How to Import Shea Butter into the United Kingdom
Tariff line, regulator, documents, transit from Lagos and clearance for the United Kingdom — every fact sourced and dated.
Summary
- Customs authority
- HMRC applies the UK Global Tariff. Shea butter is declared under heading 1515.90; the importer confirms the 10-digit UKGT line on the Trade Tariff.
- Cosmetics authority
- The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the UK cosmetics enforcement authority. A UK Responsible Person notifies finished cosmetics on the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification portal.
- Food authority
- The Food Standards Agency and HMRC share food-import controls. Edible shea butter is entered as a vegetable fat.
- National tariff line
- UK Global Tariff line under 1515.90 (other fixed vegetable fats). Confirm the 10-digit commodity code on the UK Trade Tariff.
- Product notification
- Finished cosmetics are notified on the UK SCPN portal by the UK Responsible Person.
- Ports of discharge
- Felixstowe, London Gateway
- Transit from Lagos
- 18–28 days
- Certification priority
- COSMOS, HACCP, EU Organic (EOS)
- Labelling language
- Labelling in English
- Specific to United Kingdom
- OPSS is the named United Kingdom authority on this page.
- Specific to United Kingdom (2)
- Lagos boxes for United Kingdom are planned for Felixstowe (GBFXT).
- Specific to United Kingdom (3)
- London is the named inland or port hub for United Kingdom.
Nigerian shea butter for the United Kingdom
the UK does not grow shea. The butter on a the UK COA is West African — EMI Agro presses it in Ibadan from wild-collected nuts. OPSS and the UK Responsible Person replaced CPNP after Brexit; Felixstowe and London Gateway take the boxes. EMI Agro works with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi. Manchester buyers usually take the inland haul from Felixstowe.
Ask for a batch COA on a NIS 571:2013 basis: free fatty acid, peroxide value, moisture, colour and melting point. Reject lots that smell sharply rancid or pour like liquid oil at room temperature. OPSS filings sit with the the UK importer — they do not replace a COA.
Trial lots start at 5 tonnes; standard orders start at 20 tonnes. Send the request even if you need less — EMI Agro reviews every United Kingdom enquiry against current production of 40 tonnes per week of finished shea butter and can schedule rolling shipments. Lead time is Ibadan production plus ocean time to Felixstowe. Quotes are EXW, FOB or CIF; each term prices different services beyond the butter.
Two questions. We show the grade, the documents that usually apply and the next step — we do not invent a price.
Why the United Kingdom buys Nigerian shea butter
The United Kingdom does not grow shea. After Brexit, OPSS and the UK Responsible Person replaced CPNP for finished cosmetics. Felixstowe and London Gateway take the boxes; London buying offices, Manchester plants and Birmingham wholesalers take the inland haul.
HMRC applies the UK Global Tariff under heading 1515.90. Developing Countries Trading Scheme preference may apply to Nigerian origin when a valid proof of origin is presented — confirm on the Trade Tariff for the entry date. Import VAT is extra. EMI Agro does not compute landed duty.
Name Felixstowe or London Gateway on the quote. Typical ocean time from Lagos is about 18–28 days. Finished UK consumer packs need English particulars; bulk drums follow the contract language. EMI Agro does not operate a UK warehouse.
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Step 1 — Classify & tariff
Shea butter is classified under HS heading 1515.90 worldwide; the United Kingdom extends it to the national line below.
Tariff classification for shea butter in the United Kingdom (sources and dates in References) Item Value Source HS heading 1515.90 — global Harmonized System National tariff line UK Global Tariff line under 1515.90 (other fixed vegetable fats). Confirm the 10-digit commodity code on the UK Trade Tariff. gov.uk Duty and tax note The UKGT oils-and-fats bracket for 1515.90 is the starting rate; Developing Countries Trading Scheme preference may apply to Nigerian origin when a valid proof of origin is presented. gov.uk Preference scheme and proof of origin Confirm on the Trade Tariff for the entry date. Import VAT is extra. gov.uk The UKGT oils-and-fats bracket for 1515.90 is the starting rate; Developing Countries Trading Scheme preference may apply to Nigerian origin when a valid proof of origin is presented. Confirm on the Trade Tariff for the entry date. Import VAT is extra.
Why the first six digits are the same everywhere is explained in the exporting and importing shea butter guide.
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Step 2 — Regulatory registration
In the United Kingdom, cosmetic-grade shea butter falls under OPSS; food-grade under the food authority.
UK Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations apply to finished cosmetics. Bulk shea as a raw material is not itself a notified cosmetic.
Finished cosmetics are notified on the UK SCPN portal by the UK Responsible Person.
Food-use drums follow FSA import rules. The UK importer is the food business operator.
Finished cosmetics sold to UK consumers must carry English particulars.
Buyers in the UK most often ask for COSMOS, HACCP and EU Organic (EOS); status is on our certifications page. See COSMOS, HACCP, EU Organic (EOS) and our certifications page.
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Step 3 — Required documents
The documents below are those OPSS lists for a shea butter consignment; EMI Agro issues the ones marked as ours.
Documents for importing shea butter into the United Kingdom (sources and dates in References) Document Issued by When Commercial invoice EMI Agro At booking Packing list EMI Agro At stuffing Bill of lading Carrier On vessel departure Certificate of Analysis (per batch) EMI Agro With shipping documents Certificate of origin Nigerian agency Before shipment Form NXP Nigerian agency Before shipment Proof of origin (DCTS / preference, if claimed) Nigerian agency On the commercial document EORI number of the UK importer Buyer / importer Before the customs declaration Nigerian export-side documents are explained in how to import shea butter from Nigeria; the COA format is on the certificate of analysis page.
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Step 4 — Shipping & Incoterms
EMI Agro loads at Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos) for the United Kingdom discharge at the ports below.
Typical sea transit from Lagos to the United Kingdom (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking) Port UN/LOCODE Transit (days) Schedules read on Felixstowe GBFXT 18–28 September 2026 London Gateway GBLGP 18–28 September 2026 - EXW: buyer arranges collection, freight and insurance from the factory.
- FOB: EMI Agro delivers on board at the named Lagos port; buyer arranges ocean freight.
- CIF: EMI Agro arranges freight and insurance to the named discharge port.
Container configuration is calculated separately — use the shea export container calculator and the container notes on the export overview.
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Step 5 — Customs clearance & inspection
Clearance in the United Kingdom is handled through OPSS.
HMRC CDS declarations cover Felixstowe and London Gateway boxes. The importer or broker lodges the entry before release.
Working with EMI Agro
- MOQ
- Standard orders start at 20 tonnes. Trial lots start at 5 tonnes. Smaller volumes can still be requested — we review every enquiry against current production.
- Lead time
- Lead time is Ibadan production time plus ocean time to the named port. EMI Agro produces 40 tonnes per week of finished shea butter and can schedule rolling shipments. Exact weeks depend on the quantity on the purchase order.
- Incoterms
- EXW, FOB, CIF
- Samples
- Trial lots start at 5 tonnes of the named grade. Send the request even if you need less — we review whether we can supply.
- Load ports
- Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos)
For the United Kingdom buyers our supplier page covers MOQ, price basis, packaging and lead time in detail. Shea butter supplier in the United Kingdom.
For commodity background see the complete guide to shea butter.
Related pages
How to import shea butter into the European Union
How to import shea butter into Germany
How to import shea butter into France
How to import shea butter from Nigeria
Nigerian export-side procedure before the container sails.
Shea export container calculator
How many drums fit a container.
Exporting shea butter from Nigeria
HS heading, load ports and the country-guide hub.
Certificate of Analysis
How a batch COA is reported.
Frequently asked questions
References & standards
- gov.uk (accessed 13 September 2026)
- gov.uk (accessed 13 September 2026)
- food.gov.uk (accessed 13 September 2026)
- maersk.com (accessed 13 September 2026)
Last reviewed September 2026 by EMI Agro Industries QC team.
Manufacturer-direct from Ibadan, Nigeria
Get an export quote for the United Kingdom
Tell us grade, volume and your port of discharge in the United Kingdom; we reply with pricing, the document set and a current COA.
You have just read How to Import Shea Butter into the United Kingdom. The next step is a real lot from the factory that produces it — EMI Agro, with factory-direct pricing and a batch Certificate of Analysis.
Trusted manufacturer
EMI Agro Industries Limited (RC 9364495) presses the butter in Ibadan — we are not a trading company.
Competitive factory-direct prices
Quoted EXW, FOB or CIF — the buyer chooses. You pay the factory, not a chain of middlemen.
Export-ready supply
We ship to European Union, United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Southeast Asia, China, India, Middle East, Latin America. Load ports: Apapa (Lagos) or Tin Can Island (Lagos).
Documented lots
40 tonnes per week of finished shea butter, a Certificate of Analysis on every batch, NAFDAC registered and SON approved.