Sourcing anhydrous chloral from China

0% duty, with classification to confirm

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2913 covers halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives of the aldehyde products covered by the preceding heading. The supplied lines all carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension listed.

For anhydrous chloral, check the residual line 2913 00 00 90 against the exact composition. The tariff attaches an export control for waste. Environment Agency guidance for England says waste shipment controls apply only to waste. Ask your customs broker to confirm the flag's relevance to your shipment from China, especially if the material is recovered or being returned.

Confirm the commodity code using the substance identity, composition and intended supply form. Only the residual line is shown here because the named lines concern different substances. For the related product and wider heading context, see chloral hydrate sourcing.

Specify anhydrous grade and water content

Write anhydrous chloral explicitly on the enquiry and purchase specification. Agree assay, water content, acidity, colour and the impurity profile your process can accept. Ask the factory to state its analytical methods and provide batch results rather than a generic specification sheet.

Request the safety data sheet, proposed container and closure materials, storage instructions and a batch sample for laboratory assessment. Agree how the sample will be drawn and sealed so that testing reflects the material supplied.

Before a first import into Great Britain, assess whether UK REACH registration is required. Before placing the chemical on the GB market, ensure correct labelling and packaging. Include these checks in the purchasing brief alongside the technical acceptance criteria.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 kg of anhydrous chloral for a process trial; illustrative order and values only under 2913 00 00 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,480. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,480, so it is £696. 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

Identity: match the purchase specification, container labels, batch analysis and safety data sheet to anhydrous chloral.

Analysis: check assay, water, acidity and impurities against the agreed limits; have a laboratory confirm the analytical method is suitable for this material.

Containers: inspect closures, seals, external damage and signs of leakage on arrival; record container and batch identifiers before acceptance.

Traceability: match each container to its batch certificate and sample record. Use independent testing support where laboratory verification is needed.

What goes wrong

A quotation headed simply chloral can leave the supply form unclear. An order for anhydrous material can then be assessed against a certificate that does not establish water content or distinguish it from chloral hydrate. Resolve the identity and analytical basis before approving the batch.

A satisfactory factory sample does not establish that the delivered containers meet the specification. Missing batch links, inconsistent results or damaged closures leave acceptance uncertain. Hold affected material apart and obtain laboratory results before releasing it into your process.

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.