Rice vinegar and black vinegar from China
Vinegar from China, including rice vinegar, Chinkiang black vinegar, mature vinegar and other non-wine vinegars, pays a specific UK duty per hectolitre under heading 2209: £4.20 in containers of 2 litres or less and £3.20 in larger containers, with no anti-dumping duty. Wine vinegar pays £5.30 and £4.00. Buyers check acidity, labelling and bottle breakage.
Chinese rice vinegar and black vinegar pay a specific UK duty per hectolitre, set by container size. Rates, labelling and bottle checks explained.
Specific duty per hectolitre
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 2209 covers vinegar and substitutes for vinegar obtained from acetic acid. The duty is charged per hectolitre (100 litres) and depends on type and container size, with no anti-dumping measure, no registration and no suspension.
Vegetables preserved in vinegar are heading 2001 (see our pickles guide), and soy sauce and other condiments heading 2103 (see our soy sauce and condiments guide); confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine vinegar, containers of 2 litres or less | 2209 00 11 00 | £5.30 per hectolitre | None |
| Wine vinegar, containers over 2 litres | 2209 00 19 00 | £4.00 per hectolitre | None |
| Other vinegar (rice, black), containers of 2 litres or less | 2209 00 91 00 | £4.20 per hectolitre | None |
| Other vinegar, containers over 2 litres | 2209 00 99 00 | £3.20 per hectolitre | None |
Food rules
Vinegar is food, so labels must follow the retained Food Information Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, with the legal name, ingredients, allergens such as wheat or barley emphasised where the vinegar is brewed from them, net quantity and the importer's name and address. Products labelled organic need an inspection certificate to be released as organic.
Specifying vinegar
Specify the type and raw material (rice, sorghum, wheat bran), acidity as acetic acid, ageing, colour, whether any caramel or sweetener is added, bottle size and closure, English label, shelf life and carton strength.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 20,000 bottles of 500 ml Chinese black vinegar under 2209 00 91 00 is 10,000 litres, or 100 hectolitres, bought for £9,000 free on board with £1,500 of freight and insurance, so customs value is £10,500. The duty is specific, £4.20 per hectolitre, so 100 × £4.20 = £420. VAT Notice 701/14 zero-rates most food other than excepted items and does not name vinegar, so check the liability; if 20% applied it would be £2,184 on £10,920. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
Inspection checklist
Analysis: check acidity and ingredients against the specification and label.
Labels: check the English label, allergen emphasis, net quantity and best-before date.
Packing: check bottle closures for leaks and cartons for strength and dividers.
What goes wrong
Vinegar orders fail on labelling and breakage. Allergens from the grain are not emphasised, acidity differs from the label, caps leak, and glass bottles break in cartons without dividers.
Test samples before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources rice and black vinegar for UK Asian grocery, restaurant and private label buyers, checking the brewery first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on rice vinegar from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, other vinegar under 2209 00 91 00 carried £4.20 per hectolitre in containers of 2 litres or less.
Is the duty a percentage?
No. Vinegar pays a specific duty per hectolitre, set by type and container size.
Is there VAT on vinegar?
VAT Notice 701/14 zero-rates most food apart from excepted items but does not name vinegar, so check the liability.
What fails most often?
Allergens not emphasised on the label, leaking caps and broken bottles.