Sourcing loperamide capsules from China
Loperamide capsules from China carry 0% UK duty under the other medicaments line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Commercial supply normally needs a UK marketing authorisation; ask MHRA to confirm the applicable import licence and qualified-person batch-certification requirements. Cambridge China Bridge sources loperamide capsules.
Zero duty on finished capsules
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 10 October 2026, heading 3004 covers medicines in measured doses or retail packs. For loperamide capsules, the relevant other medicaments line is 3004 90 00 00, carrying 0% duty from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. The pack formats listed share this code; they are not separate tariff subheadings.
The line attaches Home Office controlled-drug import control, restrictions on entry into free circulation concerning ozone-depleting substances, CITES import control and seal-product import control. Importing controlled drugs or precursor chemicals requires a licence; importing ozone-depleting substances into Great Britain requires a licence. Give the broker the complete capsule formulation and shell composition to confirm the controls and customs declarations applicable to this shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the active ingredient, full formulation, dosage form and packaging. For the wider licence chain, read our medicines sourcing guide. A zero tariff does not establish permission to import or sell the medicine.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loperamide capsules in blister packs | 3004 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the capsule and its authorised pack
Specify the loperamide salt, strength per capsule, excipients, shell material and colour, capsule appearance, pack count and blister or bottle construction. Agree identity, assay, content uniformity, dissolution and microbiological checks with the buyer's pharmaceutical quality team. Record the approved artwork, patient leaflet, storage conditions and remaining shelf life expected on arrival.
For normal commercial supply, confirm the UK marketing authorisation and ask MHRA which licence is needed for import from China into Great Britain. Check the Chinese site's manufacturing-practice status and inspection history, and ask MHRA to confirm any qualified-person batch-certification requirements and how to arrange them through the importer. These licence checks precede supplier selection and packaging approval.
Check CITES permit requirements for listed-species derivatives in shell ingredients. Seal products imported for trade must have a seal catch certificate. Ask the broker to confirm requirements for any such ingredients from China. The tariff also attaches controlled-drug, CITES, mercury and torture-and-repression export controls; confirm applicability with the broker before any onward export.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 500,000 loperamide capsules in blister packs for an independent licensed pharmaceutical business under 3004 90 00 00, invoiced at £80,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £84,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £84,000, so it is £16,800. 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.
Inspection checklist
Capsules: inspect for split shells, loose caps, powder leakage, sticking and colour differences; compare appearance with the agreed sample and investigate damaged blister pockets.
Batch evidence: match batch records and certificates of analysis to the delivered lot; review identity, assay, content uniformity, dissolution and microbiological results against the agreed specification.
Packs and leaflets: compare cartons, blister foil or bottle labels and patient leaflets with approved text; check legible, matching batch numbers and expiry dates, and the carton medicine name in Braille.
Transport and release: review temperature records against labelled storage conditions, inspect seals and pallet damage, and reconcile quantities. Ask MHRA and the importer to confirm the applicable qualified-person checks and release process before releasing the batch.
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What goes wrong
A sample can look acceptable while production capsules leak powder, vary in fill or fail dissolution checks. Treat appearance inspection as only part of acceptance. Ask for executed batch records and laboratory results, investigate discrepancies and compare the delivered lot with the agreed capsule and packaging specification.
Supply can stall when the manufacturing site is unsuitable for the authorisation, batch documents do not match the packs, artwork differs from approved text or shipment temperatures are unrecorded. Settle the licensed import route and document responsibilities before ordering, and resolve discrepancies before batch release.
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 loperamide capsules from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty under 3004 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The code also carries controls.
Do I need a licence to import loperamide capsules from China?
For normal commercial supply into Great Britain, ask MHRA to confirm the applicable import licence and qualified-person batch-certification requirements. Confirm the product's UK marketing authorisation before ordering.
Can I sell Chinese loperamide capsules with translated packaging?
Translation alone is insufficient. Normal commercial supply needs a UK marketing authorisation, and packs and leaflets should match the approved text.
What should I check when loperamide capsules arrive?
Check capsule integrity, batch documents, laboratory results, approved packs and leaflets, expiry dates and transport records. Ask MHRA and the importer to confirm any qualified-person certification requirements and the applicable process before release.