Sourcing hydrocortisone API from China
Hydrocortisone active ingredient from China carries 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. For human medicines, the UK importer must register with MHRA and the substance must meet GMP requirements. Check the written-confirmation route before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources hydrocortisone active ingredient.
Hydrocortisone duty and tariff scope
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 13 November 2026, heading 2937 covers hormones and their specified derivatives and structural analogues. Hydrocortisone is named under 2937 21 00 00 alongside cortisone, prednisone and prednisolone. The table entries share this tariff line and describe purchasing specifications.
The supplied tariff data records 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. It attaches an export control for waste to this line. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance if rejected material will be returned overseas.
Confirm the substance, composition and presentation through finding your commodity code. Finished medicines in measured doses and bulk medicament mixtures have different headings. For the wider product family, see hormones and steroids from China.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrocortisone active ingredient | 2937 21 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify hydrocortisone identity and particle size
Write hydrocortisone explicitly in the purchase specification and require matching identification results. Agree the pharmacopoeial monograph and edition, assay basis, related substances, residual solvents, moisture, particle-size distribution and whether micronisation is required. Set packaging, storage conditions and the retest date with the receiving manufacturer.
For human-medicine use, UK-based active-substance importers and distributors must register with MHRA. Confirm the applicable manufacturing GMP requirements with MHRA. For supply from China, plan for written confirmation from the exporting country's competent authority. The approved-country exemption should be checked with MHRA before shipment.
Ask for manufacturing-site details, GMP evidence and batch analysis before approving the supplier. Use factory verification to check that the quoted producer matches the site supplying the material.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 kg of hydrocortisone active ingredient; illustrative values only under 2937 21 00 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,800, so it is £8,160. 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 received batch's identification results with the agreed hydrocortisone specification.
Analysis: check assay, related substances, residual solvents and moisture against agreed limits using an independent sample.
Particles: check particle-size results and any micronisation requirement against the specification used by the receiving manufacturer.
Packing and records: check seals, batch labels, storage history, retest date and correspondence between the certificate of analysis and the containers. See quality inspection explained.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A quote describing only a corticosteroid leaves the identity unclear. A satisfactory assay can still accompany an unsuitable impurity profile or particle-size distribution. Specify hydrocortisone and review the complete batch results before accepting material for production.
Documents can name a different manufacturing site, or the certificate of analysis can cover a different batch from the shipment. Hold discrepancies for investigation and agree how damaged seals, missing storage records or failed laboratory results will be handled before ordering.
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 hydrocortisone from China?
The supplied tariff data records 0% duty under 2937 21 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension.
Do I need MHRA registration to import hydrocortisone active ingredient?
Yes, if you are a UK-based importer of active substances for human medicines. UK-based distributors must also register with MHRA.
Does hydrocortisone from China need written confirmation?
Plan for confirmation from the exporting country's competent authority. An approved-country exemption exists; confirm any applicable exception with MHRA before shipment.
What should a hydrocortisone certificate of analysis cover?
Agree identity, assay, related substances, residual solvents, moisture and particle size. Match the certificate's batch and manufacturing site to the delivered material.