Sourcing sesame crackers from China
Sesame crackers from China carry 8% duty on the biscuit and snack lines shown; crispbread carries 4% plus £10 per 100 kg. Confirm classification from the recipe and process, and emphasise allergens in the ingredients list. Cambridge China Bridge sources sesame crackers.
Sesame cracker duty and recipe checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 1905 covers biscuits and other bakers' wares. The selected sesame biscuit and snack lines carry 8% duty from China. Sesame crispbread, if classified as crispbread, carries 4% plus £10 per 100 kg. The supplied tariff data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on these lines.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches veterinary control, a restriction on entry into free circulation for listed high-risk foods, and organic import control. The selected other bakers' wares lines also carry a genetically modified organism control concerning rice products. Ask your customs broker to confirm which measures apply to the Chinese recipe, particularly rice flour, dairy, egg or organic claims, and the documents needed before dispatch.
Send the complete recipe, ingredient origins, manufacturing process and pack artwork for a commodity code check. The table gives possible classifications, not interchangeable codes. For rice-based variants and the wider heading, see rice crackers from China.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savoury sesame biscuits | 1905 90 45 00 | 8% | None |
| Other sweet sesame biscuits | 1905 31 99 00 | 8% | None |
| Savoury or salted extruded sesame snacks | 1905 90 55 00 | 8% | None |
| Other sesame bakers' wares, where more specific lines do not apply | 1905 90 80 00 | 8% | None |
Specify the sesame, dough and moisture barrier
Specify wheat or rice flour, white or black sesame, hulled or unhulled seeds, seed content and surface coverage. Agree thickness, shape, toasted colour, salt, sweetness, oil and seasoning composition. Keep an approved sample for crispness and flavour, and agree acceptable breakage, moisture, shelf life and protective packing.
Milk or egg ingredients can make crackers composite products, so check import eligibility and any exemption against the exact recipe. Exempt composite products must travel with a commercial document from the exporter. For an applicable high-risk food control, pre-notify the authorities and check that the border control post is designated to receive that food.
For organic crackers, confirm the tariff's organic import requirements with your customs broker and approved organic control body before ordering. The certificate of inspection is issued by the exporter's control body in the country of export. Confirm food-business registration and other English labelling requirements with the relevant food authority before approving labels showing ingredients, emphasised allergens, net weight, best-before date and a UK address.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative airfreighted trial order: 100 kg of retail-packed savoury sesame crackers under 1905 90 45 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,300. Duty at 8% is £344. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,644, so it is £928.80. Import taxes total £1,272.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £344 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 and labels: compare production records and English artwork with the approved recipe, including seasoning ingredients. Check sesame and other applicable allergens are emphasised each time they appear in the ingredients list.
Seeds and baking: compare seed coverage, toasted colour, thickness and shape with the approved sample. Check for burnt seeds, loose seed shedding and uneven baking.
Crispness and oil: check arrival samples for softening, rancid odour and flavour changes. Compare moisture or water activity results with the agreed specification and review batch contaminant testing.
Packs and cartons: check seals, net weight, date coding, crushed crackers and carton protection. Retain arrival samples for comparison with pre-shipment samples. See quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
Sesame seeds and added oil can develop rancid flavours, while poor moisture barriers let thin crackers soften. Over-toasted seeds make a batch bitter, loose toppings collect at the bottom of packs, and tightly packed crackers fracture during handling. Compare sealed arrival samples with the approved sample before accepting the batch.
A seasoning substitution can introduce milk or soya absent from the approved artwork. Rice flour can also change the import-control questions. Freeze the recipe and label together, require approval before ingredient changes, and settle the broker's document checks before shipment.
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 sesame crackers from China?
The selected biscuit and snack lines carry 8%. Crispbread carries 4% plus £10 per 100 kg. The supplied tariff data shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on these lines.
Does a sesame cracker label need allergen emphasis?
Yes. Allergens must be emphasised each time they appear in the ingredients list. Check sesame, wheat and any allergens in seasoning against the actual recipe.
Can I import sesame crackers containing milk or egg?
They can be composite products. Confirm eligibility and any exemption for the exact recipe before ordering. Exempt composite products still need a commercial document from the exporter.
What should I check when sesame crackers arrive?
Check crispness, rancid odour, toasted seed colour, loose seeds, breakage and seals. Compare labels, weights and date coding with the approved specification and retain sealed samples.