Sourcing Karl Fischer reagents from China
Karl Fischer reagents from China under 3822 90 00 00 carry 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Before sale in Great Britain, chemical mixtures must be correctly labelled and packaged. Specify the formulation and validate it in your instrument. Cambridge China Bridge sources Karl Fischer reagents.
Duty and formulation-dependent controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3822 covers prepared laboratory reagents and certified reference materials. For prepared Karl Fischer reagents, the relevant listed line is 3822 90 00 00, “Other”. The table shows different reagent functions sharing that code. Confirm each formulation rather than treating a pure solvent as a prepared reagent. See the wider reagent guide.
The recorded duty for goods from China is 0%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension listed. The tariff attaches veterinary control and a restriction concerning ozone-depleting substances. Obtain the ingredient declaration. For animal-derived ingredients, China eligibility and veterinary documents need product-specific confirmation with your customs broker. Official guidance assesses origin case by case where a specific import authorisation is needed. Regulated ozone-depleting substances require an import licence, including for permitted laboratory use.
Ask your broker to confirm the commodity code against the composition, preparation and intended use, and confirm how the attached controls apply before shipping. The illustrative order values are not a quotation. For the calculation method, see UK import duty and VAT.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepared Karl Fischer volumetric titrant | 3822 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the titration method and formulation
State whether the method is volumetric or coulometric, the instrument and cell configuration, and whether the sample is introduced directly or through an oven. Specify titrant strength, solvent composition, sample matrix, bottle size, closure and storage conditions. For coulometry, identify the required anolyte and catholyte. Ask for compatibility data and test a sample using your own method.
Request an English safety data sheet, a batch certificate of analysis and evidence supporting shelf life and stability after opening. Mixtures must be correctly labelled and packaged before sale in Great Britain. Confirm with HSE whether your annual substance imports trigger UK REACH registration; registration is assessed per substance and legal entity. Resolve these checks alongside the formulation before ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 bottles of prepared volumetric titrant, illustrative only under 3822 90 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,300. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,300, so it is £1,060. 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: match the reagent function, formulation and instrument compatibility to the approved sample and purchase specification.
Performance: check the batch certificate, verify volumetric titrant strength and assess blank drift and recovery using your agreed laboratory method.
Bottles: check seals, closures, leakage, fill quantity and contamination; keep a retained sample for comparison.
Documents: match batch numbers, expiry and storage instructions across bottles, cartons and certificates; compare hazard labels with the safety data sheet. Arrange quality inspection around these checks.
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What goes wrong
Moisture entering through a poor closure can change reagent performance and increase blank drift. A formulation that works with the supplier’s sample may give poor recovery with your matrix. The wrong cell reagent or an unapproved solvent substitution can make an otherwise intact delivery unusable.
Approve the formulation and bottle closure together, test the supplied batch before releasing it for routine use, and agree how failed recovery or titrant strength will be investigated. Keep bottle and batch records so a problem can be traced to the shipment.
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 Karl Fischer reagents from China?
Prepared Karl Fischer reagents under 3822 90 00 00 carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff record, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. Confirm the formulation and code before importing.
Can I use the same reagent for volumetric and coulometric titration?
Do not assume interchangeability. Specify the titration method, instrument, cell and sample matrix, then validate the proposed formulation with your own method.
What documents should I request from the factory?
Request the composition declaration, English safety data sheet, batch certificate, storage instructions and shelf-life evidence. Match these documents to the actual formulation and batch.
How do I check Karl Fischer reagents on arrival?
Check seals, leakage, batch identity and expiry. Verify titrant strength where applicable, then assess blank drift and recovery with your agreed method before routine use.