Sourcing cyanides and ferrocyanides from China
Cyanides, cyanide oxides and complex cyanides from China pay 0% UK duty on all five lines of heading 2837. Metal cyanides such as sodium and copper cyanide are regulated poisons under the Poisons Act 1972, so a member of the public needs a licence, and they are acutely toxic under GB CLP. Ferrocyanides and ferricyanides are excluded from that poison listing.
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0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 2837 covers cyanides, cyanide oxides and complex cyanides, with separate lines for sodium cyanide, copper cyanide and sodium ferrocyanide. All five lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. The tariff also attaches a waste import control, answered by a not-waste declaration for new material.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium cyanide | 2837 11 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Copper cyanide | 2837 19 00 20 | 0% | None |
| Other cyanides and cyanide oxides | 2837 19 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Tetrasodium hexacyanoferrate (sodium ferrocyanide) | 2837 20 00 10 | 0% | None |
| Other complex cyanides | 2837 20 00 90 | 0% | None |
Poisons and hazard rules
Part 2 of Schedule 1A to the Poisons Act 1972 lists hydrogen cyanide and metal cyanides, other than ferrocyanides and ferricyanides, as regulated poisons. A member of the general public needs a licence to import, acquire, possess or use a regulated substance, so sellers must check that customers are acting for a business purpose and report suspicious transactions.
Metal cyanides are acutely toxic and release hydrogen cyanide with acids, so they need GB CLP labels, a GB-format safety data sheet, UN-approved packaging and dangerous goods transport, and buyers need proper storage and emergency arrangements. Ferrocyanides are much less hazardous but still need correct classification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 5 tonnes of sodium ferrocyanide anti-caking agent under 2837 20 00 10, invoiced at £11,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,200, so it is £2,440. 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.
Checks before shipping
Customer and use: confirm the business use and the buyer's handling arrangements before ordering metal cyanides.
Documents: check the safety data sheet, certificate of analysis and transport classification.
Packing: check sealed, UN-approved containers and hazard labels. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Cyanide orders fail on compliance and packing. Poisons rules are not checked for the end customer, packaging is not approved for toxic solids, and damaged drums are a serious hazard on arrival.
Cambridge China Bridge only sources regulated chemicals for UK businesses with the right handling arrangements and documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on sodium cyanide from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, sodium cyanide under 2837 11 00 00 carried 0% from China.
Is sodium cyanide a regulated poison?
Yes. Metal cyanides are regulated poisons under the Poisons Act 1972; a member of the public needs a licence.
Are ferrocyanides regulated poisons?
No. Ferrocyanides and ferricyanides are excluded from the metal cyanides entry.
How must cyanides be shipped?
As dangerous goods in UN-approved packaging, with GB CLP labels and a safety data sheet.