Sourcing sun-dried tomatoes from China
Prepared sun-dried tomatoes from China classified in heading 2002 carry 14% UK duty across the relevant lines. Confirm classification from the actual processing and recipe rather than the product name. Organic imports need a UK-based, certified importing business. Cambridge China Bridge sources sun-dried tomatoes.
14% for prepared sun-dried tomatoes
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 2002 covers tomatoes prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid. This guide concerns prepared sun-dried tomatoes. Before using these candidate lines, give your broker the drying process, subsequent treatment, complete recipe, peeled status and immediate pack size. Do not assume a product that has only been dried belongs here.
The relevant lines carry 14% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Its narrow suspension is for specified tomato paste, rather than sun-dried tomato pieces. The tariff attaches an organic import control. For organic orders, confirm the certificate of inspection requirement and exporter eligibility with your customs broker and organic control body; the importing business must be UK-based and certified.
Confirm the commodity code before placing the order. The table describes candidate tariff categories, rather than automatic classifications for every recipe. See the tomato paste and canned tomatoes guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepared peeled tomato halves or pieces, packs over 1 kg | 2002 10 11 00 | 14% | None |
| Prepared peeled tomato halves or pieces, packs up to 1 kg | 2002 10 19 00 | 14% | None |
| Other prepared whole tomatoes or pieces, including skin-on pieces | 2002 10 90 00 | 14% | None |
| Other prepared tomato products, over 34% dry matter, excluding powder | 2002 90 80 90 | 14% | None |
Specify drying, texture and the packing recipe
Specify halves, strips or pieces; peeled or skin-on; colour; chewiness; salt; moisture and water activity. State whether the tomatoes are supplied dry, rehydrated or packed in oil, and name the oil, herbs, garlic and preservatives. Ask how the claimed sun-drying process is documented. Approve a sample in the intended catering or retail pack.
Agree drained tomato yield for oil-packed products, packaging material, seal construction, storage conditions and shelf-life evidence. Ask for batch testing of moisture, water activity, microbiological condition, pesticide residues and sulphites where used. Compare the tests with the recipe and intended use. These are purchasing specifications, rather than universal numerical limits.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative catering shipment of prepared, skin-on sun-dried tomato halves under 2002 10 90 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,500. Duty at 14% is £2,590. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,090, so it is £4,218. Import taxes total £6,808; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,590 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
Tomatoes: compare size, colour, skin, salt and chewiness with the approved sample; look for mould, grit, stalk fragments and excessively hard pieces.
Packing medium: confirm the agreed oil and seasoning recipe; check drained tomato yield, unexpected odours and discolouration.
Seals: inspect pouches, jars and closures for leaks, swelling and transport damage; match batch marks to the supplier's test reports.
Labels: check ingredients, declared allergens, storage wording and the food business name and address. Solid food packed in liquid must show drained net weight. Review origin wording so it does not mislead. See quality inspection explained.
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What goes wrong
A sample can be soft and evenly coloured while the shipment contains tough skins, heavily salted pieces or dark, overheated tomatoes. Oil-packed goods can deliver less usable tomato than expected. Moisture variation, poor seals and an inadequately evidenced preservation process can leave a batch unstable.
Agree acceptance criteria against a retained sample and inspect the actual production batch. Ask the factory to explain unexpected test results before shipment. On arrival, separate leaking, swollen or visibly mouldy packs from usable stock and investigate the affected batch before release.
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 sun-dried tomatoes from China?
For prepared sun-dried tomatoes correctly classified in heading 2002, the relevant supplied tariff lines carry 14% duty. Confirm the processing and recipe before choosing a code.
Are all sun-dried tomatoes classified in heading 2002?
Do not choose the heading from the name alone. Give your broker the drying method, further processing, recipe, peeled status and pack size to confirm classification.
What should I check before buying organic sun-dried tomatoes?
The importing business must be UK-based and certified. Confirm the certificate of inspection requirement and exporter eligibility with your customs broker and organic control body before shipping.
Do sun-dried tomatoes need a health certificate?
Official guidance says fruit and vegetables do not normally need a health certificate. Confirm the exact recipe and applicable controls with your broker; organic inspection paperwork is a separate check.