Sourcing N-bromosuccinimide from China

N-bromosuccinimide duty and classification

Heading 2925 covers carboxyimide-function and imine-function compounds. For N-bromosuccinimide, the relevant candidate is the residual other-imides line, 2925 19 95 90. The supplied tariff does not name this substance separately, so confirm the commodity code using its identity and composition. The succinimide guide provides wider context.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, this line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspension. Only this residual line is relevant to the focused table. Import VAT is normally 20%; see import duty and VAT.

The supplied tariff record attaches dangerous-chemical and waste export controls to this line. Ask your customs broker to confirm their relevance to the proposed transaction, particularly any onward export. For shipments involving England, waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste; establish its status before shipping recovered or discarded material.

Specify active bromine and batch acceptance

Specify N-bromosuccinimide by its full chemical identity, intended synthesis use, assay method, active bromine, water content and acceptable succinimide impurity. Agree particle form and a retained reference sample. Ask the supplier to report actual batch results rather than repeating catalogue limits. Do not treat chemical purity and active bromine as interchangeable acceptance criteria.

Confirm your UK REACH registration position for this substance before ordering. Registration is per substance and legal entity. Chemical classification applies regardless of quantity, and products must be correctly labelled and packaged before being placed on the Great Britain market. A safety data sheet is required where a hazardous chemical is supplied for use at work.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1 tonne of N-bromosuccinimide for a synthesis business under 2925 19 95 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,800, so it is £1,960. 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

Identity: match the product name and batch identifier across the purchase order, container labels and certificate of analysis.

Analysis: compare assay, active bromine, water and succinimide results with the agreed methods and acceptance limits; arrange independent verification where needed.

Packaging: inspect closures, liners and seals for damage or contamination, and compare storage instructions with the safety data sheet.

Arrival condition: record colour, caking and damaged containers before release; retain a representative batch sample using the agreed sampling procedure.

What goes wrong

A certificate reporting only purity can leave active bromine and water untested. A sample that performs acceptably in synthesis does not establish that the delivered batch meets the same specification. Release material against batch results and the agreed acceptance tests.

Treat unexpected colour, caking or compromised seals as reasons to hold the batch for investigation. A copied certificate or mismatched batch identifier also breaks traceability. Resolve the discrepancy with the factory before using the material.

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.