Sourcing lactic starter cultures from China
Lactic acid bacterial starter cultures from China carry 0% UK duty under the non-pathogenic culture line. Confirm animal-derived ingredients and the import route before ordering; novel foods need authorisation before sale in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources lactic acid bacterial starter cultures.
Zero duty on the relevant culture line
Heading 3002 includes cultures of micro-organisms excluding yeasts. For ordinary non-pathogenic lactic acid bacterial starter cultures, the relevant candidate is 3002 49 00 20. The table shows different applications sharing that commodity line. For the wider heading, see vaccines and antisera.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 November 2026, the relevant line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded. The tariff attaches Veterinary control and Animal Health Certificate controls. The importer should confirm their application to the exact Chinese product with their customs broker before dispatch.
Provide the species, strain identities, complete formulation, animal-derived ingredients and intended food use when confirming the commodity code. The published England authorisation for animal-derived food starter cultures lists Australia, Canada, New Zealand and USA, excluding China. Ask the animal and plant health authority to confirm an applicable route before ordering an animal-derived Chinese culture.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lactic acid bacterial starter cultures for yoghurt | 3002 49 00 20 | 0% | None |
Specify strains, carriers and fermentation performance
Specify each bacterial species and strain, the blend composition, freeze-dried or frozen format, carrier ingredients and any milk-derived material. Agree viable-count and contamination acceptance criteria, the test methods, storage conditions and remaining shelf life on arrival. Request batch-specific analysis and stability information rather than a generic product brochure.
Trial the culture in your actual milk, vegetables or meat process. Agree the inoculation method, acidification profile, flavour and texture targets, and acceptance criteria for the finished food. Check the product's novel-food status; if it is a novel food, authorisation is required before it can be placed on the Great Britain market.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 sealed sachets of yoghurt starter culture 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 strain designations, formulation, batch references and expiry information against the order and batch analysis.
Activity: check viable-count results and run the agreed fermentation trial; appearance alone cannot establish activity.
Condition: inspect sachet seals, moisture ingress and clumping; review transport temperature records against the supplier's agreed storage conditions.
Traceability: food businesses must keep supply-chain traceability records. Link the received culture batch to your supplier, production records and business customers.
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What goes wrong
A culture can look intact yet ferment too slowly after unsuitable transport or storage. A substituted strain blend can change acidity, flavour or texture. Missing carrier information can also conceal milk-derived ingredients. Hold batches with unexplained temperature excursions, mismatched documents or failed fermentation trials while the supplier investigates.
Do not treat zero duty as confirmation that an animal-derived culture can enter from China. Settle the import route before shipment, and keep food-use evidence separate from supplier claims about fermentation performance.
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 lactic acid starter cultures from China?
The relevant non-pathogenic culture line, 3002 49 00 20, carries 0% duty for China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure or suspension recorded in the supplied tariff facts.
Can I import a starter culture containing milk ingredients from China?
Do not assume so. The published England authorisation for animal-derived starter cultures excludes China from its country list. Obtain confirmation of an applicable route before ordering.
Does every starter culture need novel-food authorisation?
Check the exact product and intended use. Authorisation is required if the product is a novel food before it can be placed on the Great Britain market.
How do I check that a starter culture still works after shipping?
Review transport and storage records, check batch viable-count results and run an agreed fermentation trial in your actual ingredients. An intact sachet alone does not prove activity.