Sourcing eucalyptol from China

Eucalyptol duty: 4%

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2909 covers ethers and related compounds. Isolated eucalyptol falls within the cyclanic, cyclenic or cycloterpenic ether family. The table repeats the relevant line for different purchasing descriptions of the separate substance, rather than separate tariff categories.

The supplied tariff record gives 2909 20 00 90 a 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Its suspension applies only to qualifying methoxycyclopentane, not eucalyptol. The record attaches a waste export control; ask your customs broker to confirm its applicability if the consignment involves waste.

Confirm the commodity code using the substance identity, composition and batch documents. Describe whether you are buying isolated eucalyptol, essential oil or a preparation. See the wider ethers guide for other products within the heading.

Specify eucalyptol identity and batch composition

Specify isolated eucalyptol, its intended use and whether natural origin is part of the purchasing specification. Agree assay, the gas chromatography method, related-component reporting, water, colour and odour acceptance criteria. Request a batch certificate of analysis and chromatogram, and agree sampling and retained samples before shipment.

Great Britain chemical suppliers are responsible for classification and correct labelling and packaging before placing goods on the market. A safety data sheet is required for hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use. Confirm the applicable UK REACH registration requirements with HSE. Registration is per substance and legal entity.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one tonne of isolated eucalyptol in sealed drums under 2909 20 00 90, invoiced at £6,864 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,844. Duty at 4% is £313.76. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,157.76, so it is £1,631.55. Import taxes total £1,945.31; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £313.76 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the substance name and batch identifier across drum labels, invoice, certificate of analysis and safety data sheet.

Assay: test a representative arrival sample against the agreed chromatographic method and impurity profile; do not accept odour alone as proof of identity.

Appearance: compare colour, clarity and odour with the approved sample under agreed conditions; investigate sediment or unexpected differences.

Packing: check seals, closures, leakage and batch labels, then reconcile the received material with the laboratory sample. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A quotation can use eucalyptol and eucalyptus oil interchangeably, leaving the buyer with a different composition from the approved sample. An assay figure without the method or chromatogram can also hide differences between batches. Make the substance identity and acceptance method part of the order.

Natural-origin claims need supporting production records, while arrival discrepancies need batch-specific investigation. Keep affected drums separate until the sample and documents have been checked. A supplier's certificate of analysis does not replace the importer's classification responsibilities.

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.