Sourcing Narcissus bulbs from China

Narcissus bulb duty and import controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 0601 covers dormant bulbs and related planting material, material in growth or flower, and chicory plants and roots. Dormant Narcissus bulbs use 0601 10 20 00; Narcissus in growth or flower falls within 0601 20 30 00. The table shows product forms sharing these codes. See the wider bulb guide.

The ordinary China rates are 4% for dormant Narcissus and 8% for the growth or flower line. Both record an autonomous suspension at 0.00 %, excluding mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing these goods. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded. Both attach organic import control: confirm its application with your customs broker. The growth or flower line also attaches CITES import and export controls; listed specimens need an import permit, so confirm the species with your broker.

Confirm the commodity code, suspension eligibility and plant-health risk category before ordering. For high-risk and medium-risk A imports, confirm registration, phytosanitary certification, pre-notification, checks and fees with the relevant plant-health authority; for medium-risk B imports, confirm phytosanitary certificate requirements. These plant-health arrangements concern Great Britain. Ask the relevant plant-health authority to confirm the requirements for your named Narcissus species from China.

Specify the Narcissus variety and bulb condition

Specify the botanical species, cultivar, flower colour, intended garden planting or indoor forcing, and whether the bulbs must arrive dormant. Agree a bulb circumference grade, acceptable offsets, firmness, basal-plate condition and packing count. Record any preparation or storage treatment rather than relying on a photograph of flowers.

Ask for grower identity and batch records as well as the packing supplier's details. Agree ventilated packing that protects bulbs from crushing and condensation. For online sales to customers buying for personal use, a plant passport is still needed; plan that selling route before arranging retail packs.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 dormant Narcissus bulbs; FOB value and freight are illustrative. under 0601 10 20 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,900. Duty at 4% is £276. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,176, so it is £1,435.20. Import taxes total £1,711.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £276 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match species, cultivar, batch labels and carton counts to the order and supplier records.

Bulb grade: measure circumference against the agreed grade and check offsets, firmness, broken necks and damaged basal plates.

Condition: check for soft rot, mould, insects, attached soil, wet packing and unintended sprouting.

Documents: match the consignment description to the invoice and plant-health paperwork, and confirm any organic or CITES control with the customs broker.

What goes wrong

Bulbs sold under a flower photograph can arrive as a different cultivar or an uneven grade. Damp packing can conceal rot, while sprouting bulbs may no longer match an order specified as dormant. Keep batches separate and record arrival condition before distributing stock.

A supplier's assurance that bulbs are export-ready does not resolve the import paperwork. Confirm the named species and shipment requirements before dispatch, then compare arrival samples with the agreed specification. Use the quality inspection guide to define the 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.