Sourcing cetirizine tablets from China
Cetirizine tablets from China under 3004 90 00 00 carry 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Ordinary commercial supply needs a UK marketing authorisation; confirm import licensing and batch certification arrangements for Great Britain with MHRA before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources cetirizine tablets.
Cetirizine tablet duty and attached controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 10 October 2026, heading 3004 covers medicaments in measured doses or retail packaging. For plain cetirizine tablets, the relevant candidate is 3004 90 00 00, carrying 0% duty from China. The supplied record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table repeats this tariff line for different pack formats; these are not separate commodity codes.
The tariff line attaches controlled-drug, ozone-depleting-substance, CITES and seal-product import controls. Controlled drugs need an import licence; ozone-depleting substances need a licence. Listed CITES species have permit requirements. Seal products cannot enter Great Britain unless an exemption applies. Obtain the complete formulation, including excipient origins, and have the customs broker confirm which requirements and declarations apply to the Chinese shipment.
The record also attaches export controls for controlled drugs, CITES, mercury and goods for torture and repression. Ask the broker to confirm any requirements before onward export. Confirm the commodity code using the composition and packaging. For the wider heading, see the omeprazole capsules guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cetirizine tablets in blister packs | 3004 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the authorised cetirizine tablet
Specify the exact cetirizine salt, strength, tablet form, coating, excipients, pack contents and intended sales channel against the product's UK marketing authorisation. Agree tablet appearance, any score line, blister materials, approved artwork, storage conditions and remaining shelf life on arrival. A factory's existing tablet or Chinese retail pack is only a starting point for comparison.
For ordinary commercial supply, confirm the UK marketing authorisation and ask MHRA to confirm the import licence requirements for China into Great Britain before ordering. Check the manufacturing site's good manufacturing practice status and inspection history, and agree technical responsibilities and batch documentation with the licensed importer. Confirm the applicable Qualified Person certification and batch release arrangements with MHRA and the importer.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative consignment of blister-packed cetirizine tablets for a licensed wholesaler under 3004 90 00 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £64,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £64,000, so it is £12,800. 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
Batch identity: match the cetirizine salt, strength, batch number and expiry date across the packs, analysis certificate and executed batch records.
Tablet testing: compare identity, assay and dissolution results with the authorised specification; arrange the importer's laboratory checks before batch certification.
Packs and leaflets: compare the carton, blister foil and patient leaflet with approved text; check Braille, legibility, intact seals and missing tablets.
Transport: review temperature records against labelled storage conditions; check crushed cartons, punctured blisters, moisture damage and received quantities.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A supplier offers a familiar cetirizine name but a different salt, strength, formulation or pack. Artwork can carry the wrong instructions, while batch documents refer to a different product or site. Compare the proposed product and manufacturing site with the authorisation before approving samples or printed packaging.
Good-looking tablets can still have assay or dissolution results outside the authorised specification. Damaged blister seals and undocumented temperature excursions also need investigation. Keep affected stock separate while the licensed importer's quality team reviews the records and decides whether the batch can be released.
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 cetirizine tablets from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty under 3004 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Confirm the code for the exact formulation.
Do I need a licence to import cetirizine tablets from China?
For import into Great Britain, ask MHRA to confirm the licence required for the importer. Agree the applicable batch certification and documentation arrangements with that importer before ordering.
Can I sell Chinese cetirizine packs in the UK?
For ordinary commercial supply, the product needs a UK marketing authorisation. Check that the formulation, manufacturing site, packs and leaflets match the authorised product.
What should I check when cetirizine tablets arrive?
Match batch documents to packs, review identity, assay and dissolution results, check blister integrity and approved artwork, and review transport records before the importer's batch release.