Sourcing spinach seeds for sowing from China

Spinach seed duty and the conditional suspension

Heading 1209 covers seeds, fruit and spores used for sowing. Spinach seeds sit within the vegetable-seed branch. The table repeats 1209 91 80 10 for different spinach seed presentations, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See the wider sowing seeds guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, vegetable seeds under 1209 91 80 10 carried a 2% base duty from China and a 0.00 % autonomous tariff suspension. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing these seeds. The supplied facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.

The tariff attaches an organic-products import control. For organic spinach seed, confirm the certificate and clearance requirements with your customs broker; the certificate of inspection is issued by the exporter’s control body in the exporting country. Confirm the exact presentation and suspension eligibility through finding your commodity code.

Specify the spinach variety and seed lot

Specify the named spinach variety, round or prickly seed form, intended sowing season, leaf type and bolting behaviour. State whether the seed is untreated, treated, primed or coated. Agree germination, purity, moisture and packaging specifications, and request a test report tied to the supplied lot rather than a general supplier certificate.

Official technical guidance permits standard vegetable seed imports from any third country. Before ordering, ask APHA to confirm the variety listing, business licensing, labelling and import-notification arrangements for your intended sales. Also ask APHA to confirm any plant health requirements applicable to the spinach seeds and the route from China.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 kg of untreated spinach seeds for sowing 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 spinach variety, seed form and lot reference across the order, bags and test report; retain a sealed sample.

Germination: commission a lot-specific test and compare the result with the agreed specification; record the test date and method.

Purity: examine drawn samples for other seeds, broken material, dust and visible mould; investigate differences between bags.

Packaging: check seals, dry liners, legible lot details and declared treatment against the order; photograph damp or damaged bags before moving stock.

What goes wrong

A supplier’s variety name may not match the ordered cultivar, or a report may describe a different lot. Mixed seed forms can affect sowing equipment, while poor germination leaves gaps in the crop. Agree how disputed identity and test results will be resolved before placing the order.

Moisture entering damaged bags can leave seed clumped or mouldy. Keep suspect lots separate and investigate before repacking. A low tariff rate does not settle marketing or plant health questions, and an organic claim needs its own paperwork check.

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.