Sourcing Gum Karaya from China

Gum karaya duty and shared tariff controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 1301 covers lac, natural gums, resins, gum-resins and oleoresins. Gum karaya falls within the other line, 1301 90 00 00, carrying 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. The table shows forms sharing this code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The line attaches organic import controls and CITES and Home Office controlled drug controls for imports and exports. For organic food from China entering Great Britain, obtain a certificate of inspection for each consignment. Controlled drugs or precursor chemicals need an import or export licence; confirm any permit requirements for CITES-listed species with the relevant authority. Confirm the application of these shared-line controls to the actual gum with your customs broker.

Confirm the botanical source, processing and any added ingredients before selecting the commodity code. For neighbouring materials, see the natural gums and resins guide. A supplier's description of karaya as a natural gum does not replace identification of the material.

Specify karaya identity and hydration performance

Agree the botanical identity, source country, food or technical grade, powder or granule form, particle size, colour and acceptable foreign matter. Ask the Chinese supplier where the gum was collected and which processing it performs. Separate the raw material's origin from the supplier's location.

For food use, karaya is food additive E 416; confirm the applicable purity criteria and their official source with the Food Standards Agency. Request a batch certificate of analysis covering the applicable purity tests, including heavy metals and microbiology. Agree a hydration and viscosity test with fixed water quality, temperature, mixing and standing conditions, then test the sample in your intended formulation.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of technical-grade gum karaya powder under 1301 90 00 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,900, so it is £3,380. 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: compare the batch documents and botanical description with the approved sample; investigate undeclared gums or fillers.

Condition: check sealed liners, dry packaging, caking, unusual odour and visible bark, sand or other foreign matter.

Performance: compare particle size, hydration, swelling and viscosity using the agreed method and your production formulation.

Batch evidence: match the certificate of analysis to the delivered lot, arrange independent purity testing for food grades and retain a labelled sample.

What goes wrong

A powder can resemble the approved sample but hydrate differently because its particle size, moisture or composition has changed. Comparing viscosity results obtained by different methods can hide that difference. Put the test method alongside the acceptance criteria and investigate a changed result before using the batch.

Other problems include foreign matter, damp or caked bags and food-grade claims supported by a certificate for a different lot. Agree sampling and release checks before shipment. Use testing and certification support to define the evidence needed for the intended grade.

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.