The Complete Guide to Importing Asian Vegetables into the UK

Fresh vegetables of Kenyan origin can be imported into the UK duty-free under the UK–Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, provided a valid statement on origin accompanies the consignment — usually on the commercial invoice. Without that declaration the goods are charged at the standard rate shown in the UK Integrated Online Tariff for their commodity code, so it is worth checking the wording is present before the goods ship rather than after. Most unprocessed fresh vegetables are zero-rated for UK VAT under HMRC VAT Notice 701/14, though you still declare them. Confirm the treatment for your specific commodity code with your customs agent; this is guidance, not customs advice.

On air freight a practical minimum is around 500kg — roughly one pallet, which can be mixed across two or three lines so you can test how each sells before committing to a weekly programme. Sea freight only works at full-container volumes, so it is not a starting point. A typical first order runs: spec and sample discussion, a written quotation against your grade and carton, a trial airfreight pallet, then a fixed weekly or fortnightly volume once the sell-through is proven. Talk to us about your volumes and we will tell you honestly whether air or sea is the right lane.

For an established programme on air freight, allow 5–7 days from confirmed order to UK depot: two to three days for harvest scheduling and packing, phytosanitary inspection and documentation, then roughly 48 hours in transit, plus clearance and haulage. A first order takes longer — budget 2–3 weeks to agree spec, artwork and payment terms and to get your IPAFFS registration in order. Sea freight is a different planning horizon entirely: around five weeks door to door, which means ordering against a forecast rather than against demand.

A proportion of consignments are selected for documentary, identity or physical inspection based on the risk category of the commodity. A documentary check is usually quick. A physical check means cartons are opened and examined at a border control post or authorised place, which can add hours or a day and carries an inspection fee. This is why pre-cooling and sound documentation matter so much: produce sitting on a warm inspection bench loses shelf life you cannot get back. Keep a buffer in your delivery promise to customers, and make sure the details on the phytosanitary certificate, invoice and IPAFFS entry match exactly — mismatches are the most common cause of avoidable holds.

On air freight, expect roughly 5–7 usable days for courgette and okra, 7–9 for aubergine and karela, and 9–12 for bottle gourd, assuming the cold chain holds and no inspection delay. Sea-freighted brinjal and dudhi arrive with considerably less — typically 4–7 days — which is why sea only works if you can turn stock fast. These are working ranges, not guarantees: the variables are pre-cooling speed at origin, the temperature the pallet actually travelled at, and how long it stood between the airport and your chiller.

Yes. Carton size, size grade, count per carton, liner type, pallet configuration and label artwork can all be set to your specification, including your own branding and barcodes for retail packs. Bear in mind that GB labelling responsibility sits with you as the food business operator named on the pack, so send us your approved artwork and we will print to it rather than guessing. Allow extra lead time on the first run while artwork and print are signed off — after that it is part of the standard pack.