Sourcing bones and horn-cores from China
Bones, ossein and horn-cores from China carry 0% UK duty across this heading. For non-feed bones within the official guidance, China is a permitted origin, but production must be at an establishment approved to export to Great Britain. Confirm the veterinary requirements before shipping. Cambridge China Bridge sources bones and horn-cores.
Zero duty, with animal-product controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 0506 covers bones and horn-cores that are unworked, defatted, simply prepared but not cut to shape, acid-treated or degelatinised, plus their powder and waste. Goods from China carry 0% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded. The table separates product forms under the same commodity codes.
The tariff attaches veterinary, seal-product and waste import controls to both codes, plus CITES import control to 0506 90 00 00. It also records waste export controls, and CITES export control on the other-products line. For veterinary clearance, ask your broker to confirm the common health entry document and supporting paperwork for the actual species, treatment and use.
Zero duty does not settle whether a consignment is admissible. The non-feed guidance described below excludes bone meal and feed, organic fertiliser and soil-improver uses. Ask your broker to confirm the applicable route for those goods and check the commodity code against the material and processing.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ossein | 0506 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other bones, unworked or simply prepared, not cut to shape | 0506 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify species, treatment and intended use
Specify the animal species, origin, whether the material is bone, ossein or horn-core, and its intended manufacturing use. Describe acid treatment, defatting or degelatinisation precisely. Agree particle size or piece grading, moisture, residual grease, odour, foreign matter and packing against a retained sample.
For bones within the non-feed guidance, imports are permitted from any country, including China, but the producing establishment must be approved to export to Great Britain. Check the actual processor through factory verification, rather than relying on a trading company's name.
If the species is CITES-listed, confirm the import and export documents with the relevant authorities before ordering. Seal products can only be imported and sold in limited cases under strict conditions; ask your broker to confirm whether any proposed seal-derived material qualifies.
For material classed as waste, confirm the shipment route with the broker and the relevant environmental authority. Waste entering England under notification controls cannot ship until the authorities of dispatch, destination and transit have consented.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of defatted bones for non-feed industrial use under 0506 90 00 00, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,400, so it is £480. 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: compare the declared species, material and treatment with supplier records and the retained sample; investigate mixed species or unexplained substitutions.
Condition: sample across the shipment for grease, damp, mould, odour, attached tissue and foreign matter; compare results with the agreed specification.
Processing: check piece grading or particle distribution and treatment records; distinguish simply prepared material from pieces cut to a finished shape.
Traceability: match processor details, batch references and packing marks to the consignment documents. Arrange checks before dispatch using the inspection guide.
What goes wrong
A description such as 'clean bone' leaves the species, treatment and intended use unresolved. Greasy or damp lots can fail the buyer's specification, while mixed material makes traceability harder. Agree measurable acceptance criteria and inspect representative samples before loading.
A tariff code or a supplier's general export experience does not establish the applicable import route. Resolve processor approval, veterinary paperwork, protected-species status and any waste classification before shipping. Keep bone meal and feed or fertiliser applications separate from the non-feed route.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on bones from China?
Both 0506 10 00 00 and 0506 90 00 00 carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff reading, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded.
Can I import bones from China into Great Britain?
For bones covered by the non-feed guidance, China is a permitted origin, but the producing establishment must be approved to export to Great Britain. Confirm the remaining conditions before shipping.
Does the non-feed import guidance cover bone meal?
No. It excludes bone meal and material intended for feed, organic fertilisers or soil improvers. Ask your broker to confirm the correct import conditions for your intended use.
What should I check when bones arrive?
Check species and batch identity, moisture, grease, odour, foreign matter, grading and packing condition against the agreed sample and specification. Reconcile the lot with its treatment and consignment records.