Sourcing colour lakes from China
Colour lakes from China, insoluble pigments made by fixing a dye onto a substrate such as aluminium hydroxide, and preparations based on them, pay 0% UK duty on all three lines of heading 3205, with no anti-dumping duty. They colour plastics, inks, cosmetics and foods, and the grade decides the rules: food and cosmetic use need a colour permitted for that use and matching purity documents.
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0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 3205 covers colour lakes and preparations based on colour lakes as described in the chapter notes, split into two described colourant preparations and other. All three lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. The lines carry a waste import control, answered by a not-waste declaration.
Organic pigments that are not lakes, and dyes, are other headings; see our pigments guide and confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colourant C.I. Solvent Red 48 preparation, as described | 3205 00 00 20 | 0% | None |
| Colourant C.I. Pigment Red 174 preparation, as described | 3205 00 00 30 | 0% | None |
| Other colour lakes and preparations | 3205 00 00 90 | 0% | None |
Grades and specification
A lake used in food must be of a colour permitted as a food additive and meet the purity specification for it, and a lake used in cosmetics must be of a colourant permitted for that use. Ask for the grade documents, heavy metal analysis and the colour index or additive number before ordering; industrial grades cannot be used in food or cosmetics.
Specify colour index, dye content, substrate, shade against a standard, particle size, heat and light fastness for plastics and inks, and packing.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2 tonnes of aluminium lake pigment under 3205 00 00 90, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,800, so it is £3,360. 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
Shade: compare against the approved standard.
Analysis: check dye content and heavy metals.
Documents: check grade and purity certificates. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Colour lake orders fail on grade and shade. Industrial grade is supplied for food or cosmetic use, shade drifts between batches, and heavy metal results are missing.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on colour lakes from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, all three lines of heading 3205 carried 0% from China.
What is a colour lake?
An insoluble pigment made by fixing a dye onto a substrate such as aluminium hydroxide.
Can I use industrial lakes in food or cosmetics?
No. Food and cosmetic uses need a colour permitted for that use with matching purity documents.
What should I check on a lake pigment?
Shade, dye content, heavy metals, fastness and grade documents.