Sourcing L-phenylalanine from China
L-phenylalanine from China has a recorded UK duty of 0% under the residual amino-acid line, subject to classification confirmation. Food-use material must meet food safety requirements; animal-derived supplies need origin and veterinary-control checks. Cambridge China Bridge sources L-phenylalanine.
L-phenylalanine duty and origin checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2922 covers oxygen-function amino-compounds. The relevant residual amino-acid line, 2922 49 85 90, records 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded. The table shows intended-use variants against this same line, rather than separate tariff classifications.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches veterinary control and a waste-export control to this line. For animal-derived material intended for human consumption, Chinese raw animal material must be listed in the annex to Decision (EC) 2002/994. Animal-origin consignments require advance notification through IPAFFS. Ask your customs broker to confirm admissibility, the risk category and the applicable documents. For the attached waste-export control, ask the broker to confirm the requirement before any proposed waste shipment.
Give the broker the substance identity, composition, production origin and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Do not assume a blend or finished supplement uses the same line. See the wider ethanolamines and amino acids guide for the rest of this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| L-phenylalanine for food ingredient use | 2922 49 85 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the left-handed form and intended use
Specify L-phenylalanine explicitly, rather than accepting a quotation for unspecified phenylalanine. Agree identity testing, optical rotation or a suitable chiral test, assay, related amino acids, moisture and particle size. Ask whether the assay is reported on the material as supplied or on a dried basis, and use the same basis for acceptance.
Record whether the material is fermentation-derived, chemically synthesised or animal-derived, together with its raw-material origin. For food use, the material must meet general food safety requirements. Agree batch testing for relevant contaminants and microbiology. For other uses, confirm with HSE whether UK REACH registration or an exemption applies to your planned imports and intended use before ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of bagged L-phenylalanine under 2922 49 85 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,480. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,480, so it is £696. 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 that labels, the purchase specification and the batch certificate identify L-phenylalanine consistently, and verify the agreed chiral test result.
Analysis: check shipped-batch results for assay, related substances and moisture against the agreed methods and reporting basis. Arrange independent testing through testing and certification.
Powder and packing: check colour, foreign matter, caking, liner integrity and sealed closures. Compare particle size and dispersibility with the approved sample in your actual process.
Batch records: match bag labels and batch identifiers to the certificate and packing list. Keep retained samples from the received batches and record damaged or damp packs before release.
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What goes wrong
A certificate headed only “phenylalanine” can leave the stereochemical form unresolved. A high assay result alone does not settle that question. Different reporting bases can also make apparently matching assay results misleading. Hold the material until identity, test methods and the acceptance basis are reconciled.
Food-grade wording without supporting batch results leaves contamination questions unanswered. Damp liners, compacted powder or a changed particle size can disrupt weighing and blending. Treat these as acceptance issues to investigate before using the batch, and resolve any uncertainty about animal origin with the broker before 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 L-phenylalanine from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% under 2922 49 85 90, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure or suspension recorded. Have your broker confirm classification.
Can I import animal-derived L-phenylalanine from China?
Do not assume it is admissible. For human-consumption material, the Chinese raw animal material must be listed in the relevant decision's annex. Ask the broker to confirm the origin and veterinary requirements.
Does L-phenylalanine need UK REACH registration?
Confirm with HSE whether UK REACH registration or an exemption applies to your planned imports into Great Britain. Confirm the position for the substance and intended use before ordering.
What should an L-phenylalanine certificate show?
Ask for shipped-batch identity, chiral identity or optical rotation, assay and its reporting basis, related substances and moisture. Add relevant contaminant and microbiological results for food use.