Sourcing rice crackers from China
The selected rice-cracker lines within heading 1905 carry 8% UK duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Rice import controls need checking before shipment, and no genetically modified rice products are authorised in the UK. Cambridge China Bridge sources rice crackers.
Rice-cracker duty and import controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the selected lines within heading 1905 carried 8% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions. This heading covers bakers' wares, including biscuits and some savoury extruded or expanded products. The table gives possible classifications, rather than interchangeable codes for every rice cracker.
The tariff attaches veterinary control, restrictions on entry into free circulation, organic import control and genetically modified rice controls to these lines. High-risk food consignments require laboratory analyses. No genetically modified rice or rice products are authorised in the UK. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable rice testing, certificates, border entry, notification and release requirements for the Chinese consignment before shipment.
Give the recipe, sugar composition and manufacturing process to your broker when confirming the commodity code. Distinguish baked rice crackers from products made by swelling cereal grains. For the wider heading, see biscuits, cakes and bakery products.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savoury rice crackers classified as biscuits | 1905 90 45 00 | 8% | None |
| Savoury or salted extruded or expanded rice crackers | 1905 90 55 00 | 8% | None |
| Other rice bakers' wares with at least 5% sucrose, invert sugar or isoglucose | 1905 90 70 00 | 8% | None |
| Other rice bakers' wares outside the preceding subdivisions | 1905 90 80 00 | 8% | None |
Specify the rice base, seasoning and pack
Specify the rice flour or grain base, other starches, baking or frying process, shape, thickness, crispness and acceptable breakage. Record the complete seasoning recipe, including soy sauce, sesame, milk powder and seafood ingredients where used. Agree seasoning coverage, oil quality, moisture specification, storage conditions and remaining shelf life on arrival.
Animal ingredients can make crackers composite products, so check ingredient eligibility and any exemption before ordering. Exempt composite products must still travel with an exporter’s commercial document. For organic stock, obtain the certificate of inspection from the exporter’s control body and have your broker confirm the consignment requirements. Approve moisture-barrier packaging and the full English label before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative bulk order of packaged savoury rice crackers under 1905 90 45 00, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £22,500. Duty at 8% is £1,800. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,300, so it is £4,860. Import taxes total £6,660; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,800 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 production ingredients and seasoning supplier records with the approved recipe; investigate substitutions before accepting the batch.
Texture: check crispness, colour, seasoning distribution, oily or rancid odours and broken pieces against retained samples.
Packs: check seals, punctures, net weight, date coding and carton protection; assess crispness after transport through quality inspection.
Labels and records: check the English ingredients, emphasised allergens, best-before date and UK address against approved artwork; match batch identities to the laboratory reports and shipping documents.
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What goes wrong
Thin crackers arrive broken when bags move inside loosely packed cartons. Poor seals let moisture in and the crackers lose their snap. Fried products can develop rancid odours during warm storage. Test the packed product, rather than relying only on loose samples from the factory.
A seasoning change can introduce an undeclared allergen or animal ingredient. A generic laboratory report may concern a different recipe or batch. Obtain the seasoning breakdown, approve label changes and settle the tariff-attached controls with your broker before dispatch.
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 rice crackers from China?
The selected heading 1905 lines carry 8% duty from China. The supplied tariff snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on these lines.
Can I use the same commodity code for every rice cracker?
Do not assume that. Give your broker the recipe and manufacturing process. Baked biscuits, savoury expanded products and foods made by swelling cereal grains need separate classification checks.
Do rice crackers from China need import-control checks?
Yes. The selected lines carry genetically modified rice and high-risk food controls, alongside veterinary and organic measures. Confirm which documents and border procedures apply with your customs broker.
What should I check when rice crackers arrive?
Check broken pieces, crispness, rancid odours, seasoning coverage, pack seals, weights and date codes. Match the English label to the approved recipe and the batch to its laboratory and shipping records.