Indian Cumin, Coriander and Turmeric for UK Importers, Certified Lot by Lot
Whole seed spices, turmeric and dry ginger, shipped with the health certificate and laboratory results Great Britain now requires.
Elysium Agri Corporation exports cumin, coriander, fennel, fenugreek, turmeric and dry ginger from Gujarat to spice importers, packers and grinders in the United Kingdom. Lots are cleaned at specialist units, tested at an NABL-accredited laboratory and loaded at Mundra, Kandla or Pipavav. The UK imported about 5,400 tonnes of cumin in 2024, and India supplied 92% of it.
The rules changed on 1 January 2026. Seed spices, turmeric and ginger from India are now on Great Britain's high-risk list for pesticide residues, and UK buyers screen suppliers on residue history. Great Britain keeps its own pesticide MRL register, separate from the EU's.
Spice Grades We Supply to the United Kingdom
| Grade / form | Typical specification | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Cumin seed | Whole, machine-cleaned or sortex-cleaned; purity as per your specification | Packers who clean, steam-treat and mill in the UK |
| Coriander seed | Whole or split; colour and purity as per your specification | Grinding, curry blends |
| Fennel and fenugreek seed | Whole, machine-cleaned; as per your specification | Retail packs, seasoning blends |
| Turmeric finger and powder | Polished or unpolished; mesh and curcumin as per your specification | Grinders, food manufacturers |
| Dry ginger and ginger powder | Whole or ground; mesh as per your specification | Blends, bakery, beverages |
What Indian Spices Need to Enter Great Britain
Port Health Authorities check consignments at Border Control Posts. As the importer, you must be a registered food business and registered on IPAFFS.
- Cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric and ginger from India need an export health certificate with sampling and laboratory results for pesticide residues, for every consignment.
- You raise a CHED-D in IPAFFS before arrival and use a Border Control Post designated for the commodity.
- Fenugreek is not named in the seed spice entry we reviewed. Ask your port health authority to confirm its status.
- A phytosanitary certificate may be needed, depending on the plant health risk category. We confirm this with your quote.
- Northern Ireland follows EU rules, with the CHED-D raised in TRACES NT.
Packing and Shipping to UK Ports
- UK importers usually buy whole seed in 25 kg bags.
- A typical sailing from Mundra takes about 16 days to London Gateway and about 20 days to Felixstowe. Transhipped or Cape-routed services take longer, so your quote states the routing.
- To claim the India-UK trade agreement rate, the consignment needs an origin declaration or a certificate of origin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which documents come with a spice consignment for Great Britain?
For cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric and ginger: the export health certificate, the laboratory results for pesticide residues and a Certificate of Analysis, along with the commercial documents. You use these to raise the CHED-D in IPAFFS before the vessel arrives.
Do you supply whole or ground spices?
Both. Most UK cumin is imported as whole seed, because buyers clean, steam-treat and grind it themselves. We supply whole seed spices, plus turmeric powder and ginger powder.
Is import duty payable on Indian spices under the India-UK trade agreement?
The agreement has been in force since 15 July 2026, and Indian press reports name spices among the lines at zero duty. We have not verified each commodity code, so check yours on the UK Trade Tariff.
Can I test a sample against my own residue limits before I order?
Yes. The shipment lot has a Certificate of Analysis from an NABL-accredited laboratory, so you can compare the two. See Lab Testing.
Related Pages
Last reviewed: October 2026