Sourcing amoxicillin capsules from China

Amoxicillin capsule duty and import route

Heading 3004 covers medicines in measured doses or retail packaging. For amoxicillin capsules, the relevant line is 3004 10 00 00, covering medicines containing penicillins or their derivatives. The table shows pack formats under the same tariff line. For the raw substance rather than finished capsules, see amoxicillin active ingredient.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 10 October 2026, this line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The supplied tariff record attaches an export control of mercury. Official mercury-product guidance concerns intentionally added mercury; ask your customs broker to confirm whether the attached measure affects your declaration.

Confirm the composition, dosage form and packing with your broker using finding your commodity code. For normal commercial supply into Great Britain from China, arrange the product's UK marketing authorisation and ask MHRA to confirm requirements for a manufacturer's licence covering import and Qualified Person batch certification. Confirm the medicines release process separately from customs clearance.

Specify the authorised capsule and pack

Define the amoxicillin strength, formulation, capsule shell material, colour and imprint, pack count and blister or bottle format. Match these details to the product's marketing authorisation. Agree the identity, assay and dissolution specification with the licensed importer's quality team rather than accepting a supplier's generic capsule specification.

Identify the manufacturing and packing sites, review their good manufacturing practice status and inspection history, and agree batch documents and release responsibilities before ordering. Specify approved carton and leaflet artwork, storage conditions and the remaining shelf life your business will accept.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 10,000 retail packs of authorised amoxicillin capsules under 3004 10 00 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £64,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £64,000, so it is £12,800. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Batch documents: match the certificate of analysis, executed batch records, batch number and expiry date; ask MHRA to confirm whether the importer's Qualified Person certification is required before release.

Capsules: check shell damage, powder leakage, colour and imprint against the agreed specification; review identity, assay and dissolution results rather than judging quality by appearance.

Packs and leaflets: compare cartons, blister foil, bottle labels and leaflets with approved artwork; check legible batch details, intact seals and consistent pack counts.

Shipment conditions: review temperature records against labelled storage conditions and inspect for moisture, crushed cartons or damaged blisters. Refer discrepancies to the importer's quality team.

What goes wrong

A sample can look acceptable while the production batch has different dissolution results, leaking capsule shells or inconsistent imprints. Packing errors can mix strengths, batch numbers or leaflet versions. Tie inspection findings to the batch documents and agreed laboratory results.

A manufacturer's certificate does not replace the buyer's licensed import and release arrangements. Unapproved artwork, incomplete batch records and unexplained temperature excursions can prevent release. Resolve these points with the licensed importer before dispatch.

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.