How to export shampoo from the UK to China

File ordinary shampoo before general-trade import

Shampoo, conditioner and hair care normally follow the ordinary-cosmetics route unless their purpose or claims place them in the special-cosmetics group. Imported ordinary cosmetics need NMPA filing before import. The overseas filer must designate a mainland legal-person company to handle filing, assist adverse-reaction monitoring and carry out recalls. Plan for months, not weeks; the Chinese authority decides the outcome. For whitening skincare, see our guide to exporting whitening skincare to China.

HMRC recorded £3.4m of UK goods exports to mainland China under HS 330510, 330590 in 2025 (2024: £4.2m, -19.2%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £2.5m. January to July 2026: £1.3m against £2.4m in the same months of 2025 (-47.2%).

These HS codes cover more than shampoo and conditioner, including other hair products such as hair-loss prevention and colouring products; the totals are not shampoo exports alone. HS6 330510 covers shampoos and HS6 330590 covers other hair preparations, excluding shampoos and preparations for permanent waving or straightening. The larger UK export line was 33059000 at £1.9m in 2025, against 33051000 at £1.5m.

Build Chinese border taxes into your offer

Chinese tariff lines 33051000 and 33059000 have an MFN rate of 3%. Duty and import VAT add to the importer's landed cost, shaping the price it can offer your brand.

The standard import VAT rate is 13%. Its base is the customs value plus customs duty plus consumption tax. The importer's customs broker or adviser confirms whether consumption tax applies to this product.

Prepare labels the importer can verify

For general-trade imports, the Chinese label may be printed directly on the shampoo pack or added as a sticker. A sticker's content must match the original label. Prepare both versions together so your mainland responsible person and importer can review the wording before stock is sent.

The importer must check that the cosmetic has been registered or filed and meets the regulation, mandatory national standards and technical specifications; it must not import a product that fails that check. Have the licensed partner identify the requirements applicable to the particular formula and claims.

Arrange the UK export declaration

Classify each product before exporting: shampoo falls under HS6 330510, while other hair preparations use HS6 330590 where appropriate. Find the correct UK commodity code for the actual goods. Exports from England, Scotland or Wales need an EORI number starting GB. For industrial ingredients, see our guide to exporting industrial surfactants to China.

Exports from Great Britain to China are declared through the online export declaration service. Give the declarant the commodity code, value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing list references. The carrier needs the invoice and any applicable export licences or certificates.

Consider cross-border retail for personal-use sales

The cross-border retail import list includes 33051000 shampoos and 33059000 other hair preparations. The shampoo entry excludes goods in the Import and Export Catalogue of Wild Fauna and Flora Species unless the specified certificate confirming non-catalogue-species status from China's endangered-species import and export management office can be supplied. Check this remark against the ingredients before choosing the route.

Listed goods entering through bonded 1210 or direct 9610 retail channels are supervised as personal-use articles, without first-import licensing, registration or filing requirements, subject to the stated epidemic and emergency-risk exceptions. The overseas business remains responsible for quality and safety and must appoint a mainland-registered company for customs registration, truthful declarations and shared civil liability.

Consumers must accept the risk notice before ordering: origin-country standards may differ from Chinese standards, packs may lack Chinese labels, a Chinese electronic label is available online, and the goods cannot be resold. The limits are RMB 5,000 per transaction and RMB 26,000 per person annually.

Find and check a Chinese importer

Use our export service to find and check Chinese importers and distributors through our own staff in China. If an importer has already approached your brand, our staff check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed. Establish which route it proposes and how it will check the shampoo's filing and Chinese label.

We prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record, mainland responsible person and cross-border e-commerce agent roles, where required, stay with licensed partners in China; your brand's own filings stay your brand's. Agree which partner will handle the applicable regulated work before preparing the shipment.