How to export protein powders from the UK to China

Confirm the manufacturer’s route before offering stock

Protein powders and sports nutrition generally fit the special dietary foods recommendation route; confirm in GACC’s registration system. Under GACC Decree 280, the manufacturer applies itself or through an agent and obtains its country’s competent-authority recommendation, audit report and recommendation letter. Allow months, not weeks for approval; the Chinese authority decides. The overseas exporter or agent and the Chinese food importer also have filing obligations.

HMRC recorded £25.0m of UK goods exports to mainland China under HS 210610, 350400 in 2025 (2024: £27.7m, -9.6%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £608k. January to July 2026: £10.4m against £18.2m in the same months of 2025 (-43%).

HS 210610 covers protein concentrates and textured protein substances; HS 350400 covers peptones and other protein substances and derivatives. The largest UK export line to China was 21061020, for protein concentrates and textured protein substances, at £19.2m in 2025. This is the UK export total for line 21061020, not a measure of protein powder sales alone. For whey products, see our guide to exporting whey to China.

Price against the Chinese tariff line

The listed MFN rates are shown below. Import VAT is generally 13%, subject to the VAT Law’s reduced-rate list and special rules, and is calculated on customs value plus duty plus any applicable consumption tax. These charges increase landed cost and shape the price an importer can offer. Have the importer’s customs broker confirm the product’s tariff line, VAT treatment and whether consumption tax applies.

Resolve the sports nutrition standard and printed label

GB 24154-2015, the general standard for sports nutrition foods, appears in the national standards list under special dietary foods. Establish whether the powder falls within that standard before finalising its Chinese artwork. For imported special dietary foods, GACC Decree 249 requires the Chinese label to be printed on the smallest sales package; an added sticker is not allowed.

Imported prepackaged food needs a compliant Chinese label showing its origin and the domestic agent’s name, address and contact details, with Chinese instructions where required. The registered manufacturer must also put its China registration number, or its home authority’s approved number, on the packaging. Customs declarations must include the overseas manufacturer’s registration number as required.

Prepare the UK export declaration

Classify the powder under the correct UK commodity code rather than copying the Chinese tariff line. Exports from England, Scotland or Wales need a GB EORI number and an online export declaration. Give the declarant the commodity code, value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing-list references. The carrier needs the invoice and any export licences or certificates required for the shipment.

Assess a retail cross-border route separately

The cross-border e-commerce retail import list includes 21061000 and 35040090. Confirm the powder’s exact line and cross-border retail eligibility before choosing this route. Listed goods imported through bonded 1210 or direct 9610 retail channels receive personal-use supervision, with first-import licensing, registration and filing requirements disapplied, subject to the stated epidemic and emergency-risk exceptions.

The overseas retail business carries product quality and safety responsibility and must appoint a mainland-registered company for customs registration, truthful declarations and shared civil liability. Consumers must accept a risk notice before ordering: the goods meet origin-country standards but may differ from Chinese standards, may have no Chinese label, and a Chinese electronic label can be viewed on the website. The goods are for personal use and cannot be resold.

Check the importer before committing the shipment

Ask a prospective importer to identify the intended channel and tariff line, its food-importer filing and how it will handle the manufacturer’s registration number and Chinese artwork. If a Chinese importer has already approached your brand, our staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed.

We prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record and, for cross-border retail where required, the cross-border e-commerce agent remain licensed partners in China; your brand’s own filings remain yours. Use the product’s formula, intended use and packaging to settle the applicable route with those partners.

Our export-to-China service explains this support.