Sourcing clove essential oil from China

Clove oil duty and tariff controls

Heading 3301 covers essential oils, including clove oil whether deterpenated or not. Clove oil shares its tariff descriptions with niaouli and ylang-ylang. The table separates purchasing specifications that share a code; bud, leaf and stem descriptions are not separate tariff lines. See the essential oils guide for the wider heading.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 19 October 2026, both clove oil lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. The tariff attaches an organic import control and also lists a mercury export control. Ask your customs broker to confirm how these entries apply to the shipment, particularly before making an organic claim.

Confirm whether the oil is deterpenated and whether the shipment is pure essential oil or a formulated product before choosing the commodity code. An oil supplied as a finished cosmetic needs the cosmetics assessment described in the published background guide; the raw ingredient and the finished product should not be treated as interchangeable.

Specify the plant part and composition

Specify clove bud, leaf or stem oil, botanical identity, extraction method and whether it is deterpenated. Agree a batch composition profile, including eugenol and related constituents, rather than accepting a description such as clove fragrance. State whether added eugenol, carrier oil or other diluents are acceptable.

Agree colour, odour, relative density and refractive index against an approved sample and written acceptance ranges. Request batch chromatograms and a certificate of analysis. Identify the intended use before approving labels: cosmetic ingredient, fragrance ingredient and finished skin product are different purchasing briefs.

For sale as a chemical in Great Britain, check classification, labels and packaging before placing the oil on the market. The published essential oils guide explains hazard labels and safety data sheets; use the actual composition and supply format rather than copying another oil's paperwork.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 kg of clove leaf essential oil, not deterpenated; illustrative order under 3301 29 11 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,600, so it is £1,320. 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: match the stated plant part, extraction method and deterpenation status to the purchase specification and batch documents.

Composition: compare the batch chromatogram and eugenol result with the agreed profile; retain a sealed sample for independent testing.

Condition: check colour and odour against the approved sample, and inspect containers for leakage, damaged seals or contamination.

Documents: match container batch codes to the analysis report, English safety data sheet and agreed hazard labels; refer organic paperwork to the broker before shipment.

What goes wrong

A quotation for clove oil can conceal a change of plant part, dilution or added eugenol. A similar smell does not establish the agreed composition. Require approval before substitutions and investigate a changed chromatogram before accepting the batch.

Leaking closures and mismatched batch paperwork make receiving checks harder. Agree compatible containers and seals with the actual oil, photograph packing before dispatch and keep arrival samples. An organic description on an invoice is a reason to check the tariff control, rather than assume the shipment is ready for clearance.

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.