Calcium hypochlorite pool chlorine from China
Hypochlorites and chlorites from China pay 4% UK duty under heading 2828, but calcium hypochlorite with 65% or more active chlorine (2828 10 00 10) is suspended to 0% until 31 December 2028, with no anti-dumping duty. Pool and water disinfectants are biocidal products that must not be made available unless authorised, and the chemical is an oxidiser that needs dangerous goods packing.
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0% or 4% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 2828 covers hypochlorites, commercial calcium hypochlorite, chlorites and hypobromites. All three leaves carry 4% on goods from China, and the whole of 2828 10 00 10, calcium hypochlorite (CAS 7778-54-3) with an active chlorine content of 65% or more, is suspended to 0% until 31 December 2028. There is no anti-dumping measure and no registration.
Other pool and water treatment chemicals are covered in our pesticides and disinfectants guide and phosphonate water treatment guide; confirm the commodity code. For chloride sourcing, see our guide to calcium and magnesium chloride.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium hypochlorite, 65% or more active chlorine | 2828 10 00 10 | 4%; suspended to 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Other commercial calcium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorites | 2828 10 00 90 | 4% | None |
| Other hypochlorites, chlorites and hypobromites | 2828 90 00 00 | 4% | None |
Biocide and chemical rules
Article 17 of the retained Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 says biocidal products shall not be made available on the market or used unless authorised under the Regulation, so calcium hypochlorite sold as a pool or water disinfectant needs its authorisation position checked before sale, and the label must follow the authorisation.
Calcium hypochlorite is a substance under UK REACH and is classified and labelled under the retained CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008; it is an oxidiser that must be kept dry and away from acids and organic material, and shipped in dangerous goods packing.
Specifying calcium hypochlorite
Specify form (granules, tablets or powder), available chlorine, moisture, insolubles, particle size or tablet weight, the process (sodium or calcium method), and packing in approved drums with liners and dangerous goods labels.
Worked duty example
Take a hypothetical order of 20 tonnes of calcium hypochlorite below 65% active chlorine, entered under 2828 10 00 90: £16,000 free on board plus £2,500 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £18,500. The 4% duty on calcium hypochlorite comes to £740, and import VAT is 20% of £19,240, which is £3,848. If you are VAT-registered you normally reclaim the £3,848, leaving £740 as the real cost at the border. Calcium hypochlorite with 65% or more active chlorine under 2828 10 00 10 is suspended to 0% until 31 December 2028, which would remove the duty. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.
Inspection checklist
Analysis: check available chlorine and moisture on the certificate, and verify a sample in an independent laboratory.
Packing: check drums for approval marks, seals, liners and dangerous goods labels.
Storage: check the goods are kept dry and apart from incompatible cargo.
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What goes wrong
Calcium hypochlorite orders fail on strength and packing. Available chlorine is below the grade so the suspension no longer applies, moisture causes caking and decomposition, drums are not approved for dangerous goods, and labels do not match the biocide authorisation.
Test samples before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources calcium hypochlorite for UK pool supply and water treatment distributors, checking the producer's dangerous goods packing first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on calcium hypochlorite from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, 4%, but 65% or more active chlorine under 2828 10 00 10 is suspended to 0% until 31 December 2028.
Do pool chlorine products need authorisation?
Biocidal products must not be made available unless authorised under the Biocidal Products Regulation.
Why does available chlorine matter?
It decides the suspension: only 65% or more active chlorine is at 0%.
What fails most often?
Strength below the grade, moisture and packing not approved for dangerous goods.