What you may pay on an order from abroad
| Order value | VAT | Customs Duty |
|---|---|---|
| £135 or less | Charged; usually by the seller at checkout, so nothing to pay the delivery company | No charge |
| Over £135 | Charged | May apply; the rate depends on the goods and where they came from |
Source: HMRC.[1] Delivery companies may add a handling fee. Gifts and Northern Ireland have different rules.
Overseas products and UK standards
Products sold in the UK must meet UK food supplement labelling rules and the GB maximum levels for lead, cadmium and mercury.[2][3] A product made for another market may not follow them, and a seller outside the UK can be harder to hold to UK consumer law. See is shilajit legal in the UK? and your consumer rights.
UK delivery: what to compare
- Delivery costAdd it to the price when comparing; see the calculator.
- Carrier and trackingTracked delivery makes problems easier to resolve.
- HeatResin softens in warm parcels; this is normal and not a defect.
- Arrival checksSeal, batch number and date mark; see checking your delivery.
In our purchase test for the Nature Elixirs evaluation, the order arrived by Royal Mail from a UK seller with no customs involved.
Common questions
Will I pay customs on shilajit from Pakistan or India?
VAT applies to goods sent from abroad, and Customs Duty may apply above £135. Check the seller’s checkout and HMRC’s guidance before ordering.[1]
Is it cheaper to buy from abroad?
Sometimes on price, but add VAT, any duty and handling fees, and weigh up weaker recourse if something goes wrong.
Sources & further reading
Primary research, regulators and standards bodies are cited first. A source being listed here does not mean it supports every claim made by sellers; it supports the specific statement it is attached to.
- HM Revenue & Customs. Tax and customs for goods sent from abroad: tax and duty. GOV.UK. View source (opens in a new tab) [Government guidance]
- European Commission (UK version on legislation.gov.uk). Commission Regulation (EC) No 629/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. legislation.gov.uk, 2008. View source (opens in a new tab) [UK legislation (retained)]
- UK Government. The Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/1387). legislation.gov.uk, 2003. View source (opens in a new tab) [UK legislation]