Sourcing Bovine Gallstones from China
Bovine gallstones classified under 0510 00 00 00 carry 0% UK duty from China. Veterinary controls mean the Chinese source, preservation and pharmaceutical processing route need checking before ordering; the tariff entry alone does not establish import eligibility. Cambridge China Bridge sources bovine gallstones.
Zero duty, with veterinary route checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 0510 covers bile and animal products used in pharmaceutical preparation, alongside other named animal materials. This guide concerns natural bovine gallstones. The supplied record contains a single commodity line, so the table shows that line only.
The supplied record gives 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches veterinary control, CITES import and export controls, and seal-product import control. Ask your customs broker to confirm which requirements apply to the actual Chinese bovine material, including the veterinary entry documents and the relevance of the species controls.
Provide the source species, animal origin, physical form, preservation and intended processing when confirming the commodity code. Ask the Animal and Plant Health Agency to confirm the applicable import route and Chinese source eligibility before ordering. The bile and glands guide covers the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovine gallstones for pharmaceutical preparation, subject to classification | 0510 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify natural origin and gallstone condition
Describe the order as natural bovine gallstones and state whether whole stones or fragments are acceptable. Ask the supplier to disclose any cultivated, manufactured or blended material separately. Agree the acceptable size distribution, broken material, moisture, foreign matter and analytical identity with the receiving processor. Treat these as purchase specifications rather than universal legal limits.
Request records connecting the material to its animal source, collection premises, preservation process and shipped batch. Retain an approved sample and arrange independent identity testing on material drawn from the actual consignment. Use factory verification to examine the supplier's handling process and batch records.
If the outside-feed-chain animal by-product route applies, the material must come from an establishment approved to export to Great Britain. Medium and high risk imports require a health certificate. Have your broker and the Animal and Plant Health Agency confirm the Chinese source, risk category, certificate, preservation, destination and notification arrangements for the actual consignment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small trial consignment of natural bovine gallstones, subject to import eligibility confirmation under 0510 00 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 species declarations, source records, batch marks and independent identity results with the order.
Condition: check whole stones and fragments against the approved sample; record damp, mould, unusual odour and visible foreign matter.
Testing: match the laboratory report to the shipped batch and compare the agreed moisture, identity and analytical results.
Packing: check seals, inner containers and transit damage; reconcile the received material with the packing list and retain arrival samples.
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What goes wrong
An attractive display sample can conceal a shipment containing more fragments, foreign material or substituted material than agreed. Appearance alone cannot establish natural origin or batch identity. Record discrepancies before mixing the delivery into existing stock, and keep disputed material separate while the supplier and laboratory investigate.
Do not commit to a shipment while import eligibility remains unresolved. For onward sale, natural ingredients do not exclude a product from medicines classification. Ask the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency about the proposed medicinal presentation before offering a finished product for sale.
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 bovine gallstones from China?
The supplied record gives 0% for 0510 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Confirm classification and the veterinary import route before ordering.
Can I import natural bovine gallstones from China?
Ask your broker and the Animal and Plant Health Agency to confirm the Chinese source, preservation and intended-use route. The tariff entry alone does not establish eligibility for a particular consignment.
How do I check whether bovine gallstones are genuine?
Agree an identity test with the receiving processor, sample the shipped batch independently and compare the results with source records and the retained sample. Do not rely on colour or photographs alone.
Can I sell imported bovine gallstones as a natural remedy?
Natural ingredients can still fall within medicines classification. Ask the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency about the proposed product and medicinal presentation before offering it for sale.