Sourcing prepared mustard from China
Prepared mustard from China carries 8% UK duty across both added-sugar categories, with no listed trade remedy or suspension. Mustard allergen labelling applies to all mustard types, and allergens must be emphasised whenever they appear in the ingredients list. Cambridge China Bridge sources prepared mustard.
Prepared mustard duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 2103 covers sauces, mixed condiments, mixed seasonings, mustard flour and meal, and prepared mustard. This guide concerns prepared mustard. The table shows buying variants within the same tariff lines, rather than separate codes for smooth and wholegrain textures.
Chinese-origin prepared mustard carries 8% duty. Code 2103 30 90 10 covers no added sugar or added sugar below 5% by weight; 2103 30 90 90 covers added sugar of 5% or more. Neither line lists anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or a suspension. Both attach an organic import control. Confirm the certificate-of-inspection requirement with your customs broker before an organic shipment; the exporter’s control body issues the certificate. Businesses trading in organic products must have approved UK organic control-body certification.
Ask the factory to declare added sugar separately from total sugar and provide the complete recipe. Confirm the commodity code before ordering. Mustard flour and meal are separate from prepared mustard. For other products within the heading, see soy sauce and condiments.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepared mustard with no added sugar | 2103 30 90 10 | 8% | None |
| Smooth prepared mustard with added sugar of 5% or more by weight | 2103 30 90 90 | 8% | None |
Specify the mustard recipe and texture
Specify mustard seed type, smooth or wholegrain texture, seed proportion, vinegar, salt, added sugar, oil, spices and additives. Approve a reference sample for pungency, acidity, colour, sweetness and spreadability. Ask the factory to identify every ingredient in compound ingredients and obtain written approval before substitutions.
Agree retail jars, squeeze bottles or catering tubs, closure design, net fill, storage instructions and remaining shelf life on arrival. Request evidence supporting the proposed shelf life and preservation process. Review the English label against the final recipe, including mustard allergen emphasis. Use testing and certification support to agree appropriate batch checks.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of prepared mustard with no added sugar in catering tubs under 2103 30 90 10, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,500. Duty at 8% is £2,040. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £27,540, so it is £5,508. Import taxes total £7,548; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,040 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
Recipe: compare the production recipe and added-sugar declaration with the approved specification and customs description.
Taste and texture: compare batch samples with the approved mustard for pungency, acidity, grain distribution, colour and separation.
Labels: check the English ingredients list against the recipe and emphasise allergens each time they appear.
Packing: check net fill, closures, leaks, damaged jars, batch markings and carton protection before shipment and on arrival.
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What goes wrong
A total-sugar nutrition figure can be mistaken for the added-sugar declaration needed to choose the tariff line. Recipe changes can also alter taste or introduce allergens absent from approved artwork. Keep the recipe, label and batch documents together, and require approval before either ingredients or packaging change.
Mustard can arrive with leaking closures, damaged glass, uneven grain distribution or texture unlike the sample. Agree acceptance criteria before production, retain batch samples and check incoming stock before distribution. See quality inspection explained.
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 prepared mustard from China?
Both prepared-mustard lines carry 8% duty in the supplied tariff reading, with no listed anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension.
Which commodity code applies to sweetened mustard?
Added sugar below 5% by weight uses 2103 30 90 10; added sugar of 5% or more uses 2103 30 90 90. Obtain the recipe’s added-sugar declaration rather than relying on total sugar.
Does wholegrain mustard need allergen labelling?
Yes. Mustard labelling rules apply to all mustard types. Allergens must be emphasised each time they appear in the ingredients list.
Can I import organic prepared mustard from China?
Both tariff lines attach an organic import control. Confirm the certificate-of-inspection requirement with your broker and organic control body before ordering; organic traders need approved UK control-body certification.