Sourcing live fish from China

Live-fish duty and species controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 0301 covers live ornamental fish and other live fish. China-origin base duty ranges from 0% to 16%: ornamental fish and eels are 0%, carp and other freshwater fish are 8%, the listed salmon lines are 2%, and most trout lines are 12%. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.

The bluefin tuna lines have a 0.00 % autonomous suspension alongside 16% base duty; its footnote excludes mixtures, preparations and products containing different components. Veterinary and organic controls appear throughout the heading. Selected lines also carry CITES, invasive-species, illegal-fishing or bluefin entry restrictions. The tariff attaches the bluefin restriction; confirm the China-specific documentation with your customs broker. CITES export controls also appear on selected lines and matter if you later re-export.

Classification depends on species, ornamental use and, for some fish, individual weight or length. Confirm the commodity code before requesting clearance instructions. A duty-free line does not establish that the species or Chinese source is eligible for import.

Specify species, destination and transport water

Put the scientific species name, ornamental or food use, farmed or wild origin, size range and receiving premises in the enquiry. Agree acceptable substitutions, bag counts, packing density, oxygen provision, insulation, transport-water conditions and the method for recording deaths on arrival. Ask for source-site records and recent photographs of the actual stock.

For ornamental imports into England and Wales, obtain import authorisation and arrange an original signed animal health certificate. Notify the receiving border control post. Ask the Fish Health Inspectorate to confirm source eligibility and the complete entry arrangements before committing to a Chinese supplier. For direct food use, ask the relevant authority or your customs broker to confirm the applicable live-fish entry route, source eligibility, certification, notification and border-check arrangements.

Screen the species for CITES permits and invasive-species restrictions before agreeing the stock list. Listed invasive alien animals cannot be sold except in limited circumstances. For organic food, arrange the certificate of inspection with the exporter's control body and confirm applicability with your broker. Ask the relevant authority or your customs broker whether catch documentation applies to the species, its wild-caught or farmed origin and the intended food use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: A wholesale consignment of freshwater ornamental fish, illustrative only under 0301 11 00 00, 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. 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 fish, bag markings and stock list to the agreed species and size range; photograph any substitutions.

Condition: record dead fish, abnormal swimming, damaged fins, skin lesions and visible parasites before mixing stock.

Packing: check leaking bags, collapsed oxygen space, insulation damage and transport-water temperature against the agreed specification.

Documents: match the original signed health certificate, source details and consignment identity; use supplier verification to check the source records before dispatch.

What goes wrong

A common name can conceal a different species, while ornamental and food consignments can follow different entry routes. Missing source details or mismatched certificates can disrupt clearance. Settle the species, purpose and documentation before the supplier packs the fish.

Leaking bags, unsuitable packing density and transport-water deterioration can leave stock distressed or dead on arrival. Agree who records arrival condition, what evidence supports a claim and how affected stock will be handled. Keep photographs and bag-level records rather than relying on a total loss estimate.

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.