Sourcing chlorophyll colourants from China
Chlorophyll colourants from China under the vegetable-origin line of heading 3203 carry 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. Confirm with the Food Standards Agency the authorisation and purity requirements for the intended food use. Cambridge China Bridge sources chlorophyll colourants.
Chlorophyll colourants: 0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 November 2026, vegetable-origin colouring matter and preparations based on it, code 3203 00 10 00, carried 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension was listed. Heading 3203 covers vegetable- or animal-origin colouring matter, including dyeing extracts but excluding animal black. The table shows product forms under the same vegetable-origin commodity line.
The tariff attaches veterinary, CITES and waste import controls to this line, alongside CITES and waste export controls. Confirm the veterinary requirement for the complete formulation with your customs broker before shipping. For a potentially CITES-listed plant source, confirm the applicable permit or exemption with the Animal and Plant Health Agency. If material from China is waste subject to notification controls, shipment requires consent from the dispatch, transit and destination authorities.
Give your broker the plant source, exact colourant identity, manufacturing process, carriers and intended use to confirm the commodity code. The wider natural colours and dyes guide covers other colourants in this heading. See import duty and VAT for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetable-origin chlorophyll colouring extracts | 3203 00 10 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the chlorophyll identity and application
Do not order simply as green colour. State whether you want chlorophyll, chlorophyllin or a copper complex, and ask the supplier to identify the plant source, extraction solvents and any carriers. Agree the powder or liquid form, oil or water dispersibility, colour strength and measurement method. Check the classification of the exact preparation rather than relying on its trade name.
For food use, check the Food Standards Agency register for the exact additive and its conditions of use. Confirm with the agency the authorisation and purity requirements for the intended food. For cosmetic use, confirm with the relevant authority whether the colour is permitted for the intended application. Ask for supporting specifications before approving a sample; a supplier's food-grade description does not establish suitability for your application.
Approve the shade in your actual recipe or formulation after processing and storage. Agree checks for heat, light and acidity, together with packaging that protects the colour. Use factory verification to check the extraction plant and its laboratory.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2 tonnes of chlorophyll colourant powder, illustrative only under 3203 00 10 00, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,500, so it is £5,100. 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 and formulation: match the supplied colourant, plant source, carriers and solvent information to the approved specification and batch certificate.
Strength and shade: measure colour strength using the agreed method and compare the batch with the retained sample in the intended product.
Purity: for food use, check batch results for relevant metals and residual extraction solvents against the applicable additive specification. Arrange testing and certification around the exact grade.
Arrival condition: check seals, light-protective packaging, leaks, powder caking and liquid separation. Match container batch numbers to the certificates and retain samples.
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What goes wrong
The sample gives the right green shade, but the delivered batch is weaker or changes colour during processing or storage. A different colourant identity, an undeclared carrier or unsuitable dispersion can also make a previously approved formulation behave differently.
Compare each batch with the approved reference, repeat the application trial and investigate unexpected colour changes before using the material. Packaging damage, caking or separation should trigger a documented assessment. Agree these checks through your quality inspection plan.
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 chlorophyll colourants from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% under 3203 00 10 00 for vegetable-origin colourants and preparations, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed.
Can I use any chlorophyll colourant in food?
No. Check the exact additive's authorisation for the intended food and its purity specification. Ask for the complete formulation and supporting batch results.
Are chlorophyll and copper chlorophyllin interchangeable?
Do not treat them as interchangeable in a purchase specification. Identify the exact substance, confirm suitability for the intended use and test it in your formulation.
How do I check whether a chlorophyll batch will fade?
Compare it with your retained sample after processing and storage in the actual product. Include the expected heat, light and acidity conditions in the trial.