Sourcing onion seeds from China

Onion seed duty and import checks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 1209 covers seeds, fruit and spores of a kind used for sowing. Onion seeds fall within the other vegetable seed family, with seed line 1209 91 80 10 the starting point for classification. The table shows commercial onion seed types sharing that line, rather than separate tariff classifications. See the wider sowing seeds guide.

The supplied tariff record shows 2% duty for goods from China and an autonomous suspension at 0.00%. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing these seeds. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded. The line carries an organic import control. For organic orders, have your customs broker and organic control body confirm the inspection certificate and exporter recognition required for the consignment.

Before shipment to Great Britain, ask APHA or your customs broker to confirm whether the onion seeds require a phytosanitary certificate and plant-health pre-notification through the import notification system, and confirm the entry arrangements. High-risk imports must enter through a port or airport with a suitable plant border control post. Confirm the commodity code against the actual seed, coating and composition; do not assume the suspension covers a prepared sowing product.

Specify the onion variety and seed lot

Specify the botanical species, variety, bulb colour, intended growing region, sowing season and day-length suitability. Agree whether the seed is hybrid or open-pollinated, untreated, treated or pelleted. Ask the producer to identify the seed multiplication, cleaning and packing sites, and disclose any purchased-in seed.

Agree contractual germination, purity and moisture targets, the sampling method and the test report needed for each lot. Standard vegetable seed must meet analytical purity, varietal purity and germination standards before marketing. In England and Wales, a seed business needs a marketing licence. Confirm the variety's eligibility for your intended market before ordering.

Specify moisture-resistant packaging, resealing arrangements, lot identification and storage instructions. Ask for the harvest and test dates, treatment details and a retained sample from the shipped lot. Arrange supplier verification around the producer's seed handling and traceability.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 kg of open-pollinated onion seeds for sowing under 1209 91 80 10, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,400. Duty at 2% is £68. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,468, so it is £693.60. Import taxes total £761.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £68 of duty. 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 variety, species, treatment and lot reference across the order, packs and test reports. Keep different lots separate.

Germination: draw a representative arrival sample and compare an independent germination test with the contractual target and supplier report.

Purity: check for other seeds, debris, damaged seed and uneven pelleting. Use a grow-out check where varietal identity remains uncertain.

Condition and documents: inspect seals, moisture, mould and insect damage. Match the phytosanitary certificate to the consignment and confirm organic paperwork where applicable.

What goes wrong

An onion variety can meet the germination target yet be unsuitable for the buyer's growing region or sowing season. A catalogue report may also describe a different lot from the goods shipped. Approve the variety for the intended crop and obtain reports tied to the actual lot.

Damp packaging, damaged seals and unsuitable storage can undermine seed performance. Mixing lots breaks the link to test results. Keep suspect stock separate while it is investigated, retain arrival samples and agree responsibility for failed germination or incorrect variety in the purchase contract.

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.