Sourcing glycyrrhizin from China

Glycyrrhizin duty and the ammonium suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 November 2026, heading 2938 covers glycosides and their salts and derivatives. This guide focuses on glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhizates. Ammonium glycyrrhizate, chemical identity number 53956-04-0, has code 2938 90 30 10; other glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhizates use 2938 90 30 90. The table separates products sharing that latter code. See the wider glycosides guide.

Both relevant lines have a standard Chinese-origin duty of 4%. Ammonium glycyrrhizate has an autonomous suspension to 0.00 %, excluding mixtures, preparations and products containing different components. Other glycyrrhizic acid and salts remain at 4%. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded for these lines in the supplied tariff data.

The tariff also attaches an export-labelled waste control. Confirm its relevance to your China import with your customs broker, particularly if the material is supplied as waste. Waste importers are responsible for correct classification and shipment controls. Before ordering, confirm the commodity code using the chemical identity, salt form, composition and purity.

Specify the acid or salt, assay and intended use

State whether you need glycyrrhizic acid, ammonium glycyrrhizate or another named salt. Ask the supplier to disclose carriers and other added ingredients. Specify assay, whether the result is reported on a dry basis, moisture, solution acidity, colour and the analytical method. Compare samples using the same method and trial the material in your formulation.

For food use, check the finished product's liquorice disclosure requirements: official guidance specifically names glycyrrhizinic acid and its ammonium salt. For cosmetic use, confirm the applicable cosmetics requirements with the relevant authority. Confirm your UK REACH position for chemical uses before importing. Agree suitable contaminant and residual-solvent testing for the intended application with a laboratory.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3 tonnes of glycyrrhizic acid; illustrative FOB and freight values under 2938 90 30 90, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £61,500. Duty at 4% is £2,460. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £63,960, so it is £12,792. Import taxes total £15,252; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,460 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the named acid or salt on the order, drum label and batch certificate; check that added ingredients match the agreed composition.

Assay: test a representative batch sample using the agreed method and reporting basis; compare the result with the supplier's certificate.

Application: check solution acidity, colour and performance in your formulation against the approved sample.

Packing and records: check sealed liners, dry powder, batch numbers and matching analysis reports. Arrange independent checks through the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

An offer described simply as glycyrrhizin leaves the acid or salt unspecified. Assay results can also be difficult to compare when moisture corrections or methods differ. Added carriers can change the composition and put a product outside the ammonium suspension. Fix identity, composition and test method in the purchase specification.

Check for damp powder, caking, colour variation and certificates belonging to a different batch. Hold material that differs from the agreed specification until laboratory checks resolve the discrepancy. For food applications, review the finished formulation and its liquorice labelling before sale.

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.