Sourcing methyl salicylate from China

Methyl salicylate duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2918 covers carboxylic acids with additional oxygen function and their derivatives. Methyl salicylate falls within 2918 23 00 00, other esters of salicylic acid and their salts. The table shows purchase specifications sharing this commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications. See the wider salicylic acid guide.

The supplied tariff facts show 6% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension on this line. The tariff also attaches an export control for waste. Waste shipment controls apply when the material is waste; confirm the requirement for any waste shipment with your customs broker before dispatch.

Confirm the commodity code using the substance identity, composition and supplied form. Give the broker the specification and safety data sheet, particularly if the supplier offers a blend rather than the individual chemical.

Specify methyl salicylate purity and intended use

Specify the intended industrial, fragrance, laboratory or cosmetic formulation use. Agree assay, water content, acidity, residual methanol and other impurities, with named test methods and acceptance criteria. Request a batch certificate of analysis and retain an approved sample. A wintergreen odour alone does not establish identity or purity.

For Great Britain, confirm with HSE whether your imports require UK REACH registration or qualify for an exemption. Settle registration coverage before ordering. Chemicals must be correctly labelled and packaged before market supply, and hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet.

Methyl salicylate restrictions in cosmetics depend on the product type and intended user's age. Have the proposed formulation checked before choosing an ingredient specification; a supplier's description of cosmetic grade does not establish suitability for the finished product.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one tonne of methyl salicylate in sealed drums under 2918 23 00 00, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,480. Duty at 6% is £268.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,748.80, so it is £949.76. Import taxes total £1,218.56; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £268.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and assay: match the drum contents to the ordered substance using laboratory identification and assay, rather than relying on smell or the product name.

Impurities: compare water, acidity, residual methanol and other agreed impurity results against the purchase specification, using the agreed methods.

Packing: check closures, seals, leakage, contamination and net weight. Match each drum's batch identification to its certificate of analysis.

Documents: compare the safety data sheet, hazard labels, invoice and batch certificate for consistent identity and composition. Plan independent sampling through testing and certification.

What goes wrong

An order can fail when a fragrance blend is supplied against a neat-chemical specification, an approved sample differs from production, or a generic certificate replaces batch results. Residual solvent, excessive acidity or contamination may be missed if acceptance checks cover assay alone.

Leaking closures and missing batch identification make receiving and traceability harder. Quarantine disputed drums and compare retained samples with arrival samples before releasing the lot. Check the intended cosmetic formulation separately from raw-material acceptance.

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.