, fatty acid profile, acid and peroxide values, packing, storage and remaining shelf life on arrival.