Sourcing electrolyte drink powders from China
Electrolyte drink powders classified in the relevant heading 2106 lines carry 8% to 12% UK duty from China. Classification depends on the full recipe, while food labels and authorised health claims need checking before sale in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources electrolyte drink powders.
Recipe determines the duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 2106 covers food preparations not elsewhere specified or included. For electrolyte drink powders, the relevant lines carry 12% within the low milkfat, sugar, glucose and starch branch, or 8% in the other preparation branches. The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Their suspensions cover named coconut, cheese or fruit preparations, rather than electrolyte powders generally.
The selected lines attach veterinary and organic import controls; the low-content line also attaches a seal-product control. For animal ingredients and any seal-derived material, confirm the applicable requirement with the customs broker before ordering. For organic imports from China, confirm the Great Britain certificate of inspection requirement with your customs broker; the exporter's control body issues the certificate.
These are candidate lines, not classifications based on the product name. Give the broker the complete recipe, ingredient percentages and intended use to confirm the commodity code. See the wider food preparations guide for other products within this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrolyte blends within the low milkfat, sugar, glucose and starch thresholds | 2106 90 92 85 | 12% | None |
| Other electrolyte blends below the higher sucrose or isoglucose band | 2106 90 98 49 | 8% | None |
| Electrolyte blends in the higher sucrose or isoglucose band, other | 2106 90 98 43 | 8% | None |
| High-sugar electrolyte preparations of a kind used in drink industries | 2106 90 98 53 | 8% | None |
Specify the mineral blend and prepared drink
Specify the sodium, potassium and magnesium salts, their quantities per serving, the serving mass and the water volume for mixing. Record sugars, maltodextrin, acids, sweeteners, flavours and any animal-derived ingredients. Agree taste, dissolution, sediment, moisture, pack barrier and shelf life against retained samples.
Confirm food-business registration requirements with the UK importer's local authority. Review the English label requirements with the relevant food authority, including ingredients, emphasised allergens, net quantity, dates, storage information and the UK business name and address. For a powder sold as a food supplement, confirm permitted vitamin and mineral forms and any supplement statements. Only authorised health claims may be used in Great Britain.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative pilot order of retail electrolyte powder sachets; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 2106 90 92 85, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,500. Duty at 12% is £420. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,920, so it is £784. Import taxes total £1,204; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £420 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step. This assumes the goods are standard-rated for VAT. Most food for human consumption is zero-rated, and animal feed can be too, in which case no import VAT is due, so check the rate for your product in HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14.
Inspection checklist
Minerals: compare batch assays for sodium, potassium and magnesium with the approved recipe and serving declaration; distinguish mineral content from the weight of the salt.
Mixing: prepare samples using the labelled water volume and compare dissolution, sediment, colour, sweetness and saltiness with the approved sample.
Safety: obtain batch results for microbiology and heavy metals, and assess allergen cross-contact where the factory shares blending or filling equipment.
Packs and labels: check sachet seals, moisture damage, fill consistency and batch identification; ingredients must appear in order of weight, with the main ingredient first.
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What goes wrong
Mineral salts segregate during blending or filling, so sachets can differ despite a satisfactory bulk sample. Moisture causes caking, flavours drift, and an inaccurate scoop or serving mass changes the prepared drink. Sample across the filling run and check sealed packs after transport.
A changed sugar carrier can change classification, while a mineral declaration can confuse salt mass with mineral mass. Claims copied from a supplier's label also need checking against the Great Britain authorised register. Keep the recipe, assay results, label approval and classification decision together.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on electrolyte drink powders from China?
The relevant heading 2106 powder lines carry 8% or 12%, depending on composition. The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
What should I specify in an electrolyte powder recipe?
Specify each mineral salt, mineral content per serving, serving mass, mixing water volume, sugars, sweeteners, acids and flavours. Agree dissolution and taste against a retained sample.
Can I use the Chinese factory's health claims?
Check them before approving artwork. Only authorised health claims may be used in Great Britain; the supplier's existing label does not establish authorisation.
Do electrolyte powders containing milk need import checks?
They may be composite products with animal-product import checks. The tariff attaches veterinary control; give the broker the complete recipe and ingredient origins to confirm the requirement.