Sourcing 4-Chlorophenol from China

4% base duty with a zero-rate suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 2908 covers halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives of phenols or phenol-alcohols. 4-Chlorophenol, chemical identity number 106-48-9, has its own line, 2908 19 00 30. This guide covers that substance; see the 2-Chlorophenol guide for wider heading context.

The supplied tariff record shows 4% base duty for goods from China and an autonomous suspension at 0.00 %, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure shown. The suspension footnote excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing the substance. Confirm the composition and suspension claim with your broker using our commodity code guide.

The tariff attaches controls labelled “Export control on dangerous chemicals” and “Export control - Waste”. Ask your customs broker to confirm their relevance to your China-to-UK shipment. HSE states that there are no prior informed consent notification obligations for imports. If the material is waste subject to notification controls, the exporter must seek consent from the competent authority in the country of dispatch.

Specify identity, assay and chlorophenol impurities

Write 4-Chlorophenol and chemical identity number 106-48-9 into the purchase specification. Agree assay, analytical method, melting range, colour, moisture, residual solvents and limits for other chlorophenols. Ask for a batch-specific certificate of analysis and a retained sample. Do not accept “chlorophenol” as the complete product description.

Before ordering, establish your UK REACH route with HSE, including whether registration, coverage through an only representative or an exemption applies to your Great Britain imports. Obtain the safety data sheet and review the intended use. Ask HSE to confirm whether you need to supply that sheet and when it should be supplied or updated.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 kg of 4-Chlorophenol for laboratory process trials under 2908 19 00 30, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,980. Duty at 4% is £159.20. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,139.20, so it is £827.84. Import taxes total £987.04; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £159.20 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the purchase specification, invoice, container labels and certificate of analysis to 4-Chlorophenol and 106-48-9.

Analysis: independently check assay, melting range, moisture and the agreed impurity profile, including pentachlorophenol traces.

Packaging: inspect seals, closures, leakage and moisture damage on arrival. Substances must be labelled and packaged correctly before being placed on the Great Britain market.

Traceability: reconcile batch identifiers across containers, samples and analysis records. Record discrepancies before releasing the batch for use.

What goes wrong

A generic chlorophenol description can conceal an identity mismatch; an assay result alone does not establish the agreed impurity profile. Colour, moisture or residual solvents may miss your specification even when the headline assay passes. Compare an independent sample with the agreed acceptance criteria before using the batch.

Pentachlorophenol contamination is a separate concern: ask the Environment Agency to confirm the applicable restrictions and any limit for unintentional traces in substances, mixtures and articles. Request suitable trace testing rather than relying on the main assay. A formulated product also falls outside the suspension footnote. Use our inspection guide to organise sampling and release checks.

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.