Sourcing lard oil from China
Lard oil from China carries 0% UK duty under 1503 00 90 00. Confirm with APHA and your customs broker whether ordinary food-grade lard oil can be imported into Great Britain from China; industrial material needs a separate eligibility check. Cambridge China Bridge checks whether a product can be imported before any order is placed.
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Lard oil duty and import eligibility
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 1503 covers lard stearin, lard oil, oleostearin, oleo-oil and tallow oil, not emulsified, mixed or otherwise prepared. Lard oil falls within 1503 00 90 00. This is the only supplied commodity line relevant to lard oil. For the wider heading, see lard stearin.
The China duty is 0%, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension recorded. The tariff attaches veterinary control, organic import control and waste import and export controls. Ask APHA and your customs broker to confirm whether ordinary food-grade lard oil from China is eligible for import into Great Britain under the applicable animal-origin food restrictions. A zero duty rate does not establish permission to import.
For industrial lard oil, ask APHA and your customs broker to confirm Chinese-origin eligibility and the veterinary documents for the exact material. For organic food imports from China, confirm any certificate of inspection requirements with your organic control body and customs broker; organic certification does not establish eligibility under food import restrictions. For waste controls, confirm applicability and shipment requirements with your broker and environmental authority. Confirm the commodity code using composition, processing and intended use.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lard oil, not emulsified, mixed or otherwise prepared | 1503 00 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the liquid fraction and intended process
Describe the product as the liquid fraction of pig fat, with its raw-material source, fractionation and refining steps, and intended industrial process. Record any blending, emulsification or other preparation. Do not accept a specification that says only ‘animal oil’, or substitute solid lard stearin without checking its suitability.
Agree melting behaviour, acid value, peroxide value, moisture, insoluble impurities, colour and odour against a retained sample. Specify sealed packing and storage conditions suited to the oil. For rendered fats outside the feed chain, production must take place in an establishment approved to export to Great Britain. Use factory verification to check the producer and its records.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative only: 20 tonnes of industrial lard oil, conditional on confirmed import eligibility under 1503 00 90 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £34,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £34,000, so it is £6,800. 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: match the pig origin, liquid fraction, processing description and intended use across the order, batch analysis and shipping documents.
Condition: sample for acid value, peroxide value, moisture and insoluble impurities. Compare odour, colour and melting behaviour with the retained sample.
Packing: inspect seals, leaks, sediment and container cleanliness on arrival. Check batch markings and the agreed storage records.
Documents: resolve import eligibility before loading, then match the delivered batch to the producer’s analysis and records. See quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A supplier’s food-grade claim is mistaken for permission to import. Ask APHA and your broker to confirm whether ordinary edible lard oil from China can enter Great Britain; changing the invoice description to industrial use does not establish eligibility. Keep the illustrative industrial order conditional on confirmation from APHA and your broker.
Commercial failures include rancid odour, excess moisture, sediment, contamination from reused containers and melting behaviour that disrupts the intended process. Agree acceptance criteria and inspect each batch before shipment rather than relying on a generic analysis sheet.
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 lard oil from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% duty under 1503 00 90 00, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension. Import eligibility is separate.
Can I import edible lard oil from China?
Ask APHA and your customs broker to confirm whether ordinary food-grade lard oil can be imported into Great Britain from China under the applicable animal-origin food restrictions, including whether any exception applies.
Can I import Chinese lard oil for industrial use?
Do not assume eligibility. Ask APHA and your customs broker to confirm the origin, species, processing route, establishment and veterinary documents before ordering.
What should I check in a lard oil batch?
Check acid value, peroxide value, moisture, insoluble impurities, odour, colour and melting behaviour against the agreed specification. Inspect seals and container cleanliness.