Sourcing betaine from China

Betaine duty and the hydrochloride suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2923 covers quaternary ammonium salts and hydroxides, alongside lecithins and other phosphoaminolipids. Betaine hydrochloride of 93% purity by weight or more has the named line 2923 90 00 50. The table repeats the residual line for different betaine forms as classification candidates, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The named hydrochloride line has a standard Chinese-origin duty of 6% and an autonomous suspension to 0%, excluding mixtures and preparations. The residual line 2923 90 00 90 carries 6%; its listed suspension names other substances, not betaine. The wider published guide describes pharmaceutical relief for qualifying listed substances, but do not assume your betaine qualifies. The supplied lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.

Both lines attach dangerous-chemical and waste export controls. Confirm their relevance with your customs broker before shipment; these entries do not establish a betaine-specific import licence. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste. Confirm the commodity code using composition, purity and presentation, and consult the wider heading guide.

Specify the betaine form and intended use

Write the chemical identity into the purchase specification: anhydrous betaine, monohydrate or hydrochloride. State whether assay is measured as received or on a dry basis, and agree moisture, impurities, particle size and packaging. Ask for the analytical method and a batch certificate of analysis. A description saying only “betaine powder” leaves too much unresolved.

For industrial use, check the UK REACH registration position before importing: HSE requires registration for a GB legal entity importing a substance at or above 1 tonne per year. For feed use, additives must be authorised before sale in Great Britain and used only for their authorised purpose. Obtain evidence matching the exact product and use.

For food use, compare the proposed form and manufacturing route with the Food Standards Agency's betaine register entry before approving the specification. That entry requires the ingredient designation “betaine” and a warning against using the food on the same day as betaine-containing supplements. Do not treat a hydrochloride assay certificate as confirmation of food suitability.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 10 tonnes of anhydrous betaine, subject to code confirmation under 2923 90 00 90, invoiced at £42,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £43,800. Duty at 6% is £2,628. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £46,428, so it is £9,285.60. Import taxes total £11,913.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,628 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: compare the order, bag labels and batch certificate; arrange laboratory confirmation of the agreed betaine form.

Assay: check the result, analytical method and moisture basis against the purchase specification, especially when claiming the hydrochloride suspension.

Condition: inspect seals, liners and powder for dampness, caking, discolouration and foreign material; retain representative samples.

Traceability: match every delivered lot to its certificate and packing list. Agree sampling and release checks through the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A hydrochloride is supplied against an anhydrous specification, or a dry-basis assay is compared with an as-received requirement. Moisture and damaged liners can leave powder difficult to handle. Treat identity, assay basis and packaging as separate acceptance checks rather than accepting a headline purity figure.

A suspension claim can fail when the material is a mixture or does not match the named line. An intended feed use can also be unsupported by the supplier's documents. Resolve these points before loading. If the substance is PIC-listed, imports into Great Britain have no PIC notification obligation, but annual quantity reporting applies.

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.