Sourcing Walnut Oil from China
Walnut oil from China carries 2% to 8% UK duty across the relevant liquid-oil lines: crude edible oil pays 6% and other edible oil 8%. Classification depends on processing and use. Food buyers must provide walnut allergen information and check applicable import controls. Cambridge China Bridge sources walnut oil.
Walnut oil duty depends on processing and use
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 1515 covers fixed vegetable or microbial oils and their fractions, whether refined or not, but not chemically modified. Liquid walnut oil falls within the other-oils branches. The supplied China rates are 6% for crude edible oil and 8% for other edible oil; technical or industrial uses excluding food manufacture have separate crude and other lines at 2% and 4%.
The relevant lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. The 0.00 % suspension on 1515 90 99 99 is restricted to specified refined or semi-refined oils containing arachidonic acid or docosahexaenoic acid within stated composition ranges; do not assume ordinary walnut oil qualifies. The tariff attaches CITES and waste import and export controls, plus organic import control on the edible lines.
For organic imports from China into Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and export country against the non-UK organic registers. CITES-listed specimens require permits; confirm the walnut species and tariff documentation with your customs broker. If the oil is waste, confirm the applicable shipment procedure before dispatch. Confirm the commodity code from processing, composition and intended use. See the grapeseed oil guide for another oil within this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude liquid walnut oil for food | 1515 90 59 00 | 6% | None |
| Other liquid walnut oil, including refined oil for food | 1515 90 99 99 | 8% | None |
| Crude walnut oil for technical or industrial uses excluding food manufacture | 1515 90 40 00 | 2% | None |
| Other walnut oil for technical or industrial uses excluding food manufacture | 1515 90 60 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the walnut oil and its packing
Specify edible use, walnut species and origin, whether kernels are roasted, extraction method, filtration and refining. State whether the oil is pure or blended, and agree colour, aroma and flavour against an approved sample. Ask for the production history behind any cold-pressed claim.
Agree batch tests for fatty acid profile, acid value, peroxide value, moisture and impurities. Set acceptance criteria with your laboratory rather than accepting a generic certificate. Specify bottles or bulk containers, closure seals, protection from light, storage conditions and remaining shelf life on arrival. Use testing and certification support to define the testing brief.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of refined edible walnut oil under 1515 90 99 99, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 8% is £1,560. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,060, so it is £4,212. Import taxes total £5,772; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,560 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: check that the batch analysis and independent sample results support walnut oil rather than an undeclared blend.
Freshness: compare aroma, flavour and colour with the approved sample, and check acid and peroxide values against the agreed specification.
Packing: inspect seals, leaks, container cleanliness and batch markings on arrival; reconcile the delivered lots with the packing list.
Labels and records: check that walnut allergen information is provided and review any ingredients list for allergen emphasis. Match organic paperwork, where applicable, to the consignment. Check records of other nuts handled on the same line.
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What goes wrong
Watch for substitution with another vegetable oil, stale or bitter flavour, excessive sediment and leaking closures. A sample from a fresh batch can hide problems in the shipment, so sample the actual production lots and retain comparison samples.
A cold-pressed description does not by itself settle whether customs treats the oil as crude. Obtain the process description before declaring the code. Organic claims also need import paperwork. Where waste oil is subject to notification controls, the exporter starts the consent process in the dispatch country; shipment to England can begin only after the relevant authorities consent. Review the inspection process before agreeing release checks.
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 walnut oil from China?
Crude liquid edible walnut oil carries 6%; other liquid edible walnut oil carries 8%. Separate technical-use lines carry 2% for crude oil and 4% for other oil, excluding food manufacture.
Does walnut oil need allergen information?
Yes. Walnuts are among the listed tree-nut allergens. Provide walnut allergen information; where an ingredients list is used, emphasise the allergen each time it appears.
Can I import organic walnut oil from China?
Check eligibility with your organic control body. For Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment and check the exporter’s control body and export country on the non-UK organic registers.
Do I normally need a health certificate for walnut oil?
Official cooking-oil guidance says a health certificate is not normally needed. Confirm the requirements for your actual product with your customs broker, including any organic or other attached controls.