I am looking to import food stuff from abroad, packing abroad or in the UK?

[smithster1]

I am ordering loose food stuff from abroad, and want to understand what my best option would be to pack it.
I am ordering from Morocco and Sri Lanka.
I am told by a supplier in Sri Lanka that they are specialist in packaging and can meet my demands. Morocco I am not sure yet on their ability to pack loose food stuff.
I can source qhat appear to be dcent quality packaging from China and pack myself in the UK. I am wondering if this is what the guys in Sri Lanka are doing anyway.

But one question I have is - are there any tax / import duty benefits or implications for food stuff that is loose and unpacked (in large 10kg boxes vs food stuff that is packed in retail ready packaging (100g/300g pouches etc)?

I will need to find access to a food safe envinronment, be it a commercial kitchen or some kind of certified space where I can pack, but for now I am looking at options to bring in already packaged retail boxes.

Would love any feedback on this.

 

[WaveJumper]

Well I would defiantly suggest a good overview of all the rules and regs if not done so already

Imports and exports

When importing food, you need to know about regulations that apply to specific products and more general rules concerning labelling and additives. Access to data and intelligence on imported food is also available on the Imports Intelligence Hub.

www.food.gov.uk

 

[Customs Geek]

I am ordering loose food stuff from abroad, and want to understand what my best option would be to pack it.
I am ordering from Morocco and Sri Lanka.
I am told by a supplier in Sri Lanka that they are specialist in packaging and can meet my demands. Morocco I am not sure yet on their ability to pack loose food stuff.
I can source qhat appear to be dcent quality packaging from China and pack myself in the UK. I am wondering if this is what the guys in Sri Lanka are doing anyway.

But one question I have is - are there any tax / import duty benefits or implications for food stuff that is loose and unpacked (in large 10kg boxes vs food stuff that is packed in retail ready packaging (100g/300g pouches etc)?

I will need to find access to a food safe envinronment, be it a commercial kitchen or some kind of certified space where I can pack, but for now I am looking at options to bring in already packaged retail boxes.

Would love any feedback on this.

As Wave Jumper has said importing foods has lots of regulations and isn’t that easy to import. the level of complexity will depend on what sort of foodstuff. Anything with animal products in it is the hardest to import. For most food you not only have Customs to deal with but DEFRA and port health authorities.

Regarding duties for bulk or packaged goods you need to check the UK tariff schedule. It will tell yo what duties and taxes apply. Sometimes whether the goods are bulk or packed in retail size packs makes a difference sometimes not.
It will also say what requirements need to be met.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Putting to one side the technical stuff, you need to look at the basics of packaging, costs and shipping.

If you ship in bulk and pack locally, your shipping costs are lower but packaging costs are higher. You have more flexibility to meet customer's demands, especially last-minute requirements,

If you pack at source, your base costs go up, shipping costs go up (as you need to pack fresh air with goods (so load less) and protect the packaged products and there is an increased possibility of damage.

You also need to consider leadtimes - if shipping by sea, you may need to pretreat the produce.

The best bit of advice in this field is ensure that you have the goods presold/committed - there is nothing worse than having tonnes of produce sitting in a warehouse waiting for an order and going off in that wait!

 

[NickZ]

I am ordering from Morocco and Sri Lanka.
I am told by a supplier in Sri Lanka that they are specialist in packaging and can meet my demands. Morocco I am not sure yet on their ability to pack loose food stuff.
I can source qhat appear to be dcent quality packaging from China and pack myself in the UK. I am wondering if this is what the guys in Sri Lanka are doing anyway.

unfortunately you cannot take their word and rely on it. Not because they are from abroad but due to the usual working of people: Priority is to get the order later we sort it out.

So better test it out. I found not one distributor who was able to sort the products correctly. You are better off using a handler on the premise.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

BTW, where ever you pack, labelling is crucial...

 

[smithster1]

BTW, where ever you pack, labelling is crucial...

You mean "Produce origin of" etc?

 

[smithster1]

unfortunately you cannot take their word and rely on it. Not because they are from abroad but due to the usual working of people: Priority is to get the order later we sort it out.

So better test it out. I found not one distributor who was able to sort the products correctly. You are better off using a handler on the premise.

I am flying to Morocco in 1 week.. Will be meeting a woman who has lived there for 22 years and has links to all of the organic farms, smallholdings and exporters there, so will be a good introduction. This trip is mearly to go and see how various actors do business, from the growers to the exporters. I will no doubt b back.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

You mean "Produce origin of" etc?

And all the other bits that need adding.

Arrange a meeting with a few freight forwarders to see if they can offer help and advice.

 

[Socio South West]

I have ever growing experience of importing packaged foodstuffs, and currently working a lot with Sri Lanka.
Labelling packages isnt a problem for most serious suppliers if they have the right information from you: It's usually best to get your designer to lay out the labels to their size specification and send it over.

Obviously volume of consignments will increase for pre-packaged goods, but I would suggest that the costs of UK labour, space set up and other costs will be far larger than getting it packed at source.

With respect to your main question - Commodity codes are generally concerned only with the contents of the package regardless of size, so there is no cost implication in duty term of importing bulk or pre-packed product.

As others have mentioned, lead times and prices can be a problem... In December 2023 40 ft containers from Sri Lanka were scheduled at 17-19 days and at around $USD 1500-1700.
A container leaving Colombo today (10 Feb) is scheduled at 31-35 days, and has cost $USD 3500 - and this is predicted to rise further unless the Red Sea situation calms down quickly.

 

[smithster1]

I have ever growing experience of importing packaged foodstuffs, and currently working a lot with Sri Lanka.
Labelling packages isnt a problem for most serious suppliers if they have the right information from you: It's usually best to get your designer to lay out the labels to their size specification and send it over.

Obviously volume of consignments will increase for pre-packaged goods, but I would suggest that the costs of UK labour, space set up and other costs will be far larger than getting it packed at source.

With respect to your main question - Commodity codes are generally concerned only with the contents of the package regardless of size, so there is no cost implication in duty term of importing bulk or pre-packed product.

As others have mentioned, lead times and prices can be a problem... In December 2023 40 ft containers from Sri Lanka were scheduled at 17-19 days and at around $USD 1500-1700.
A container leaving Colombo today (10 Feb) is scheduled at 31-35 days, and has cost $USD 3500 - and this is predicted to rise further unless the Red Sea situation calms down quickly.

Thanks for the info. Shocking rise on the shipping. Is it really justified!?
I would imagine in 2018 that same container was $800/1000?
How are businesses handling this costs? This obvioulsy is all part of the inflation equation?!

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I would imagine in 2018 that same container was $800/1000?

Not for a reefer, which produce would probably need!

 

[WaveJumper]

Thanks for the info. Shocking rise on the shipping. Is it really justified!?
I would imagine in 2018 that same container was $800/1000?
How are businesses handling this costs? This obvioulsy is all part of the inflation equation?!

Longer journey = more fuel, more wages, the Red Sea route = insurance costs which have gone through the roof