Sourcing Lanolin Alcohols from China

Zero duty, with animal by-product controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 November 2026, heading 1505 covers wool grease and fatty substances derived from it. Lanolin alcohols fall within the other derivatives line, 1505 00 90 00, subject to confirmation of the actual material. The supplied facts list 0% duty for China, no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. See the wider lanolin and wool grease guide.

The tariff attaches veterinary, waste import and waste export controls. The animal by-product guidance permits technical-use lanolin alcohols from any country, with a signed commercial document. Imports require advance notification through the official animal-product import system and an approved border control post. Processed cosmetic ingredients can instead follow intermediate-product requirements. Ask your broker to confirm the applicable documents, destination and tariff-control clearance before dispatch.

For material shipped as waste under notification controls into England, the exporter applies through the dispatch country's competent authority; shipment needs the relevant authorities' consent. Confirm waste status and any export-control implications with your broker. Supply composition, processing and intended use when confirming the commodity code. Only the other derivatives line is relevant to this guide.

Specify the alcohol fraction and intended use

Order lanolin alcohols explicitly, rather than accepting a specification for whole lanolin. Agree the alcohol and sterol profile, residual grease, hydroxyl value, melting behaviour, colour, odour, moisture and pesticide-residue testing. Set acceptance criteria with your formulation team and require a batch certificate of analysis. Test the proposed grade in your actual cream or emulsion before approving production.

For processed material intended for cosmetic manufacture that needs only mixing or similar finishing, intermediate-product requirements apply. These include an approved exporting establishment and a model declaration signed by the importer. Confirm the applicable packaging wording with your broker. Check UK REACH obligations separately; buying an ingredient does not complete the finished cosmetic's safety assessment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 4 tonnes of lanolin alcohols in drums under 1505 00 90 00, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £1,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £37,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £37,400, so it is £7,480. 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. This assumes the goods are standard-rated for VAT. Most food for human consumption is zero-rated, and animal feed can be too, in which case no import VAT is due, so check the rate for your product in HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14.

Inspection checklist

Identity: check the batch certificate describes lanolin alcohols and matches the agreed alcohol fraction, sterol profile and residual grease.

Performance: compare melting behaviour, colour and odour with the approved sample, then check emulsion stability in your formulation.

Contamination: review moisture and pesticide-residue results against the purchase specification; retain a sealed sample from the delivered batch.

Packaging and documents: inspect drum seals, leakage and batch markings; match the import documents to the manufacturing site, intended use and receiving premises.

What goes wrong

A supplier sends whole lanolin or a different alcohol fraction under a similar trade name. The sample works, but the delivered batch changes the cream's texture or emulsion stability. Darkening, unwanted odour, moisture or residual grease can also make the material unsuitable. Tie acceptance to the agreed analytical profile and formulation trial.

A cosmetic ingredient is booked under the technical-use route without checking its processing stage, establishment approval or importer declaration. Resolve the route before loading. Use testing and certification support to agree the batch tests and review the evidence supplied.

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.