Sourcing 1,4-butanediol from China
The supplied tariff line for wholly bio-based 1,4-butanediol from China carries 4% duty, with no suspension or trade remedy shown. Industrial use benefits from a qualified controlled-drug licensing exemption where the substance is not intended for human ingestion, other than as a food flavouring. Cambridge China Bridge sources 1,4-butanediol.
Duty and the bio-based tariff line
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2905 covers acyclic alcohols and their specified derivatives. The supplied data contains only one line explicitly naming 1,4-butanediol: 2905 39 26 00, for material having a bio-based carbon content of 100 % by mass. Other alcohols are covered in our wider glycols and polyols guide.
That line carries 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension shown. Do not apply its bio-based description to conventional material without supporting evidence. Give your customs broker the composition and evidence of carbon origin to confirm the commodity code.
The tariff attaches an export waste control to this line. Confirm its relevance with your customs broker, particularly for recovered or discarded material. For waste imports into England under notification controls, the exporter applies for consent in the dispatch country and shipment starts only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,4-butanediol with wholly bio-based carbon | 2905 39 26 00 | 4% | None |
Specify identity, water content and intended use
Order by the full chemical name rather than a supplier's abbreviation. Specify assay, water content, colour, acidity and the impurities relevant to your process, with agreed test methods. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and retain an approval sample. For the bio-based tariff line, request evidence supporting the carbon-origin claim.
The current controlled-drug licensing exemption is qualified by intended use: it applies where the substance is not intended for human ingestion, other than as a food flavouring. Record the industrial application and intended customer use. The Home Office is consulting on tighter controls for high-purity material; those proposals should not be treated as current licensing requirements.
Check UK REACH registration arrangements before annual imports reach one tonne. Where a new registration is required and downstream-user notification provisions do not apply, complete registration is required before reaching that quantity. Obtain an English safety data sheet and arrange competent classification, accurate labels and appropriate packaging before sale in Great Britain.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative: 1 tonne of wholly bio-based 1,4-butanediol in sealed drums under 2905 39 26 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £670 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,170. Duty at 4% is £126.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,296.80, so it is £659.36. Import taxes total £786.16; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £126.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the chemical name, batch reference and grade across the order, drum labels, analysis certificate and safety data sheet.
Analysis: check assay, water, colour and acidity against the agreed specification; use a representative arrival sample to investigate discrepancies.
Packaging: inspect seals, closures, leaks and contamination around drum openings; record damaged containers before acceptance.
Traceability: match received batches to retained samples and carbon-origin evidence, and check that the recorded industrial use remains accurate.
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What goes wrong
A quotation stating only purity leaves water, colour and process-sensitive impurities unresolved. A batch can match the headline assay yet fail your production trial. Agree the full specification before ordering and investigate any mismatch between the arrival sample and the supplier's certificate.
A bio-based claim without evidence creates a classification problem. A cleaning-product description also cannot establish the licensing exemption if the intended use is ingestion. Keep product identity, carbon origin and actual customer use consistent across purchasing and sales records.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on 1,4-butanediol from China?
The supplied wholly bio-based line, 2905 39 26 00, carries 4% duty, with no suspension or trade remedy shown. Confirm the classification separately for conventional material.
Do I need a licence to import industrial 1,4-butanediol?
The current qualified exemption covers imports not intended for human ingestion, other than as a food flavouring. Confirm your actual use qualifies; proposed tighter controls are under consultation.
Does UK REACH apply to 1,4-butanediol?
Check registration arrangements before annual imports reach one tonne. If a new registration is required and downstream-user notification provisions do not apply, complete registration is needed before that point.
What should I test when 1,4-butanediol arrives?
Check identity, assay, water, colour and acidity against your agreed specification. Match the arrival sample and drum batch references to the certificate of analysis and retained approval sample.