Guidance

Classifying edible fruit, vegetables and nuts for import and export

Get help to classify edible vegetables, roots, tubers, herbs, spices, fruit, nuts and peel for import and export.

This guidance refers to chapters and headings in the UK Global Online Tariff. If you’re importing goods into Northern Ireland, or if this guidance does not include your item, read more information.

Edible vegetables, roots and tubers

The edible vegetables and roots classified in chapter 7 are classified according to their:

  • genus or plant family, for example, brassicas such as broccoli and cabbage
  • state — they may be fresh, chilled, frozen, dried or provisionally preserved
  • intended use — products intended for animal fodder and herbs intended for pharmaceutical use are not classified in chapter 7

Common terms

Common terms included in these classifications are:

  • alliaceous — vegetables belonging to the Allium plant family, which includes onions, shallots, leeks and garlic
  • brassica — vegetables belonging to the Brassica plant family, which includes cabbages, kale, brussel sprouts and cauliflowers
  • genus or genera (plural) — a group of similar plant types (the term forms the first part of the plant’s Latin or botanical name)
  • leguminous — vegetables belonging to the Leguminosae plant family, which include peas (pisum), beans (phaseolus and vigna) and lentils (lens) (the term forms the second part of the plant’s Latin or botanical name)
  • var (variety) — a subdivision of a species

Frozen garlic and other frozen vegetables

Frozen vegetables must be maintained at a temperature of no more than -12°C — this must be consistent throughout the product so that the entire product is thoroughly frozen. They can be either uncooked or cooked (by steaming or boiling in water before being frozen) and are classified in heading 0710.

If a frozen product is not frozen down to -12°C, it must be classified as fresh or chilled, within headings 0701 to 0709.

Products described as ‘frozen garlic’ that do not meet the freezing temperature requirement, must be classified as fresh or chilled garlic in subheading 0703 20.

As well as the types of vegetable listed in subheadings 0710 10 to 0710 90, the following products are also classified in heading 0710, if they’re frozen to the required temperature:

  • truffles
  • capers
  • marrows and pumpkins
  • aubergines
  • fennel
  • cress
  • certain herbs, such as parsley and chervil

Roots and tubers

Certain roots and tubers with a high starch or inulin content, are classified in heading 0714. Inulin is a naturally occurring carbohydrate that is extracted from certain roots. Products classified in this heading include:

  • manioc (or cassava)
  • sweet potatoes
  • Jerusalem artichokes
  • arrowroot
  • salep (flour made from the dried roots of orchids)
  • sago pith

These products may be:

  • with or without skin
  • fresh, chilled, frozen or dried
  • whole, sliced or in pellet form

Manioc pellets may be disintegrated and will remain classified as long as they are identifiable as manioc pellets. They can be identified by observing physical characteristics, such as:

  • particles with a different nature or texture within the substance (broken pieces of manioc pellets)
  • the substance having a brownish colour with black spots
  • pieces of fibre within the substance that are visible to the naked eye
  • the substance having a small quantity of sand or silica present

In Section II of the UK Global Tariff, the term ‘pellets’ means products which have been agglomerated (formed together), either by:

  • compression
  • the addition of a binder in a proportion of no more 3% by weight

Chinese water chestnuts

Heading 0714 also covers Chinese water chestnuts (tuberous roots of Eleocharis dulcis or Eleocharis tuberosa). They do not have a high starch content, but are included because of their high inulin content. The Caltrop variety of water chestnuts (nut-like fruit of Trapa natans) are classified as nuts in heading 0802.

Leguminous vegetables

Leguminous vegetables are classified in heading 0708 if they’re fresh or chilled, and in heading 0713 if they’re dried. Dried products are included whether they’re intended for food use or for sowing.

Leguminous vegetables classified under these headings include:

  • peas (pisum sativum)
  • beans (vigna, phaseolus species)
  • broad beans and horse beans (vicia faba)
  • chickpeas (garbanzos)
  • lentils (lens)

Some legumes are not classified in chapter 7, for example, soya beans are classified in heading 1201 and locust beans are classified in heading 1212.

Provisionally preserved vegetables

Provisionally preserved vegetables are classified in heading 0711. They must not be suitable for eating immediately. They’re generally packed in casks or barrel and are raw ingredients that have been provisionally preserved for transport and storage, before being used in food manufacturing. They must stay in that state and remain unsuitable for immediate consumption.

Vegetables such as olives or gherkins (pickled in brine or vinegar) which can be eaten straight from the jar, are not provisionally preserved and are not classified in heading 0711. If they can be eaten with no further treatment or processing, they’re classified in headings 2001, 2002, 2003 or 2005.

Herbs and spices

There is no single classification in the tariff for herbs. They can be classified in chapters 7, 9 or 12, depending on their purpose and on the part of the plant they come from. For example, leaves are classified in a different chapter from seeds. Herbs used in cooking are classified in heading 1211.

Some herbs are classified as vegetables in headings 0709 to 0712. They include:

  • parsley
  • chervil
  • tarragon
  • coriander leaves
  • dill leaves
  • sweet marjoram

Some herbs are classified as spices in chapter 9. They include:

  • thyme
  • bay leaves
  • dill seeds
  • coriander seeds
  • cumin seeds

Herbs classified in heading 1211 as types of plant used in perfumery, in pharmacy, or for insecticidal, fungicidal or similar purposes include:

  • basil
  • borage
  • hyssop
  • mint
  • rosemary
  • rue
  • ginseng roots
  • sage
  • wild marjoram (oregano)

Names including Latin names and subheadings for edible vegetables

Common name Alternative name Latin name Subheading
Artichoke (globe) Cynara cardunculus, scolymus 0709 10
Artichoke (Japanese or Chinese) Crosnes and chorogi Stachys affinis 0706 90
Artichoke (Jerusalem) Girasole Helianthus tuberose 0714 90
Aubergine Eggplant, brindjal and bringal Solanum melongena 0709 30
Bamboo shoot Bambusa vulgaris, phyllostachys edulis 0709 90
Bean shoot Bean sprout, soy bean and mung bean Glycine max, vigna radiata 0709 90
Broccoli (sprouting) Calabrese Brassica oleracea 0704 90
Broccoli (headed) Brassica oleracea 0704 10
Chard White beet, spinach beet, silver beet, leaf beet, seakale beet Beta vulgaris 0709 90
Chayote Chow chow Sechium edule 0709 90
Chervil (other than rooted) Antriscus cerefolium 0709 90
Chervil (rooted) Chaerophyllum 0706 90
Chinese cabbage Pak-choi Brassica chinensis 0704 90
Chinese water chestnuts Pi-tsi Eleocharis dulcis and Eleocharis tuberosa 0714 90
Cocoyam (new) Tannia, yautia Xanthosoma sagitiifolium 0714 90
Crow garlic Wild leek Allium ampeloprasum 0703 90
Dasheen Eddo, taro, elephant’s ear, old cocoyam Colocasia esculenta, colocasia antiquorum 0714 90
Dolichos Hyacynth bean, bonavist bean, lalab, lubia Dolichos lablab 0708 90
Endive Curly chicory Cichorium endivia, crispa 0705 29
Gourd Various 0709 90
Lotus root Nelumbium nuciferum 0714 90
Marjoram (sweet, dried) Origanum majorana, majorana hortensis 0712 90
Marjoram (sweet, fresh) Origanum majorana, majorana hortensis 0709 90
Marrows (vegetable) Cucurbita pepo, medullosa 0709 90
Mustard green Pak-choi, boy-choi Brassica chinensis 0704 90
Okra Ladies fingers, gumbo, okro, bindi Hibiscus esculentus 0709 90
Orache Garden spinach Atriplex hortensis 0709 70
Oxalis (notched) Oxalis crenata 0709 90
Pak-choi Chinese cabbage Brassica chinensis 0709 90
Parsley (not rooted) Petroselinum crispum 0709 90
Parsley (turnip rooted) Hamburgh parsley Petroselinum crispum, tuberosa 0709 90
Parsnip Pastinaca sativa 0706 90
Patience Spinach-dock Rumex patienta 0709 90
Pe-Tsai Wong Bok, chihli Brassica pekinensis 0704 90
Pumpkin Curcurbita pepo 0709 90
Purslain (common) Purslane Portulacea 0709 90
Rocambole Sand leek Allium scorodoprasum 0703 90
Rhubarb Rheum rhabarbarum 0709 90
Salsify Vegetable oyster, oyster plant Tragopogon porrifolius 0706 90
Savory Winter savory, summer savory Satereja montana, satereja hortensis 0709 90
Savoy cabbage Brassica oleracea, sabauda 0704 90
Scorznera Black salsify Scorzonera hispanica 0706 90
Seakale Crambe matitima 0709 90
Skirret Sium sisarum 0709 90
Sorrel Rumex acetosa 0709 90
Spring onion Allium cepa 0703 10
Sweet potato Ipomoea batatas 0714 20
Tarragon Artemisia dracunculus 0709 90
Watercress Nasturtium officinale, nasturtium microphyllum 0709 90
Yam Dioscorea (various) 0714 90
Zucchini Courgette Curcurbita pepo, medullosa 0709 90

Edible fruits, nuts and peel

The edible fruit and nuts classified in chapter 8 of the tariff are classified according to:

  • their ‘genus’ or plant family — for example, citrus fruit, such as oranges and grapefruit
  • if they’re fresh, chilled, frozen, dried or provisionally preserved

Common terms

Common terms included in these classifications are:

  • genus or genera (plural) — a group of similar plant types (the term forms the first part of the plant’s Latin or botanical name)
  • oleaginous — oil producing items, such as groundnuts
  • species — a subdivision of a plant genus (it forms the second part of the Latin or botanical name)
  • var (variety) — this indicates a subdivision of a species

Frozen fruit and nuts

Frozen fruit and nuts are classified in heading 0811. They can be either uncooked or cooked (by steaming or boiling in water before being frozen) and may have sugar or other sweetening matters added. ‘Frozen’ means that the product has been cooled to below its freezing point, until it’s frozen throughout.

If a fruit product covered by chapter 8 is not frozen throughout, then such soft frozen or partially frozen fruit is classified as chilled within headings 0801 to 0810.

Dried fruit and nuts

Dried fruit and nuts are classified in headings 0801 to 0806 or in heading 0813. Heading 0814 includes the peel of dried citrus fruit or melons. Provided they keep the characteristics of dried fruit or dried nuts, these products may be partially rehydrated or treated for one of the following purposes:

  • to preserve or stabilise, for example, by moderate heat treatment, sulphuring or adding sorbic acid or potassium sorbate
  • to improve or maintain the product’s appearance, for example, by adding vegetable oil or small quantities of glucose syrup

Frozen tropical fruit

Subheadings 0811 90 11, 0811 90 31 and 0811 90 85 include tropical fruit, which (for classification purposes) are:

  • carambola
  • cashew apples
  • guavas
  • jackfruit
  • lychees
  • mangoes
  • mangosteens
  • passion fruit
  • papaws (or papayas)
  • pitahaya
  • sapodillo plums
  • tamarinds

Tropical nuts

In addition to commodity codes 0813 50 31 20 and 0813 50 31 80, the following subheadings include tropical nuts — specifically nuts that are not fresh or dried, or mixtures of fresh or dried nuts (either with other nuts or with dried fruit):

  • 0811 90 11
  • 0811 90 31
  • 0811 90 85
  • 0812 90 70

For classification purposes, tropical nuts are:

  • areca (or betel nuts)
  • Brazil nuts
  • cashew nuts
  • coconuts
  • cola nuts
  • macadamia nuts

Fresh or dried tropical nuts that are not mixed are classified in heading 0801 or 0802.

Provisionally preserved fruit and nuts

Provisionally preserved fruit and nuts are classified in heading 0812. They must not be suitable for eating immediately. They are generally preserved in a solution like sulphur dioxide gas, brine or sulphur water for transport and storage purposes, before being used in the food industry (mainly for making jam).

Preserved fruit items that can be eaten immediately, like glace cherries or jam, are usually classified in chapter 20.

Names including Latin names and subheadings for edible fruit and nuts

Common name Alternative name Latin name Subheading
Akee Achee, kaki, ackee Blighia sapida 0810 90
Alkekengi Chinese lantern, strawberry tomato, winter cherry Physali alkekengi 0810 90
Avocado pear Alligator pear Persea americana 0804 40
Strawberry-tree fruit Arbutus unedo 0810 90
Bael Bengal quince, golden apple, stone apple Aegle marmelos 0810 90
Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis 0810 90
Bullace Prunus domestica insititia 0809 40
Carambola Starfruit, chinese gooseberry Averrhoa carambola 0810 90
Ceriman Cheese plant Monstera deliciosa 0810 90
Cherimoya Chirimoya Annona cherimola 0810 90
Chinotto Citrus myrtifolia 0805 90
Citron Citrus medica 0805 90
Etrog Citrus medica, etrog 0805 90
Filbert Hazelnut Corylus maxima 0802 21 and 0802 22
Governor plum Botoko plum, ramontchi Flacourtia indica 0810 90
Greengage Prunus domestica italica 0809 40
Gean Sweet cherry, wild cherry Prunus avium 0809 20
Granadilla (giant) Passiflora quadrangularis 0810 90
Jackfruit Jakfruit Artocarpus heterophyllis 0810 90
Jujube Chinese date Ziziphus jujuba 0810 90
Kaki Persimmon Japanese persimmon Diospyros kaki 0810 90
Kiwi fruit (golden) Chinese gooseberry Actinidia chinensis 0810 50
Kiwi fruit Actinidia deliciosa 0810 50
Kumquats Cumquats Fortunella japonica and citrus japonica 0810 90
Langsat Lanzones Lansium domesticum 0810 90
Loquat Japanese medlar Eriobotrya japonica 0810 90
Malaquina (hybrid of orange and mandarin) 0805 20
Medlar Mespilus germanica 0810 90
Mirabelle Prunus domestica, syriaca 0809 40
Mineola 0805 20
Monreale 0805 20
Papaw Papaya Carica papaya 0807 20
Passion fruit Granadilla (purple) Passiflora edulis 0810 90
Pomelo Shaddock, pummelo Citrus maxima 0805 40
Pulasan Nephelium mutabile 0810 90
Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum 0801 90
Rowan Mountain ash Sorbus aucuparia 0810 90
Sapodilla Naseberry, zapote, chico Manikara zapota 0810 90
Soursop Guanabana, graviola Annona muricata 0810 90
Sweetsop Custard apple, sugar apple Annona squamosa 0810 90
Ugli (hybrid of grapefruit and tangerine) Citrus reticulate x citrus paradisi 0805 20
Water chestnut Caltrop Trapa natans 0802 90
Chinese water chestnut Water chestnut Eleocharis dulcis, eleocharis tuberose 0714 90

More information

If this guidance does not cover your specific item in detail and you’re importing goods into Great Britain, you can search for it in the Online Trade Tariff.

If you’re importing goods into Northern Ireland from outside the UK, and the EU and the goods are not ‘at risk’ of onward movement to the EU, you should also use the Online Trade Tariff.

If you’re importing goods into Northern Ireland from outside the UK and the EU, and the goods are at risk of onward movement to the EU, you should use the Northern Ireland (EU) Tariff.

If this guidance does cover your item, you’ll still need to look up the full commodity code to use in your declaration on the appropriate tariff.

You can find more ways to help you find a commodity code by referring to the links given in this section.

Updates to this page

Published 2 August 2012
Last updated 4 July 2023 + show all updates
  1. The section on roots and tubers has been updated to explain how disintegrated manioc pellets are classified.

  2. First published.

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