Sourcing Chloroform from China
Chloroform from China carries 4% UK duty, with no suspension or trade remedy recorded for its tariff line. UK REACH prohibits supplying chloroform to the general public and using it for diffusive applications such as surface or fabric cleaning. Cambridge China Bridge sources chloroform.
Chloroform duty and attached controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, chloroform, also called trichloromethane, falls under 2903 13 00 00 within heading 2903, halogenated derivatives of hydrocarbons. Goods from China carry 4% duty. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table repeats this tariff line for different purchasing specifications; these are not separate commodity codes.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches export controls on dangerous chemicals and waste to this line. Confirm their relevance to your transaction with your customs broker, particularly for returns or waste shipments. HSE states that imports have no PIC notification obligation; annual reporting applies to PIC-listed chemicals, subject to the reporting exclusions.
Confirm the commodity code using the complete composition and stabiliser details before ordering. Do not assume a formulated blend uses the chloroform code. For related products within the wider heading, see perchloroethylene from China.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloroform for industrial use | 2903 13 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify purity, stabiliser and intended use
State whether you need industrial, laboratory or analytical material, and agree acceptance criteria for assay, water, acidity and residue. Specify the stabiliser identity and content, whether virgin material is required, and the container and closure materials. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and confirm that the proposed stabiliser suits your process.
UK REACH prohibits placing chloroform on the market or using it for supply to the general public or for diffusive applications such as surface and fabric cleaning. Packaging for ordinary industrial chloroform must carry the prescribed wording indicating use in industrial installations only. Confirm your intended use before purchase, and establish any UK REACH registration responsibilities for your legal entity.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business order: sealed containers of analytical chloroform under 2903 13 00 00, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,480. Duty at 4% is £179.20. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,659.20, so it is £931.84. Import taxes total £1,111.04; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £179.20 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity and batch: match the chemical name, batch identifiers and container labels to the purchase order and certificate of analysis.
Composition: compare assay, water, acidity, residue and stabiliser results with the agreed specification; arrange independent testing where the batch evidence is insufficient.
Containers: check closures, seals, damage, leakage and delivered quantity against the packing list without opening containers casually.
Documents: check that the safety data sheet, hazard labels and transport paperwork describe the actual supplied material, and verify the industrial-use packaging wording.
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What goes wrong
A purity result alone does not confirm suitability. The stabiliser can differ from the agreed specification, recovered solvent can be supplied against a virgin-material order, and inadequate stabilisation can allow chlorinated solvents to become acidic. Batch evidence should cover stabiliser and acidity as well as assay.
A supplier's suggestion to sell chloroform as a general-purpose cleaning solvent conflicts with the restrictions on public supply and diffusive cleaning uses. Stop that proposed use before ordering. Keep unsuitable or leaking material separate while agreeing the next action with your chemical adviser and carrier.
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 chloroform from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 4% under 2903 13 00 00, with no suspension, anti-dumping duty or countervailing duty recorded.
Can I sell imported chloroform to the general public?
UK REACH prohibits supplying chloroform to the general public. It also prohibits diffusive applications such as surface and fabric cleaning.
Does chloroform need a stabiliser specification?
Agree the stabiliser identity and content with your supplier and check compatibility with your process. Require batch analysis covering stabiliser and acidity.
Do PIC rules require an import notification?
HSE states that imports have no PIC notification obligation. Annual reporting applies to PIC-listed chemicals, subject to reporting exclusions; confirm the applicable position before shipment.