Sourcing Radish Seeds from China
Radish seeds from China have a 2% base UK duty, with a 0% suspension for eligible unmixed seeds. Standard vegetable seed must meet purity and germination standards before sale. Check plant health requirements and organic import paperwork before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources radish seeds.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
2% base duty, with a conditional suspension
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 1209 covers seeds, fruit and spores of a kind used for sowing. Vegetable radish seeds fall within 1209 91 80 10. The table shows product examples sharing this commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See the wider sowing seeds guide.
The supplied tariff record gives a 2% third-country duty and a 0.00 % autonomous tariff suspension. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing these seeds. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded for this line. The tariff attaches an organic-products import control.
For organic shipments from China to Great Britain, arrange a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and export country against the recognised registers. Ask your broker to confirm suspension eligibility, and ask APHA to confirm plant health requirements for the named species and origin. Confirm the commodity code before ordering.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round red radish seeds for sowing | 1209 91 80 10 | 2% | None |
Specify the radish variety and seed lot
Specify the botanical identity, variety name, root colour and shape, intended growing season, and whether the seed is hybrid or open-pollinated. Agree germination, analytical purity, varietal purity, moisture, grading, treatment and packaging in writing. Ask for a test report linked to the actual lot, rather than a general supplier certificate.
Standard vegetable seed must meet analytical purity, varietal purity and germination standards before marketing. In England and Wales, businesses marketing regulated seed must be licensed. Complete the import notification form for seed consignments weighing over 2kg entering England and Wales. Ask APHA to confirm the variety’s marketing status before committing to stock.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 kg of long white radish seeds for sowing; values are illustrative 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 and lot on bags, invoices and test reports; retain a sample for a grow-out comparison of root colour and shape.
Germination: test a representative sample from the shipment and compare normal seedlings with the agreed specification; use testing support where needed.
Condition: check for damp bags, mould, insects, broken seed, weed seed and inconsistent grading; examine inner liners and seals.
Documents: match treatment details and organic paperwork to the lot; check that repacking has preserved traceability.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Seeds can germinate yet produce the wrong root shape or colour. Mixed varieties, substituted lots and unsuitable growing-season claims are difficult to resolve from seed appearance alone. Compare the supplied lot with an agreed reference through a grow-out, and keep samples and reports linked to each delivery.
Moisture ingress and poor storage can reduce germination after a supplier’s test. Retest doubtful lots before repacking or sale. A mixed seed product can also fall outside the tariff suspension, so give the broker the full composition rather than describing everything as radish seed.
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 radish seeds from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 2% base duty for 1209 91 80 10, with a 0.00 % suspension subject to its exclusions. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded.
Can I sell imported radish seeds without a seed licence?
In England and Wales, businesses marketing seed covered by the regulations must be licensed. Standard vegetable seed must also meet purity and germination standards.
What paperwork do organic radish seeds need?
For China-to-Great-Britain shipments, arrange a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and export country against the recognised registers.
How do I check that radish seeds are the right variety?
Match lot identifiers across the bags and reports, retain a sample, and run a grow-out against the agreed reference. A germination result alone does not establish root colour or shape.