Sourcing beta-lactoglobulin powder from China
Beta-lactoglobulin powder classified as milk albumin carries 0% duty when unfit for human consumption or £103 per 100 kg when dried and edible. Chinese dairy products for human consumption cannot be imported into Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge checks whether a product can be imported before any order is placed.
Milk albumin duty and import eligibility
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3502 covers albumins, albuminates and other albumin derivatives. For milk-derived beta-lactoglobulin powder, check the milk albumin branches against composition and intended use. The table also shows other physical forms and derivatives for comparison; these are not interchangeable classifications for ordinary powder.
The China lines show 0% for milk albumin unfit, or to be rendered unfit, for human consumption, £103 per 100 kg for dried edible milk albumin and £13 per 100 kg for other edible forms. Albumin derivatives carry 6%. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is listed. Chinese dairy products for human consumption are prohibited in Great Britain, regardless of the tariff rate.
Every table line carries veterinary control. For non-food powder, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable documents and import route before dispatch. The derivatives line also carries a Home Office controlled-drugs export flag; confirm applicability if considering that line. Confirm the commodity code from the actual product specification. See the alpha-lactalbumin guide for related milk albumin coverage.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk albumin unfit, or to be rendered unfit, for human consumption | 3502 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Dried milk albumin for human consumption, including powder | 3502 20 91 00 | £103.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Other forms of milk albumin for human consumption, for comparison | 3502 20 99 00 | £13.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Albuminates and other albumin derivatives, for comparison | 3502 90 90 00 | 6% | None |
Specify beta-lactoglobulin identity and use
State whether the powder is milk-derived, its animal source, intended use and whether the protein is intact or chemically modified. Specify beta-lactoglobulin content separately from total protein, with the assay method and reporting basis. Agree moisture, solubility, microbiological acceptance criteria and packaging. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis, an approved sample and a retained sample.
Do not order Chinese food-grade dairy powder for import into Great Britain. For genuine research or diagnostic samples, APHA authorisation must be obtained before importation. If no appropriate general authorisation applies, a specific authorisation is required. Ask your broker and APHA to establish the route for the exact powder and use; do not assume that a laboratory label resolves eligibility.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative only: 20 kg of laboratory beta-lactoglobulin powder unfit for human consumption, conditional on confirmation of classification and the import route under 3502 20 10 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,000, so it is £3,600. 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 beta-lactoglobulin identity, animal source, grade and batch number across the specification, analysis certificate and containers.
Assay: distinguish beta-lactoglobulin content from total protein and compare results using the agreed method and moisture basis.
Performance: compare dissolution and any required functional behaviour with the approved sample under your own process conditions.
Packing: check seals, moisture damage, caking, discolouration and contamination; keep the arriving batch separate while investigating discrepancies. Plan sampling with the inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A supplier may offer a general whey protein powder against a specification for beta-lactoglobulin. A total-protein result alone does not demonstrate the agreed protein identity or purity. Request an identity-specific assay and compare the production batch with the approved sample.
A food-grade certificate does not override the Chinese dairy import prohibition. Non-food classification also does not establish permission to import. Resolve the route before committing to production or freight, then check whether assay differences, moisture uptake or changed processing explain any mismatch at arrival.
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 beta-lactoglobulin powder from China?
If classified as milk albumin, duty is 0% when unfit for human consumption or £103 per 100 kg when dried and edible. No trade remedy or suspension is listed. The edible Chinese dairy product is prohibited in Great Britain.
Can I import Chinese beta-lactoglobulin powder for food use?
Chinese dairy products for human consumption are prohibited in Great Britain. A food-grade certificate or a listed tariff code does not override this prohibition.
Can laboratory beta-lactoglobulin powder be imported?
Confirm the exact route with your broker and APHA before ordering. Genuine research or diagnostic samples need prior APHA authorisation; the tariff also attaches veterinary control.
What should the batch analysis certificate show?
Ask for beta-lactoglobulin identity and content, total protein, moisture, agreed microbiological results, assay methods and batch identification. Compare the results with the specification and retained sample.