Sourcing dexamethasone active ingredient from China

Zero duty on unmixed dexamethasone

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 13 November 2026, heading 2937 covers hormones and their derivatives. Unmixed bulk dexamethasone falls within halogenated corticosteroid derivatives, code 2937 22 00 00. The table shows presentations of this same tariff line. For other substances, see hormones and steroids.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. It attaches an export control for waste. If rejected material is to be returned overseas as waste, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirement.

Confirm the exact substance, composition and presentation using finding your commodity code. This guide covers unmixed active ingredient. Bulk medicament mixtures and medicines in measured doses require a separate classification check.

Specify the dexamethasone form and batch file

For human-medicine manufacture, check that the UK importer is registered with the MHRA and obtain evidence of good manufacturing practice from the producer. Obtain the written confirmation from the issuing authority in China. Check the actual manufacturing site through factory verification.

Write the exact substance name rather than accepting a quote that only says dexamethasone. Distinguish the base from any salt or ester. Agree the pharmacopoeial monograph, assay, related substances, residual solvents, particle size or micronisation, relevant crystal form, packaging, storage conditions and retest date.

Ask for the batch certificate of analysis and supporting test methods before approving shipment. Match the proposed material to the medicine manufacturer's specification and regulatory file.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 kg of unmixed dexamethasone active ingredient, illustrative only under 2937 22 00 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,800, so it is £8,160. 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 substance name and batch number across the order, container labels and certificate of analysis.

Laboratory: independently test identity, assay, related substances and residual solvents against the agreed specification.

Particle size: check the agreed distribution for micronised material rather than accepting the word micronised alone.

Packaging: check seals, liner condition, labels, storage records and retest date. Agree sampling through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A quote can describe dexamethasone while the offered material is a different salt or ester. Other failure points include an impurity profile outside the agreed specification, unsuitable particle size, damaged liners and a certificate that cannot be matched to the delivered batch.

A supplier's manufacturing-practice evidence does not replace the written confirmation from the issuing authority. Resolve missing documents and specification differences before dispatch. Keep a questionable batch separate pending investigation and the buyer's acceptance decision.

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.