Sourcing Lanolin Oil from China
Lanolin oil from China carries 0% UK duty under the derived-fatty-substances line of heading 1505. The tariff attaches veterinary control, so confirm the animal by-product import route and documents before shipping. Specify composition, flow behaviour and oxidation checks for each batch. Cambridge China Bridge sources lanolin oil.
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Zero duty, with animal by-product checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 1505 covers wool grease and fatty substances derived from it, including lanolin. Lanolin oil derived from wool grease falls within the description of 1505 00 90 00, subject to confirmation of its composition. Chinese-origin goods on this line carry 0% duty, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
The tariff attaches veterinary control and waste import and export controls. Ask your customs broker to confirm the veterinary documents and border procedures for the particular oil from China. If the consignment is waste subject to notification controls, it cannot be shipped until the competent authorities of dispatch, destination and transit have consented. Confirm the applicable waste route before arranging shipment.
Give your broker the composition, manufacturing process and intended use to confirm the commodity code. The supplied tariff file has only one line relevant to lanolin oil. Crude wool grease and the wider product family are covered in our lanolin and wool grease guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lanolin oil derived from wool grease | 1505 00 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the oil, its processing and intended use
Define whether you want the separated liquid fraction of lanolin or a blend containing other oils. Ask for the full composition and processing description rather than accepting the name alone. Agree appearance, odour, flow behaviour at your handling temperature, moisture, acid value, peroxide value and pesticide-residue testing. Trial the sample in your formulation and keep an approved reference sample.
For the technical and manufacturing route covered by APHA's wool-grease guidance, consignments need a commercial document produced and signed by the manufacturer or consignor. For a processed cosmetic ingredient, ask APHA whether intermediate-product conditions apply. If they do, the producer must be approved to export to Great Britain. A finished cosmetic offered to consumers needs its safety checked by a qualified safety assessor before sale.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 4 tonnes of lanolin oil in sealed 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: compare the batch composition and processing description with the approved sample; check for added carrier oils.
Behaviour: compare colour, odour and flow at the agreed temperature; check for unexpected cloudiness or separation.
Analysis: match the batch certificate to the drums and compare moisture, acid value, peroxide value and pesticide residues with the agreed specification.
Arrival: inspect seals, leaks and contamination; reconcile drum labels, batch identifiers and shipping documents before releasing the oil for production.
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What goes wrong
A supplier uses the same product name for a liquid fraction and a diluted blend, so the delivered oil behaves differently in the buyer's formula. Storage or transport damage can also produce darkening, an unwanted smell or increased oxidation. Compare arrival samples with the retained reference and investigate analytical differences before using the batch.
Import arrangements can fail when the buyer has not explained the processing stage or intended use. Confirm the route with APHA and your broker before dispatch rather than relying on a cosmetic-grade description. Use testing and certification support to agree the laboratory work and documents for your intended application.
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 lanolin oil from China?
The supplied tariff reading shows 0% duty under 1505 00 90 00, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Veterinary and waste controls are attached; confirm which procedures apply to your consignment.
Is lanolin oil the same as ordinary lanolin?
Do not assume the names describe the same specification. Ask whether the oil is a separated liquid fraction or a blend, then compare composition and flow behaviour with your approved sample.
What paperwork does lanolin oil need?
APHA's technical and manufacturing route requires a signed commercial document. Ask APHA and your broker to confirm the route, veterinary procedures and documents for your processing stage and intended use.
Can I sell imported lanolin oil as a cosmetic?
If sold as a finished cosmetic to consumers, its safety must first be checked by a qualified safety assessor. A supplier's cosmetic-grade description does not replace that assessment.