Sourcing industrial erucic acid from China

Duty and classification for industrial erucic acid

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3823 covers industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids, acid oils from refining and industrial fatty alcohols. For an industrial erucic acid order, ask the supplier to identify the composition and whether the material is a distilled acid, a fatty acid distillate or another industrial fatty acid.

The supplied snapshot lists 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. The table gives classification candidates rather than a confirmed code for every erucic acid product. Its feed-use row is included for classification comparison; the purchasing specification here concerns industrial use.

Confirm the commodity code using the full composition, manufacturing process and intended use. A trade name alone is insufficient for selecting the appropriate line. See the industrial oleic acid guide for wider heading coverage.

Specify erucic content and process performance

Specify erucic acid content and the complete fatty acid profile, including how the laboratory identifies and measures each component. Agree limits for moisture, acid value, iodine value, colour, unsaponifiable matter and residual impurities. Record the feedstock, processing route, supplied physical form and packaging. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and a retained sample.

Trial the material in your intended process before approving production supply. Agree sample preparation and test methods so the factory and your laboratory compare like with like. Check the factory's ability to separate grades and trace batches through factory verification.

Confirm your UK REACH responsibilities with HSE for the substance and annual import volume. Registration is per substance and legal entity. Before supply in Great Britain, ensure correct chemical labelling and packaging. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for workplace use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of distilled industrial erucic acid, subject to classification under 3823 19 10 80, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,200, so it is £5,240. 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 batch number and fatty acid profile against the agreed erucic acid specification and certificate of analysis.

Condition: check colour, moisture and foreign matter using the agreed sampling and test methods; compare physical form at the same temperature.

Packaging: check seals, leaks, container compatibility and net contents against the packing list.

Documents: check that the composition, certificate, safety information and labels describe the supplied grade. Arrange quality inspection around representative batch samples.

What goes wrong

An erucic-rich fatty acid blend can be offered under the same trade name as a more concentrated grade. Different fatty acid profiles can change your process result even when the acid value looks acceptable. Colour changes, moisture contamination and inconsistent sample preparation can also create disputes between the factory's certificate and the arrival test.

Agree acceptance methods and batch traceability before ordering. Investigate a failed arrival test using the retained sample and an independent laboratory before blending the material into production.

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.