Sourcing krill meal from China

Krill meal duty and import controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2301 covers animal meals and pellets unfit for human consumption. Krill meal falls within the supplied aquatic-animal meal line, 2301 20 00 00, carrying 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. The table shows purchasing forms sharing that line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The tariff attaches veterinary, CITES, organic and waste import controls, plus CITES and waste export controls. For veterinary clearance, confirm the health certificate and common health entry document with your broker. Ask the broker to confirm the CITES requirements for the declared species, organic inspection documents where organic claims are made, and any waste requirements. Confirm export controls separately if subsequently exporting the goods.

Confirm the commodity code using the species, processing method, composition and intended use. Added ingredients or a finished feed formulation need a separate classification check. For the wider heading, see sourcing shrimp meal.

Specify the krill, oil condition and feed use

Specify the krill species, harvesting origin, processing country and producing plant. State whether the meal is full-fat or oil-extracted, and agree crude protein, residual oil, moisture, ash, salt and particle size. Request the extraction and drying methods, any carriers or antioxidants, and batch analysis. Agree laboratory checks for fluoride, heavy metals and oxidation against the intended feed use.

Ask APHA to confirm whether the proposed krill meal follows the fishmeal import route and whether the country and establishment are eligible. Under the processed-animal-protein route, the producing establishment must be approved to export to Great Britain. The guidance requires an appropriate health certificate for high- and medium-risk products and labels indicating that the product is not for human consumption. Settle the route before placing an order.

For feed use, confirm feed business registration, feed material naming, statutory declarations and undesirable substance requirements with the relevant authority. Agree the sampling and analysis brief through testing and certification support.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 12 tonnes of krill meal for feed under 2301 20 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £33,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £33,500, so it is £6,700. 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. 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 declared species, full-fat or extracted form and particle size to the contract. Investigate unexpected shell fragments, grit, fillers or a change in colour.

Batch analysis: independently sample the shipment and compare protein, oil, moisture, ash, salt and agreed contaminant results with the specification. Match the laboratory sample reference to the actual lot.

Oil and storage condition: check for rancid odour, heating, mould and caking on arrival. Compare oxidation results with retained loading samples rather than relying on colour alone.

Bags and documents: check liners, seams, water damage and net weight. Match batch identifiers across bags, analysis reports and shipping documents, and check the agreed non-human-consumption labelling.

What goes wrong

A full-fat approval sample can be followed by an oil-extracted shipment with a different feeding value. Extra shell material changes ash, while moisture and damaged liners can leave the meal caked or mouldy. Specify the composition and processing method in the purchase contract and compare independently collected loading and arrival samples.

A supplier's export experience does not establish eligibility for the proposed product and destination. Unresolved country approval, plant listing or certification can interrupt clearance. For animal by-products subject to veterinary checks, ask APHA to confirm whether pre-notification through IPAFFS is required before arrival. Confirm the border arrangements with your broker before booking transport.

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.