Sourcing Iris rhizomes from China

Iris rhizome duty and tariff suspensions

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 0601 covers bulbs, tubers, tuberous roots, corms, crowns and rhizomes, dormant, in growth or in flower, together with specified chicory plants and roots. This guide covers Iris rhizomes for planting. Dormant material falls within the dormant “other” line; material in growth or flower falls within the corresponding growing “other” line. The table repeats codes where supply forms share a classification.

For Chinese goods, 0601 10 90 00 records 4% standard duty and 0601 20 90 00 records 6%. Both record an autonomous tariff suspension at 0.00 %, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these products. Confirm that the consignment qualifies before using the suspended rate.

The tariff snapshot attaches organic import controls to both lines and CITES import control to the dormant line. Confirm organic documentation with your customs broker if making organic claims. Check the botanical species for CITES coverage; listed species may need permits. An export CITES control is also recorded. Confirm the commodity code against the actual shipment. For wider heading context, see the Canna rhizomes guide.

Specify the Iris cultivar and rhizome condition

Specify the botanical species, cultivar, flower colour, rhizome rather than bulb, dormant or growing condition, division size, viable buds, retained roots and trimmed foliage. Agree whether the rhizomes arrive bare-root or with growing medium. Ask for photographs of the actual nursery batch and keep cultivar labels linked to each lot.

Confirm the species-specific import requirements with APHA before ordering. Under the plant health guidance, high risk and medium risk A imports require an exporter’s phytosanitary certificate, pre-notification and checks; confirm any registration and fee requirements with APHA. Agree who obtains the certificate and who completes the import notification. Ask your broker to confirm the route and any requirements associated with growing medium.

Plan the sales channel as well as border clearance. Plants sold online directly to customers buying for personal use still need a UK plant passport. Agree packing that protects buds and roots while avoiding trapped moisture, and retain batch identity when unpacking or dividing stock.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 dormant Iris rhizomes; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 0601 10 90 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,900. Duty at 4% is £276. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,176, so it is £1,435.20. Import taxes total £1,711.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £276 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: compare botanical names, cultivar labels, batch references and counts with the purchase order and accompanying documents.

Rhizomes and buds: check firmness, intact growing points, root condition and division size; record soft tissue, broken buds and shrivelled pieces.

Cleanliness and packing: look for insects, attached soil, mould, wet cartons and condensation; photograph affected lots before unpacking further.

Growing performance: plant a sample under the agreed conditions and record establishment and later cultivar identity. Use the quality inspection guide to structure the supplier report.

What goes wrong

Flower photographs do not establish the identity of dormant stock. Mixed cultivars, damaged growing points and undersized divisions can leave a buyer with plants that establish poorly or flower differently from the order. Keep supplier lot labels through receipt and sample planting.

Sealed damp packing can conceal soft rot, while excessive drying can leave rhizomes shrivelled. Missing or inconsistent paperwork adds a separate clearance problem. Agree arrival acceptance criteria and responsibility for affected stock before dispatch.

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.