Sourcing fish gelatin from China

Zero duty, with animal-product controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 3503 covers gelatin and its derivatives, isinglass and other animal glues. Fish gelatin falls within 3503 00 10 00, carrying 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table shows different fish gelatin forms sharing this tariff line. See the wider gelatin guide.

The tariff attaches veterinary control. For food gelatin entering Great Britain, confirm country eligibility and establishment approval before ordering. Fish-derived gelatin follows the approved-country list for other fishery products. Non-bovine food gelatin from permitted countries is low risk: a supplier commercial document is required, but a health certificate is not. Confirm advance-notification requirements with APHA before arrival and use a border control post. Ask your broker to confirm the consignment's risk category and animal-product entry documentation.

The tariff also attaches import and export waste controls. Ask your customs broker to confirm their applicability and requirements if the shipment involves waste. Confirm the intended use and composition through finding your commodity code. For non-food gelatin, confirm the separate animal by-product documentation before shipment.

Specify species and gel performance

Specify the fish species, raw material, intended use and whether the gelatin must form a gel. Agree gel strength, viscosity, particle size, colour, odour and moisture limits, with test conditions written into the purchase specification. Test a sample in the actual recipe or manufacturing process before approving production.

For food grade, agree microbiological and heavy-metal limits and request a batch certificate of analysis. Ask the factory to explain how it separates fish material from other animal sources. All allergen information provided must be accurate; agree the fish-source declaration supplied to your customers. Use factory verification to check the production process.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 10 tonnes of fish gelatin powder; values are hypothetical. under 3503 00 10 00, invoiced at £48,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £50,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £50,400, so it is £10,080. 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: check the fish-source declaration, factory details and batch references against the order and analysis certificate.

Performance: test gel strength and viscosity under the agreed conditions, then compare colour and odour with the approved sample.

Food quality: check batch results for microbiology, heavy metals and moisture against the purchase specification; retain a sealed sample.

Packing: check liners, seals and lot markings on arrival, and record torn bags, moisture damage or caking. Plan sampling through the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A lot can match the supplier's grade name yet fail in the buyer's recipe because the gel strength, viscosity or test conditions differ. Mixed animal sources undermine the agreed fish-source declaration, while moisture damage and poor drying can cause caking or unacceptable microbial results.

Documents can describe a different batch or factory from the goods shipped. Check establishment approval and the applicable import documents before loading. On arrival, hold any disputed lot apart from accepted stock while the supplier and laboratory investigate.

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.