Sourcing Jelly Beans from China
Jelly beans from China carry 8% UK duty across the relevant confectionery lines, with no trade remedies recorded. Check the complete recipe against GB food rules before ordering: milk-containing Chinese confectionery is prohibited, and konjac is not permitted in jelly confectionery. Cambridge China Bridge sources jelly beans.
Jelly bean duty and border controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 1704 covers sugar confectionery without cocoa, including white chocolate. Sugar-coated jelly beans should be assessed against the panned-goods line; other jelly confectionery has a separate line. The table includes residual lines for comparison, rather than interchangeable jelly bean codes. See the wider confectionery guide.
The selected lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions recorded. The tariff attaches a restriction on entry into free circulation and an organic import control. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether the Chinese product and ingredients fall within the current high-risk food list. Listed goods need pre-notification and border checks; the reference guide explains the finalised health entry document required before release.
For organic jelly beans from China entering Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and export country against the non-UK organic registers. Confirm the commodity code using the recipe, sugar coating and manufacturing process. The illustrative order uses values already shown in the reference guide; it is not a supplier quotation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar-coated (panned) confectionery | 1704 90 61 00 | 8% | None |
| Gum and jelly confectionery | 1704 90 65 00 | 8% | None |
| Other confectionery, under 70% sucrose | 1704 90 99 19 | 8% | None |
| Other confectionery, 70% or more sucrose | 1704 90 99 99 | 8% | None |
Specify the centre, shell and flavour mix
Approve the complete recipe, gelling agent, glazing agents, colours and flavourings. Specify bean shape, centre chew, shell thickness, surface finish, flavour assortment and acceptable broken or misshapen beans. Keep approved samples for comparison with production and arrival samples.
Chinese confectionery containing milk cannot be imported into Great Britain. Confirm with the relevant food authority whether any konjac in the recipe is permitted. Check these ingredients before approving samples. For vegetarian positioning, establish whether the centre contains gelatine and identify the source of glazing agents.
Agree pack format, net quantity, seal construction, storage conditions and remaining shelf life at delivery. Confirm the English label requirements with the relevant food authority, covering the food name, ingredients with allergens emphasised, net quantity, best-before date and UK business address. Also confirm whether a warning about colours affecting children’s activity and attention is needed.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1 tonne of sugar-coated jelly beans under 1704 90 61 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,500. Duty at 8% is £840. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,340, so it is £2,268. Import taxes total £3,108; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £840 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step. HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14 lists confectionery among the exceptions that are standard-rated even though most food is zero-rated, so the 20% VAT shown applies.
Inspection checklist
Shell and centre: compare shape, shell coverage, cracks, chew and flavour assortment with the approved sample.
Moisture: check for sticky clusters, sweating and colour transfer between beans after storage under the agreed conditions.
Labels and batches: compare the English ingredients and allergen declarations with the approved recipe; check applicable colour warnings, date printing and batch identification.
Packs and weight: check seals, leaks, carton damage and actual pack weight against the agreed quantity; request food-contact documentation for the packaging.
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What goes wrong
Warm, damp storage can leave jelly beans stuck together with cracked shells or transferred colours. A sample that tastes right does not establish that the flavour mix or shell finish will stay consistent across the shipment. Compare production samples and arrival samples with the retained approval sample.
Recipe substitutions create problems when the gelling agent, glaze or colour changes without a matching label review. Require written approval before substitutions and hold affected stock while recipe or label discrepancies are investigated. Visual inspection cannot establish additive or allergen compliance; arrange suitable laboratory 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 jelly beans from China?
The relevant confectionery lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, read on 30 September 2026. No anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions are recorded.
Which commodity code applies to jelly beans?
Assess sugar-coated beans against 1704 90 61 00. Other gum and jelly confectionery is 1704 90 65 00. Confirm classification from the recipe and manufacturing process.
Can I import jelly beans containing milk from China?
No. Official confectionery guidance states that Chinese confectionery containing milk is not permitted into Great Britain. Check the complete recipe before ordering.
What should I check on arrival?
Check sticky clusters, cracked shells, colour transfer, flavour assortment, seals, pack weights and labels against the approved recipe and retained sample.