Sourcing preserved moss and foliage from China

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 0604 covers foliage, branches and other parts of plants, without flowers or flower buds, and grasses, mosses and lichens, of a kind suitable for bouquets or ornamental purposes, fresh, dried, dyed, bleached, impregnated or otherwise prepared. All nine leaves carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure, no registration and no suspension.

Artificial foliage is heading 6702 (see our artificial flowers and plants guide); confirm the commodity code.

Plant health

GOV.UK guidance on importing plants and plant products from non-EU countries to Great Britain sets out risk categories. High risk and medium risk A goods need IPAFFS registration, a phytosanitary certificate from the exporter, pre-notification, checks and fees; medium risk B goods need a phytosanitary certificate. Any wood packaging material used must meet ISPM 15. Check the risk category for fresh, dried and preserved material before ordering.

Specifying moss and foliage

Specify the plant and part, fresh, dried or preserved, the dye and preservative used, colour and shade reference, moisture content, stem length or cluster size, pest and soil freedom, and packing that keeps preserved material from crushing and damp.

Worked duty example

Take a hypothetical order of 2,000 boxes of preserved reindeer moss, entered under 0604 90 11 00: £6,000 free on board plus £900 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £6,900. Preserved moss carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £6,900, £1,380, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.

Inspection checklist

Condition: check colour against the approved sample, softness, breakage and shedding.

Moisture and mould: check for damp cartons, mould and insects, and that no soil is attached.

Colour fastness: rub a sample on white cloth and check that dye does not transfer.

What goes wrong

Moss and foliage orders fail on moisture, colour and paperwork. Preserved moss goes mouldy in a humid container, dye rubs off onto walls, colour varies between batches, and plant health documents are missing at the border.

Test samples before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources preserved moss and decorative foliage for UK florist, interiors and moss wall buyers, checking the processor first. See factory verification.