Sourcing plant extracts, pectin and agar

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, saps and extracts of liquorice, hops, ephedra and other plants, vanilla oleoresin, pectic substances, pectinates and pectates whether or not sugared, agar-agar, and mucilages and thickeners from locust beans, guar seeds and other plants carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. Pectin lines split by added sugar, and extracts mixed into supplements or flavourings may classify elsewhere, so confirm the commodity code. For UK brewing ingredients going to China, see exporting malt and hops.

Additive, novel food and medicine rules

Pectin (E 440), agar (E 406), guar gum (E 412) and locust bean gum (E 410) are permitted food additives only when they meet the purity criteria on the FSA register of authorised food additives, including limits on heavy metals and microbiology, so ask for the specification and a certificate of analysis per batch. Botanical extracts sold as food must not be novel foods unless authorised: under the assimilated novel food regulation, a food not used for human consumption to a significant degree in the UK or EU before 15 May 1997 needs authorisation.

An extract presented as treating or preventing disease is a medicine, and herbal remedies need a traditional herbal registration or licence from the MHRA, so the product claims decide the regime before sourcing. Extracts sold as food supplements must meet the supplements rules; see the vitamins guide.

Worked duty example

A hypothetical order, not a quote: 2 tonnes of food-grade agar powder under 1302 31 00 00, bought for £36,000 free on board with £1,000 of freight and insurance, so the customs value is £37,000. Duty is 0%. Agar bought as an ingredient for making ordinary food is normally zero-rated for VAT, so nothing is due at the border; the same value of a botanical extract sold as a food supplement would be standard-rated, adding £7,400 of import VAT that a registered business reclaims. Check the VAT liability with HMRC for your use, and see the duty and VAT guide.

What goes wrong

Extracts and gums fail on identity, strength and contaminants. Extracts are sold on ratios or marker compound percentages that the material does not meet, cheaper plant material or fillers are blended in, and gel strength of agar or degree of esterification of pectin misses the grade. Pesticide residues, heavy metals and microbiology fail laboratory tests, and ethylene oxide residues in some gums and additives have caused recalls.

Specify the plant species and part, extraction solvent, ratio or marker content, and for gums the gel strength, viscosity or esterification, test each batch in a UK laboratory for identity, marker content, pesticides including ethylene oxide, heavy metals and microbiology, check the novel food and medicine status before promotion, and keep retained samples.

Cambridge China Bridge sources plant extracts, pectin, agar and plant gums, with specifications, laboratory tests and regulatory status agreed before shipment. See how our ingredient sourcing works.