Sourcing Chlorocresol from China

Chlorocresol duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 2908 covers halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives of phenols or phenol-alcohols. For chlorocresol supplied as a separate substance, check residual halogenated line 2908 19 00 90. The table shows purchasing forms sharing that line. Confirm the identity and composition through our commodity code guide.

The supplied tariff record gives 4% duty on Chinese goods, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. Its named-substance suspension does not name chlorocresol. Our published background explains that listed pharmaceutical substances can receive 0% relief on this residual line; a pharmaceutical-grade description alone does not establish eligibility. Ask the broker to verify the listing before claiming relief.

The tariff attaches export controls on dangerous chemicals and waste to this line. Ask your customs broker to confirm their relevance to the transaction and any requirements, particularly if material is returned or discarded. For related goods within the heading, see our chloroxylenol guide.

Specify chlorocresol identity and batch purity

Write the full chemical identity and chemical registry number into the purchase specification. Do not accept a quotation describing only a chlorinated phenol. Specify assay and its test method, water content, colour, melting range, related phenolic impurities, particle form and packaging. Require a certificate of analysis tied to the actual production batch.

For Great Britain, establish your UK REACH route before ordering. Confirm with HSE whether your annual imports require registration, whether an only representative can cover them and whether an exemption applies. Confirm any safety data sheet requirements and delivery timing with HSE. If the intended product is biocidal, confirm its active-substance status and the applicable market route with HSE.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of technical-grade chlorocresol under 2908 19 00 90, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,980. Duty at 4% is £159.20. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,139.20, so it is £827.84. Import taxes total £987.04; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £159.20 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the purchase specification, container label, safety data sheet and batch certificate.

Analysis: independently check assay, water, melting range and the agreed related-impurity profile. Include pentachlorophenol trace testing in the laboratory brief.

Packaging: check seals, liners, leakage, moisture damage and batch numbers. GB supply-chain businesses are responsible for correct chemical labelling and packaging before placing goods on the market.

Process trial: compare dissolution, colour and residue with the approved sample in your actual formulation. Arrange testing and certification support where needed.

What goes wrong

A chlorocresol order can fail when the supplier substitutes a different chlorinated phenol, reports assay without the agreed impurity profile, or sends a batch whose colour or dissolution differs from the approved sample. Treat these as separate acceptance checks rather than relying on a headline purity claim.

A raw-material certificate also leaves questions about the intended finished product unresolved. For biocidal products, active-substance status determines the market requirements. Confirm the intended use before purchasing, and keep incoming stock on hold while mismatched identity, damaged packaging or failed laboratory results are investigated.

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.