Lanolin and wool grease from China

Zero duty with a veterinary control

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, crude wool grease (1505 00 10 00) and other wool grease and fatty substances derived from it, including lanolin (1505 00 90 00), carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. Both lines carry a veterinary control, because wool grease comes from sheep.

Animal by-products not for human consumption fall under [retained Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2009/1069/contents), so ask your broker whether the consignment needs pre-notification and health documents under the [GOV.UK guidance for importing animal products](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/import-of-products-animals-food-and-feed-system) before it ships. Raw wool itself is covered in our cashmere and animal hair guide.

Pharmaceutical and cosmetic grades

Lanolin for medicines, nipple balms and medical devices is bought to the wool fat monograph of the European Pharmacopoeia or the lanolin monograph of the USP, which limit pesticide residues from sheep dips, free lanolin alcohols and other impurities. Grades for these uses are usually specified as low in pesticides and free alcohols, which reduces the risk of skin reactions.

In cosmetics lanolin is listed on the ingredient label and the product needs a safety assessment under retained Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009; see our beauty and personal care guide. An importer of more than one tonne a year of a lanolin derivative should check UK REACH.

Worked duty example

Take a hypothetical order of 4 tonnes of refined anhydrous lanolin in drums, entered under 1505 00 90 00: £36,000 free on board plus £1,400 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £37,400. Lanolin carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £37,400, £7,480, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.

What goes wrong

Lanolin lots fail on purity, oxidation and documents. Pesticide residues exceed the pharmacopoeia limit because the wool came from dipped sheep; free fatty acids and peroxides rise in old or overheated stock, darkening the colour and giving a rancid smell; moisture and ash are high in poorly refined grades; and the veterinary paperwork is missing, which holds the drums at the port.

Test acid value by ISO 660, peroxide value by ISO 3960, saponification value by ISO 3657 and iodine value by ISO 3961, plus pesticide residues, free lanolin alcohols, moisture and colour against the grade; confirm the pharmacopoeia or cosmetic specification on the certificate of analysis; and have the animal by-product documents agreed before the drums are filled.

Cambridge China Bridge sources lanolin and wool grease derivatives for skincare, pharmaceutical and industrial users, starting with smaller first orders where needed. See how we handle smaller orders.