Sourcing koji mould starter cultures from China

Zero duty on non-pathogenic cultures

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 3002 covers cultures of micro-organisms excluding yeasts, alongside other biological products. For non-pathogenic koji starter cultures, 3002 49 00 20 is the candidate line. The table repeats that line for different supply formats and uses; these are not separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied tariff record gives 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded on this line. It attaches Veterinary control and Animal Health Certificate controls. Their application to a particular koji formulation remains unconfirmed: ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for goods from China before dispatch.

Provide the strain identity, complete carrier composition, production description and intended use when confirming the commodity code. Do not assume that fermented grain sold as food has the same classification as a starter culture. For the wider heading context, see lactic acid bacterial starter cultures.

Specify the koji strain and carrier

Specify the mould species and strain, intended rice or soybean process, carrier ingredients and whether the starter is supplied as concentrated spores or diluted powder. Agree the supplier's viability test method, application instructions, storage conditions and remaining shelf life on arrival. Request batch-specific identity, contamination and mycotoxin test evidence, with methods and acceptance criteria agreed before ordering.

For food-use imports into Great Britain, the importer must ensure the goods are safe and legal before import. Ask for the full formulation, including ingredients used to dilute or stabilise the culture. Have any animal-derived carrier reviewed before accepting the shipment.

Check the novelty status of an unfamiliar strain or formulation before committing to food sales. If the product is a novel food, it needs authorisation before being placed on the Great Britain market. The description 'traditional koji' should not replace a product-specific review.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of sealed koji starter sachets for a small fermentation business under 3002 49 00 20, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,500, so it is £1,100. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the strain designation, carrier composition and batch number on the packs to the purchase specification and batch documents.

Activity: test a retained arrival sample using the agreed viability method and your intended substrate; compare performance with the approved sample.

Condition: check seals, moisture damage, powder clumping and storage records against the supplier's handling instructions.

Safety evidence: match contamination and mycotoxin reports to the delivered batch, and check that the methods and results meet your agreed acceptance criteria.

What goes wrong

A starter may look unchanged while giving weak or uneven growth in the buyer's process. Carrier substitution, moisture ingress and poorly documented storage can undermine repeatability. Hold suspect packs separately and investigate with retained samples rather than adjusting the production recipe to compensate.

A generic culture certificate can leave the actual strain, carrier and delivered batch unclear. Resolve discrepancies before using the starter. Agree independent checks through testing and certification, and keep supplier, batch and customer records together.

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.