Sourcing medicines from China: licences first
Medicaments in measured doses from China pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, a medicine may be sold only under a UK marketing authorisation or registration, and importing into Great Britain from outside the approved countries needs a manufacturer's licence covering import. Cambridge China Bridge sources for licensed pharmaceutical businesses.
Medicines pay 0% UK duty from China. Selling needs a UK marketing authorisation, and importing into Great Britain needs an MHRA licence.
Zero duty, controlled trade
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, other medicaments put up in measured doses or for retail sale carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. The same code carries import controls, including the Home Office controlled drugs control and restrictions on entry into free circulation, so the customs entry is the least of the work.
Active substances and intermediates are covered in the pharmaceutical intermediates guide; medical devices in the medical and PPE guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other medicaments in measured doses or for retail sale | 3004 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Marketing authorisation
Regulation 46 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 says a person may not sell or supply, or offer to sell or supply, an unauthorised medicinal product, and may sell or supply one only in accordance with a UK marketing authorisation, a certificate of registration, a traditional herbal registration or an Article 126a authorisation. A medicine made in China is no exception: the product must hold the authorisation before it can be sold.
Whether a product is a medicine depends on its function and its claims, so a supplement or cosmetic that claims to treat a condition can become one; settle the claims before the packaging is printed.
Import licences
Regulation 17 requires a manufacturer's licence of the appropriate type to import a medicinal product into Great Britain from a country other than Northern Ireland or an approved country for import. For medicines from China, that means the importer holds the licence, or the goods come in through a licensed importer, with a qualified person certifying the batches under that licence.
The manufacturing site must also be inspected and meet good manufacturing practice for the product's authorisation, so the Chinese manufacturer's GMP status and inspection history are part of the supplier choice.
How we work in this category
Pharmaceutical sourcing is run inside the buyer's licence and quality system: supplier qualification, audits, technical agreements and batch documentation. The sourcing work is identifying and qualifying manufacturers, arranging audits and samples, and coordinating documentation and logistics.
Cambridge China Bridge supports licensed pharmaceutical businesses in finding and qualifying Chinese manufacturers, arranging audits and managing the documents and shipments within the buyer's licence. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on medicines from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, medicaments in measured doses or for retail sale carried 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty, but the code carries import controls.
Can I sell a medicine made in China in the UK?
Only under a UK marketing authorisation, certificate of registration, traditional herbal registration or Article 126a authorisation, under regulation 46 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
Do I need a licence to import medicines from China?
Yes. Regulation 17 requires a manufacturer's licence covering import into Great Britain from a country other than Northern Ireland or an approved country for import.
What should be checked about a Chinese medicine manufacturer?
Its good manufacturing practice status, inspection history and suitability for the product's authorisation, as part of the buyer's supplier qualification.