Sourcing tempeh starter cultures from China
Tempeh starter cultures classified under 3002 49 00 20 carry 0% UK duty from China, with no trade remedy recorded. Food imports must be safe and legal before entry into Great Britain. Confirm the complete formulation and the tariff's veterinary-control flags before shipping. Cambridge China Bridge sources tempeh starter cultures.
Zero duty on the relevant culture line
Heading 3002 includes cultures of micro-organisms excluding yeasts. For a non-pathogenic tempeh starter, 3002 49 00 20 is the relevant culture line to investigate. The table shows alternative product formats under the same line, subject to classification of the complete formulation. Compare the koji mould starter culture guide for related sourcing considerations.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, this line carries 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. The tariff attaches Veterinary control and Animal Health Certificate measures. Their application to a particular non-animal tempeh starter has not been established here; the importer should confirm the requirements with their customs broker before shipment.
Give the broker the organism identity, full ingredient list, carrier composition, manufacturing information and intended food use. Use finding your commodity code to check the classification rather than copying the supplier's code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-pathogenic tempeh starter culture, bulk powder | 3002 49 00 20 | 0% | None |
Specify the strain, carrier and fermentation performance
Specify a tempeh starter rather than a general mould culture. Ask for the organism's scientific name, strain identification, carrier ingredients, viable-count test method, recommended application rate and storage conditions. Agree a trial using your own prepared beans and process, with acceptance based on even growth, bean binding and repeatable fermentation.
Obtain the complete formulation, including any milk-derived carrier or stabiliser. Official guidance states that dairy products from China are prohibited regardless of where they originate. Do not order a dairy-containing formulation without resolving its import eligibility with the broker and port health authority.
Imported food must be safe and legal before entering Great Britain. Ask for evidence supporting the exact strain's intended food use and check its novel-food status. If the product is a novel food, authorisation is required before it can be placed on the Great Britain market.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of sealed tempeh starter powder for a small food producer under 3002 49 00 20, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,500, so it is £1,100. 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.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the strain identification and ingredient specification to the approved sample and the batch certificate of analysis.
Activity: compare the supplier's viability results with an agreed fermentation trial using your own beans; appearance alone does not establish performance.
Packaging: check seals, moisture damage, caking and contamination; compare storage instructions and remaining shelf life with the purchase specification.
Batch records: match pack identifiers to production and test records, and retain the connection between each received batch and its business customers.
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What goes wrong
A starter can look normal yet produce slow or uneven growth. Moisture ingress, unsuitable transport conditions, a changed carrier or a substituted strain can undermine the agreed result. Compare received material with the retained sample and investigate failed trials before using the batch in production.
A generic culture description can conceal animal-derived ingredients or leave the import-control flags unresolved. Obtain the formulation and broker's assessment before dispatch. Keep affected stock separate while ingredient, batch-document or performance discrepancies are investigated.
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 tempeh starter from China?
The relevant non-pathogenic culture line, 3002 49 00 20, carries 0% duty in the supplied tariff snapshot, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Confirm classification of the full formulation.
Does tempeh starter need an animal health certificate?
The tariff attaches Animal Health Certificate and Veterinary control measures. Their application to your exact starter needs confirmation with your customs broker; supply the full formulation before shipping.
Can I import a tempeh starter containing milk powder?
Official guidance says dairy products from China are prohibited regardless of their original source. Resolve the eligibility of a milk-containing starter with your broker and port health authority before ordering.
How do I check whether the starter still works?
Match its batch and strain documents, review viability results, and run the agreed fermentation trial with your own prepared beans. Check even growth and bean binding against the approved sample.