Sourcing chloral hydrate from China
Chloral hydrate provisionally falls under the Other line, carrying 0% UK duty from China; all supplied heading lines carry 0%. Chemical supply needs correct labelling and packaging, while UK importers of medicinal active substances must register with MHRA. Cambridge China Bridge sources chloral hydrate.
Duty and the chloral hydrate tariff line
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2913 covers halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives of products of heading 2912. The supplied facts do not name chloral hydrate separately. The relevant candidate is 2913 00 00 90, Other, with 0% duty from China. Only this supplied line is relevant to the focused table.
The supplied line records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches an Export control - Waste measure. Waste shipments into or out of England must follow waste shipment controls. If the material is waste, ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for the China shipment; the listed export measure does not establish its import requirements.
Confirm the commodity code using the substance identity, composition and intended presentation before shipping. For the wider product family, see pharmaceutical intermediates and chemicals.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloral hydrate, subject to confirmation under Other | 2913 00 00 90 | 0% | None |
Specify chloral hydrate grade and intended use
State whether the order is for laboratory work or medicinal active-substance supply. Specify chloral hydrate explicitly, with an agreed identity test, assay method, impurity limits, acidity, appearance and packaging. Ask the factory to explain the assay basis and any water determination so that results can be compared consistently.
Before a new substance import, consider whether UK REACH registration is required. Chemicals supplied on the GB market must be labelled and packaged correctly. If your UK business imports chloral hydrate as a medicinal active substance, it must register with MHRA. Confirm the intended supply route before accepting a supplier's pharmaceutical-grade description.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 kg of laboratory-grade chloral hydrate, illustrative only under 2913 00 00 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £860 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,360. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,360, so it is £672. 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 incoming sample with the agreed chloral hydrate identity test and specification; do not accept a trade name alone.
Batch results: match the certificate of analysis to the package batch identifiers; check assay, impurities and acidity against the purchase specification.
Packaging: inspect closures, liners, seals and signs of moisture ingress or contamination; compare the chemical labels with the supplied safety data sheet.
Arrival sample: arrange independent testing before releasing the batch for its intended use, and retain a traceable sample. Agree the scope through testing and certification.
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What goes wrong
A chloral hydrate order can fail when the supplier quotes a different grade, reports assay on a different basis, or supplies a certificate that cannot be traced to the delivered batch. Damaged closures, wet packaging and unexplained discolouration are reasons to hold the material while the supplier and laboratory investigate.
A pharmaceutical-grade claim can also distract from the buyer's intended supply route. Settle that route before ordering, and compare batch results with the agreed specification rather than relying on the grade name.
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 chloral hydrate from China?
The supplied Other line, 2913 00 00 90, carries 0% duty from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm that this code fits the actual product.
Do I need UK REACH registration for chloral hydrate?
For a substance you have not previously manufactured or imported, HSE says to consider whether UK REACH registration is required. Check your intended use and import arrangements before ordering.
Can I import chloral hydrate as a medicinal active substance?
A UK-based business importing medicinal active substances must register with MHRA. Confirm the medicinal supply route before ordering; a supplier's pharmaceutical-grade description is insufficient.
What should I test when chloral hydrate arrives?
Check identity, assay, impurities and acidity against the agreed specification. Match the certificate to the delivered batch and inspect seals, closures and packaging before release.