Sourcing cheese flavour concentrates from China
Cheese flavour concentrates classified as food-industry flavour mixtures carry 0% UK duty from China. Confirm ingredient permissions for food flavourings with the relevant food authority. Dairy products from China are prohibited, including dairy ingredients in composite products, so check the complete recipe before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources cheese flavour concentrates.
Duty and the dairy import restriction
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 3302 covers mixtures based on odoriferous substances used as industrial raw materials. The food-industry line 3302 10 90 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. The table shows different product forms under this same line, subject to classification of the actual recipe.
The tariff attaches veterinary control to this line. Official guidance says dairy products from China are prohibited regardless of where the dairy originated; the safeguard also applies to animal ingredients in composite products. A veterinary document does not overcome that prohibition. For a formulation without dairy, give the complete ingredient origins to your customs broker and confirm how the attached control applies. The snapshot also lists mercury and torture-related export controls; ask the broker to confirm their relevance.
Confirm whether the shipment is a flavour mixture rather than cheese powder or another food preparation using finding your commodity code. For the wider product family, see savoury food flavour concentrates.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheese flavour concentrate powder for food manufacture | 3302 10 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the cheese profile and the complete carrier
Specify the intended food, cheese character, flavour strength and performance after heating. Agree whether the concentrate should disperse in water, oil or a dry seasoning blend. List every carrier and supporting ingredient, including milk powder, whey, cheese powder, fats, salt and anti-caking agents. A cheese flavour name does not tell you whether the recipe contains dairy.
Confirm with the relevant food authority whether the flavouring substances and preparations in your food flavour compound are permitted for the intended use. Obtain the specification, batch certificate of analysis, food-grade production information and allergen information described in the published flavour compounds guide. For formulations containing dairy, the China import prohibition also applies when that dairy is an ingredient in a composite product. Develop a formulation without dairy only after checking the full recipe.
Approve the sample in your own sauce, bakery filling or snack seasoning at the intended application rate. Record the heating process, flavour balance, solubility and storage conditions in the purchase specification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of dairy-free liquid cheese flavour concentrate in 25 kg drums, subject to ingredient and import checks under 3302 10 90 00, invoiced at £28,000 free on board, with £1,600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £29,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £29,600, so it is £5,920. 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: match the delivered formula revision, carrier ingredients and batch certificate to the approved sample.
Flavour: compare aroma and taste in the finished food after its normal heating process; check for bitterness, excessive acidity and loss of cheese character.
Condition: check powder for caking and moisture damage, and liquids for separation, sediment or leaking seals.
Documentation: match batch markings, declared allergens, ingredient origins and storage instructions to the specification; resolve any dairy ingredient before arranging import.
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What goes wrong
The sample tastes suitable on its own but becomes weak or bitter in the buyer's food. A different carrier changes dispersion, or damp powder forms lumps during blending. Compare batches in the intended application and keep a retained approved sample.
The supplier describes the concentrate as cheese flavour but omits whey or cheese powder from the quotation. That omission can turn a sourcing exercise into a prohibited dairy import. Check the complete recipe before placing an order, and hold any shipment whose ingredient declaration differs from the approved specification.
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 cheese flavour concentrates from China?
The food-industry flavour mixture line 3302 10 90 00 carries 0% duty in the supplied tariff snapshot, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm classification against the complete recipe.
Can I import cheese flavour concentrate containing milk from China?
Dairy products from China are prohibited regardless of the dairy's original country. The safeguard also applies to dairy ingredients in composite products. Check the full formula before ordering.
Does cheese flavour concentrate always contain cheese?
The product name does not establish the recipe. Request every flavouring, carrier and supporting ingredient, together with allergen information, and check specifically for cheese powder, whey and milk powder.
How should I check a cheese flavour sample?
Test it in your intended food at the agreed application rate and after normal heating. Compare cheese character, bitterness, dispersion and stability with a retained approved sample.