Sourcing spices, ginger and turmeric from China
Ginger, saffron, turmeric, curry and other heading 0910 spices from China pay 0% UK duty, whole or ground, with no anti-dumping duty. Aflatoxin limits apply to some spices under the retained contaminants regulation, pesticide residues must meet GB limits, and ground spices are adulterated more often than whole ones. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
Ginger, saffron, turmeric, curry powder, thyme, bay leaves and other spices pay 0% UK duty from China. Contaminant limits and food law explained.
Zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, ginger, saffron, turmeric, curry, thyme, bay leaves, fenugreek seed and other spices of heading 0910, whether crushed or ground or not, carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Pepper, chillies, cinnamon and cloves are in headings 0904 to 0909; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ginger, whole | 0910 11 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Ginger, crushed or ground | 0910 12 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Saffron, whole | 0910 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Turmeric | 0910 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Curry | 0910 91 05 00 | 0% | None |
| Bay leaves | 0910 99 50 00 | 0% | None |
| Other spices, whole | 0910 99 91 00 | 0% | None |
Contaminants and residues
The retained contaminants regulation sets maximum aflatoxin levels for certain spices, including ginger and turmeric, and pesticide residues must not exceed GB maximum residue levels. Ask for an accredited laboratory report for aflatoxins, residues and microbiology on each lot, and test ground spices for adulterants such as dyes.
Food law and labels
The importer must register as a food business. Retail packs need the name, net weight, best-before date, storage and a UK address in English, and mixes such as curry powder need an ingredient list with allergens such as mustard or celery emphasised.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 10 tonnes of turmeric under 0910 30 00 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,000, so it is £3,600. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
What goes wrong
Spice lots fail laboratory tests more often than they fail inspection. Turmeric and chilli powders have been adulterated with lead chromate and industrial dyes, ground ginger with starch, and saffron with dyed plant fibre. Aflatoxin rises when roots are dried slowly in damp weather, and insects and mould appear in bags stored without liners.
Test every lot before it ships, not after it lands: aflatoxins, pesticide residues, heavy metals including lead, dyes and microbiology, by an accredited laboratory. At inspection, check moisture, foreign matter, insect damage and bag weights, and keep a retained sample from each lot.
Moisture and inspection
Specify moisture limit, particle size, colour value (for turmeric, curcumin content) and packing with liners. At inspection, check moisture, foreign matter, insects and bag weights.
Cambridge China Bridge sources ginger, turmeric, saffron and spice blends, with contaminant testing and labels settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on ginger from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, ginger, turmeric and other heading 0910 spices carried 0% duty from China.
Which contaminant limits apply to spices?
Aflatoxin maximum levels for certain spices, including ginger and turmeric, under the retained contaminants regulation, and GB pesticide residue limits.
Are chillies and pepper in heading 0910?
No. Pepper and capsicum are in heading 0904, and other spices in 0905 to 0909.
Why test ground spices?
Ground spices are adulterated more often, for example with dyes, so test each lot.