Sourcing oat groats from China
Chinese hulled and pearled oat groats attract UK duty of £121.00 to £135.00 per 1000kg, depending on processing. Imported cereals must meet the same or equivalent food hygiene standards and procedures as food produced in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources oat groats.
Oat-groat classification and UK duty
Heading 1104 covers worked cereal grains. Hulled oat groats, including sliced or kibbled forms, fall under 1104 22 40 00; pearled oats have the separate code 1104 22 50 00. The table separates product forms that share a code. For the wider heading, see rolled oats.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the supplied China duty is £135.00 per 1000kg for hulled groats and £121.00 per 1000kg for pearled oats. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for these lines. Both attach organic import control. Organic consignments from China need a Certificate of Inspection; the exporter’s control body issues it.
Send your broker the processing description, grain photographs and intended use, then follow finding your commodity code. Describe whether the groats are whole, cut, kibbled or pearled. The supplied lines have weight-based duties, so they cannot support the requested percentage-duty worked example; its value fields are placeholders.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole hulled oat groats | 1104 22 40 00 | £135.00 per 1000 kg | None |
| Pearled oat groats | 1104 22 50 00 | £121.00 per 1000 kg | None |
Specify the groat and its processing
Agree whether you want whole hulled groats, cut groats or pearled kernels. Record acceptable residual husk, broken kernels, fines, foreign material and moisture in the purchase specification. Ask whether the grain has been heat-treated and agree a sample for colour, smell and cooking texture.
Ask for batch-specific laboratory results for the contaminants relevant to your intended use, rather than a report for another product. Review shared handling equipment and cleaning between cereals. For organic orders, ask your control body and broker to confirm the certification arrangements before dispatch.
Inspection checklist
Grain: compare whole kernels, cut size, pearling and residual husk with the approved sample.
Condition: check for insects, damp patches, mould, musty smells, excessive dust and foreign material.
Packaging: check sack seams, liners, punctures and evidence of water ingress; match batch markings to the delivery documents.
Labels and records: check the product description and batch identity. Where an ingredients list is used, allergenic ingredients must be emphasised whenever they appear. Match laboratory reports and any organic Certificate of Inspection to the shipment.
What goes wrong
A supplier may quote for cut or pearled oats when the buyer expects intact hulled groats. This changes cooking behaviour and can change the tariff line. Put the processing description on the order and compare a retained sample with the delivered grain.
Damp sacks, excess husk or a stale smell can make a batch unsuitable for your intended use. Hold affected stock apart while you investigate. A generic organic certificate is not a substitute for the consignment’s Certificate of Inspection. Agree the sampling and reporting brief through quality inspection.
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 oat groats from China?
The supplied tariff records show £135.00 per 1000kg for hulled oat groats, including sliced or kibbled forms, and £121.00 per 1000kg for pearled oats. These are weight-based duties.
Do whole and cut oat groats use the same commodity code?
The supplied line 1104 22 40 00 covers hulled oats whether or not sliced or kibbled. Pearled oats use 1104 22 50 00. Ask your broker to confirm the actual processing.
What paperwork do organic oat groats need?
Organic consignments from China need a Certificate of Inspection issued by the exporter’s control body. Confirm the certification and clearance arrangements with your organic control body and broker before shipment.
What should I check when oat groats arrive?
Compare kernel form, husk, fines, smell and cooking texture with the approved sample. Check for insects, dampness and damaged sacks, then match the batch markings to laboratory results and shipment documents.