Sourcing cinnamaldehyde from China

Cinnamaldehyde duty and suspension

Heading 2912 covers aldehydes and related products. Cinnamaldehyde has the specific line 2912 29 00 35, identified as CAS 104-55-2. The supplied tariff data contains only this dedicated cinnamaldehyde line, so the table does not add unrelated aldehydes.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, cinnamaldehyde from China carries 4% standard duty and an autonomous suspension to 0%. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing cinnamaldehyde. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. The tariff also attaches an export waste control; ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to your transaction.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition and intended product form, and ask your broker to check suspension eligibility before declaring a shipment. The wider aldehydes guide covers neighbouring products. See import duty and VAT for the calculation method.

Specify cinnamaldehyde by composition and use

Specify cinnamaldehyde identity, assay, isomer profile, water content, impurities and any added solvent or stabiliser. Agree the analytical method and acceptance criteria before ordering. Request a batch certificate of analysis and a retained sample. Describe the intended food, fragrance or industrial use rather than accepting a supplier's grade name alone.

Substances and mixtures placed on the Great Britain market must be classified and labelled under its chemical classification rules. Confirm your UK REACH registration responsibilities with HSE based on annual imports of each substance. For cosmetic use, confirm with the relevant authority whether cinnamal needs to be named on finished-product labels at the intended concentrations.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of cinnamaldehyde under 2912 29 00 35, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,200. Duty at 4% is £1,008. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,208, so it is £5,241.60. Import taxes total £6,249.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,008 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the purchase specification, batch certificate and container labels to cinnamaldehyde rather than cinnamon oil or a fragrance blend.

Composition: check the batch assay, isomer profile, water and agreed impurity results; investigate undeclared solvents or other ingredients.

Condition: inspect for leaks, damaged closures and colour changes, then compare an appropriately handled sample with the retained reference.

Documents: match batch references across the certificate, safety data sheet and packing list, and check that the declared grade matches the customer's intended use.

What goes wrong

A batch can meet its assay specification yet have an unwanted odour from impurities. Colour differences, damaged closures and inconsistent batch paperwork also warrant investigation. Agree how samples will be tested and how disputed lots will be held before the order is placed.

A blend sold under a cinnamaldehyde trade name can cause both specification and tariff errors. Do not assume that a suspension for the named substance covers a preparation. If the consignment is waste, waste shipment controls apply to movements into or out of England; confirm the applicable requirements with your broker and the relevant authority before shipping.

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.