Subheading · Chapter 04 · Heading 0406
0406.30: Processed cheese, not grated or powdered
Processed cheese
0406.30 is the HS subheading for processed cheese, under heading 0406 in chapter 04.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 0406 30 00 00 Processed cheese, not grated or powdered
- 0406 30 10 00 In the manufacture of which no cheeses other than emmentaler, gruyère and appenzell have been used and which may contain, as an addition, glarus herb cheese (known as schabziger); put up for retail sale, of a fat content by weight in the dry matter not exceeding 56% 121.00 GBP / 100 kg
- 0406 30 10 10 Processed emmentaler 121 GBP / 100 kg
- 0406 30 10 20 Processed gruyère 121 GBP / 100 kg
- 0406 30 10 90 Other 121 GBP / 100 kg
- Other
- Of a fat content, by weight, not exceeding 36% and of a fat content, by weight, in the dry matter
- 0406 30 31 00 Not exceeding 48% 116 GBP / 100 kg
- 0406 30 39 00 Exceeding 48% 121 GBP / 100 kg
- 0406 30 90 00 Of a fat content, by weight, exceeding 36% 179 GBP / 100 kg
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Import requirements 3
- Import controlVeterinary control
- Applies to goods from
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica and 232 more
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/782
- Documents
- C084 Exemption by virtue of Articles 3 and 4 of regulation 2019/2122 (animals intended for scientific purposes, research and diagnostic samples, and samples for product analysis and quality testing).
- N853 Common Health Entry Document for Products (CHED-P) (as set out in Part 2, Section B of Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 (OJ L 261))
- Y930 The declared goods are not concerned by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlImport control of organic products
- Applies to goods from
- all countries except Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/693
- Documents
- C644 Certificate of inspection for organic products
- Y929 Goods not concerned by Regulation (EU) 2018/848 (organic products)
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | — |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code "EU") | Free | |
| DCTS Enhanced | Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 moreAlgeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu | Free |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Norway agreementQuota | Norway | Free |
| UK–Peru agreementQuota | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
| CPTPPQuota | Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico | 77 GBP / 100 kg / 73.81 GBP / 100 kg / 113.9 GBP / 100 kg |
| UK–Australia agreementQuota | Australia | 40.33 GBP / 100 kg / 38.67 GBP / 100 kg / 59.67 GBP / 100 kg |
| UK–New Zealand agreementQuota | New Zealand | 40.33 GBP / 100 kg / 38.67 GBP / 100 kg / 59.67 GBP / 100 kg |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Belgium | £54.7m | 33.7% | +6.9% |
 France | £34.3m | 21.2% | +4% |
 Germany | £18.9m | 11.6% | -14.3% |
 Austria | £12.9m | 8% | -8.6% |
 Spain | £12.3m | 7.6% | +10.8% |
 Netherlands | £10.2m | 6.3% | -13% |
 Poland | £7.8m | 4.8% | +4.7% |
 Ireland | £7.7m | 4.7% | -7.4% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU
TürkiyeWorld trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$2mUS$2m+US$19m+US$111m+> US$258m
Exports: 116
- Germany: US$563m
- Bahrain: US$431m
- France: US$356m
- Saudi Arabia: US$258m
- New Zealand: US$257m
- Austria: US$241m
- Belgium: US$224m
- Poland: US$218m
- United States: US$145m
- Denmark: US$141m
- Netherlands: US$112m
- Australia: US$111m
- Nicaragua: US$92m
- Egypt: US$90m
- Spain: US$66m
- Italy: US$53m
- Russia: US$44m
- Slovakia: US$34m
- Ireland: US$34m
- Türkiye: US$33m
- Morocco: US$30m
- Czechia: US$30m
- Hungary: US$28m
- United Kingdom: US$27m
- Uruguay: US$25m
- Vietnam: US$22m
- Jordan: US$22m
- Singapore: US$19m
- India: US$19m
- Luxembourg: US$18m
- South Africa: US$12m
- United Arab Emirates: US$11m
- Indonesia: US$11m
- Switzerland: US$11m
- Japan: US$11m
- Greece: US$10m
- Honduras: US$10m
- Croatia: US$9m
- Lithuania: US$8m
- El Salvador: US$7m
- Romania: US$6m
- Jamaica: US$6m
- Cyprus: US$5m
- Finland: US$5m
- South Korea: US$5m
- Sweden: US$5m
- Malaysia: US$5m
- Tunisia: US$4m
- Brazil: US$4m
- Latvia: US$3m
- Portugal: US$3m
- Philippines: US$3m
- Argentina: US$3m
- Kyrgyzstan: US$2m
- Ukraine: US$2m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
- Belarus: US$2m
- Israel: US$2m
- Bulgaria: US$1m
- Slovenia: US$1m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$2mUS$2m+US$13m+US$55m+> US$136m
Imports: 214
- Saudi Arabia: US$434m
- United Kingdom: US$203m
- France: US$199m
- United Arab Emirates: US$161m
- Italy: US$151m
- Germany: US$139m
- Australia: US$136m
- Iraq: US$119m
- Belgium: US$114m
- China: US$114m
- El Salvador: US$98m
- Kuwait: US$94m
- Netherlands: US$91m
- Oman: US$83m
- United States: US$67m
- Malaysia: US$67m
- Taiwan: US$65m
- Yemen: US$64m
- Spain: US$63m
- Libya: US$59m
- Jordan: US$58m
- Czechia: US$55m
- Poland: US$53m
- Singapore: US$51m
- South Korea: US$46m
- Romania: US$45m
- Philippines: US$40m
- Qatar: US$40m
- Japan: US$39m
- Portugal: US$39m
- Slovakia: US$38m
- Sweden: US$36m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$34m
- Austria: US$34m
- Lebanon: US$33m
- Kazakhstan: US$32m
- Hungary: US$31m
- Switzerland: US$29m
- Bahrain: US$28m
- Denmark: US$26m
- Ukraine: US$25m
- Luxembourg: US$23m
- Finland: US$21m
- Mauritius: US$21m
- Greece: US$20m
- Egypt: US$20m
- Indonesia: US$19m
- Thailand: US$18m
- Ireland: US$17m
- Canada: US$16m
- Croatia: US$14m
- Bulgaria: US$14m
- Uzbekistan: US$14m
- Chile: US$13m
- Guatemala: US$13m
- Vietnam: US$13m
- Slovenia: US$12m
- Norway: US$10m
- Latvia: US$10m
- Serbia: US$10m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | US$563m | 14.4% |
| 2 |  Bahrain | US$431m | 11% |
| 3 | France | US$356m | 9.1% |
| 4 |  Saudi Arabia | US$258m | 6.6% |
| 5 |  New Zealand | US$257m | 6.5% |
| 6 | Austria | US$241m | 6.2% |
| 7 | Belgium | US$224m | 5.7% |
| 8 | Poland | US$218m | 5.6% |
| 9 |  United States | US$145m | 3.7% |
| 10 |  Denmark | US$141m | 3.6% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | US$434m | 11.1% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | US$203m | 5.2% |
| 3 | France | US$199m | 5.1% |
| 4 |  United Arab Emirates | US$161m | 4.1% |
| 5 |  Italy | US$151m | 3.9% |
| 6 | Germany | US$139m | 3.6% |
| 7 |  Australia | US$136m | 3.5% |
| 8 |  Iraq | US$119m | 3% |
| 9 | Belgium | US$114m | 2.9% |
| 10 |  China | US$114m | 2.9% |
Binding rulings for similar goods 9
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
- N335977 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Processed Cheddar Cheese from Venezuela
- N320340 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Pre-fried Frozen Cheese Sticks from Argentina
- N313461 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Crema di Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy
- N312690 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Processed Cheese from Netherlands
- N304886 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Canned Processed Cheese from Australia
- N295853 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of a Processed Cheese from Austria.
- 600010759 HMRC
Cheese. This is flavoured with chilli. The product can be pan fried or grilled. The production involves a double cooking process to increase firmness and the characteristic dense texture of the cheese. The item is vacuum packed and weighs 700g.
9 rulings in total for this code
In the UK Global Tariff all 6 lines under subheading 0406.30 carry a specific or compound duty rather than a percentage.
In the EU Combined Nomenclature all 4 lines under subheading 0406.30 carry a specific or compound duty rather than a percentage.
Goods from 168 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard ; 162 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported processed cheese worth £162.2m (up 0% on the year before), at an average of £5.17 per kg; Belgium supplied 34%, followed by France.
World trade in processed cheese reached US$4bn in 2024, down 1.1% on 2023.
Germany was the largest exporter with 14.4% of the total, ahead of Bahrain.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for processed cheese, not grated or powdered?
Processed cheese, not grated or powdered fall under HS subheading 0406.30, part of heading 0406, in section I of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on processed cheese, not grated or powdered in the EU?
Under the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, imports under 0406.30 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 140%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on processed cheese, not grated or powdered in the United States?
Under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, imports under 0406.30 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 6.4% to 20%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most processed cheese, not grated or powdered?
Germany, with US$563m in 2024 (14.4% of world exports).
Which countries can export processed cheese to the UK duty-free?
162 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, DCTS Enhanced. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Where does the UK import processed cheese from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Belgium (34%), France (21%) and Germany (12%), out of total imports of £162.2m.