A practical, bookmark‑worthy walkthrough to classify Indonesian fresh chillies for the UK, check the live 2025 duty, claim DCTS preference with a ready-to-copy statement on origin, and avoid costly CDS mistakes. Plus a quick HS code cheat sheet for other common Indonesian vegetables.
If you’re bringing Indonesian fresh chillies into the UK in 2025, getting the HS/commodity code right is the difference between smooth clearance and margin pain. We’ve sat with UK brokers, corrected invoices, and seen how a tiny classification error can add days and unexpected costs. Here’s the exact, field-tested way we handle it at Indonesia‑Vegetables.
Start here: fresh chilli classification in the UK (0709.60 vs 0904)
This is the question that trips teams up. Are fresh chillies under 0709.60 or 0904?
- Fresh or chilled chilli peppers go under Chapter 07. The correct heading is 0709.60 for fruits of the genus Capsicum or Pimenta, fresh or chilled. In practice, UK importers use the 10‑digit code that ends in “…99 00” for non‑sweet peppers.
- Dried, crushed, or ground chilli is Chapter 09. That’s 0904. If your product is dried at origin, you’re in the spice chapter. Not this guide.
A quick sanity check we use internally: if the product ships on ice or in a refrigerated container, with fresh-produce labelling and shelf-life measured in days, you’re 0709.60. If moisture is low, packed like a spice, and shelf-life is months without refrigeration, you’re 0904. When in doubt, check photos, packing lists, and post-harvest handling notes.
We export fresh cayenne under Red Cayenne Pepper (Fresh Red Cayenne Chili). It’s unequivocally 0709.60 in the UK.
What is the UK commodity code for fresh chilli peppers from Indonesia?
For most Indonesian fresh chillies, you’ll use 0709 60 followed by the UK subheading for non‑sweet peppers. The working code many UK brokers apply is 0709 60 99 00. If your product is explicitly classified as “sweet peppers” it may sit under a different subheading, but Indonesian bird’s eye, cayenne, and similar hot chillies typically fall in “other”.
Practical takeaway: confirm the exact 10‑digit line in the UK Integrated Online Tariff by selecting “07” Vegetables, then 0709, then 0709.60. Choose the “other” line for chillies, not “sweet peppers”, unless your product description truly fits sweet bell peppers.
Where do I check the live UK tariff for 0709.60 in 2025?
Use the UK Integrated Online Tariff. Search “0709.60” and select your 10‑digit code. Set:
- Country of origin: Indonesia
- Import measure date: your planned import date
You’ll see two key rates: the UK Global Tariff (most‑favoured‑nation) and any preferential rate under the UK DCTS.
How much duty will I pay on Indonesian fresh chillies in 2025?
Here’s the thing. Duty rates get updated and sometimes vary by subheading. Many fresh vegetables now clear at 0% either under the UK Global Tariff or with DCTS preference. But don’t assume. Check your exact 10‑digit line with origin set to Indonesia.
In our recent imports of 0709.60 from Indonesia, we’ve been able to claim 0% duty using the DCTS route when needed. If you don’t claim preference, you may face an MFN rate on certain subheadings. The delta can be material, so it’s worth doing the origin paperwork right.
Does the UK’s DCTS give 0% duty on fresh chillies from Indonesia?
Often yes, provided:
- the product truly originates in Indonesia under DCTS rules of origin, and
- your supplier issues a valid DCTS statement on origin (and includes their exporter registration number when required).
Indonesia participates in the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme. For many vegetable lines, the preferential rate is 0%. To be safe, confirm the preferential rate on the tariff for your exact code. If the preferential line shows 0%, claim it.
What exact wording do I need for the DCTS statement on origin?
Use this copy‑and‑paste template on the commercial invoice or packing list. We’ve had zero pushbacks with this structure.
Statement on origin text: “The exporter of the products covered by this document (Exporter Reference No …) declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of Indonesia preferential origin under the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme.”
Tips from our files:
- Exporter Reference No: for consignments above the small‑consignment threshold, the Indonesian exporter should include their registered exporter number issued for DCTS. For smaller consignments, the number may not be required.
- Describe the goods clearly: “Fresh chilli peppers, Capsicum spp., HS 0709.60, packed 5 kg cartons, net 500 kg.” Align your wording with the tariff description.
- Date and sign (printed name and position). Statements are typically valid for up to 2 years from issue for preference claims, but we recommend using them immediately and ensuring the date precedes export.
If you’d like us to review your draft statement and packing list for a live shipment, Contact us on whatsapp. We’ll sanity‑check in minutes.
Is import VAT charged on fresh chillies in the UK?
Fresh vegetables for human consumption are zero‑rated for UK VAT. That means import VAT is 0% for fresh chillies. You’ll still present the VAT calculations on your customs entry, but the amount due is zero if the goods qualify as basic food.
How do I enter the chilli commodity code correctly in the UK CDS declaration?
We’ve found that small omissions, not the code itself, cause most delays. Here’s a clean run‑through to brief your broker or complete a simple entry in CDS:
- Commodity code. Use the 10‑digit code for fresh chillies. For most non‑sweet chillies, that’s 0709 60 99 00.
- Country of origin vs country of dispatch. Origin must be Indonesia to claim DCTS. If the goods dispatch via Singapore or the Netherlands, origin still remains Indonesia if rules of origin are met.
- Customs procedure. Standard free‑circulation entries use procedure code 40 00.
- Preference claim. Select the preferential rate for DCTS if applicable. Attach your statement on origin and reference the exporter’s registration number where required. The UK tariff will show which document code to quote for a DCTS statement on origin; follow that exactly.
- Valuation. Use the CIF value to the UK frontier, including freight and insurance. Declare invoice currency and exchange rate per CDS guidance.
- Quantities. Declare net mass in kg and any required supplementary units.
- Documents. Include commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading/air waybill, and the DCTS statement on origin. Phytosanitary and SPS documents are outside this article’s scope, but ensure your plant health paperwork matches the consignment.
Practical takeaway: build your customs pack so the invoice description, HS code, and origin statement all “tell the same story”. That alignment prevents 9 out of 10 referrals we see.
Quick landed‑cost walk‑through (500 kg example)
Scenario A. You claim DCTS at 0% duty
- CIF value: £2.70/kg x 500 kg = £1,350
- Customs duty: 0% of £1,350 = £0
- Import VAT: 0% of (CIF + duty) = 0% of £1,350 = £0
- Total border charges: £0
Scenario B. You don’t claim preference and MFN duty applies at an illustrative 8% (check live tariff)
- CIF value: £1,350
- Customs duty: 8% of £1,350 = £108
- Import VAT: 0% of (£1,350 + £108) = £0
- Total border charges: £108
Note how one missing origin statement can erase a good portion of your margin on small consignments.
Common mistakes we still see (and how to avoid them)
- Misclassifying fresh chillies as dried spices. If the product is fresh or chilled, it’s 0709.60. Dried or ground chilli is 0904. Photos and post‑harvest notes help prove it.
- Vague invoices. “Fresh produce” isn’t enough. Include “fresh chilli peppers, Capsicum spp., HS 0709.60, net mass, pack size”.
- No DCTS origin statement. When the tariff shows a preferential rate, claim it. We keep a saved template and paste it onto every invoice when the buyer requests preference.
- Country of dispatch used as origin. Origin is where the product was grown. Transhipments don’t change that.
- Not checking the live UK tariff. Rates change. Always verify the rate for your 10‑digit code with origin set to Indonesia.
Are there seasonal duties or anti‑dumping on chilli peppers in 2025?
The UK sometimes applies seasonal duties or specific measures on certain vegetables. As of our latest checks, we aren’t seeing anti‑dumping on fresh chilli peppers. But this can change. Always confirm “measures” on the tariff page for your code and import date.
Quick HS code cheat sheet for other Indonesian vegetables
Use these as starting points, then confirm the exact 10‑digit line and rate in the UK tariff.
- Cucumbers and gherkins, fresh or chilled: 0707.00. See our Japanese Cucumber (Kyuri).
- Tomatoes, fresh or chilled: 0702.00. See our Tomatoes.
- Lettuce: 0705.11 (head lettuce), 0705.19 (other). See Baby Romaine (Baby Romaine Lettuce) and Loloroso (Red Lettuce).
- Onions, fresh or chilled: 0703.10. See Onion.
- Aubergines/eggplant, fresh or chilled: 0709.30. See Purple Eggplant.
- Carrots: 0706.10. See Carrots (Fresh Export Grade).
- Beetroot and radish: 0706.90. See Beetroot (Fresh Export Grade) and Red Radish.
Our experience shows that building an internal “HS cheat sheet” per SKU saves hours and prevents repetitive broker queries. Update it every quarter.
Final takeaways you can use today
- Classify Indonesian fresh chillies under 0709.60. Use the “other” line for non‑sweet peppers, typically 0709 60 99 00.
- Check the live UK tariff with origin set to Indonesia for your import date. Don’t assume rates.
- If the DCTS preferential rate applies, paste the statement on origin onto the invoice and include the exporter’s registration number when required.
- Fresh vegetables are zero‑rated for UK VAT, so import VAT on fresh chillies is 0%.
- Align your invoice description, HS code, and CDS data to avoid stops.
Questions about your shipment or the DCTS paperwork? Contact us on whatsapp. If you’re reviewing broader buying options, you can also View our products.