Sourcing N-hydroxysuccinimide from China
For N-hydroxysuccinimide provisionally classified under the residual line of heading 2928, budget 6% UK duty from China. The heading includes 0% rates, but the snapshot establishes no suspension specifically for this product. Confirm classification and the UK REACH route before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources N-hydroxysuccinimide.
Budget 6%, subject to classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 2928 covers organic derivatives of hydrazine or hydroxylamine. The supplied snapshot does not name N-hydroxysuccinimide. Its residual line, 2928 00 90 90, carries 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. The table therefore shows a provisional classification rather than a confirmed product-specific tariff line.
The residual line has a 0% suspension limited to named substances; do not assume it covers N-hydroxysuccinimide. The tariff also attaches a conditional Home Office controlled-drugs import control. Confirm its application with your customs broker before shipment. Home Office guidance requires a licence when importing controlled drugs or precursor chemicals. The snapshot also lists export controls for controlled drugs, dangerous chemicals and waste; confirm these separately before returning goods overseas.
Give your broker the full chemical identity, composition, grade and intended use, then confirm the commodity code. For wider heading context, read sourcing adipic dihydrazide. Only the residual line is shown because the supplied facts contain no other line relevant to N-hydroxysuccinimide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| N-hydroxysuccinimide, subject to confirmation of residual classification | 2928 00 90 90 | 6% | None |
Specify identity, assay and process suitability
Specify N-hydroxysuccinimide itself rather than an activated ester, derivative or formulated reagent. Agree assay, the analytical method and whether results are reported on a dry basis or as supplied. Set separate acceptance criteria for water, residual solvents, related impurities, appearance and insoluble material. Request actual batch results rather than a generic specification sheet.
Agree sealed packaging, storage instructions and a retained sample. Trial the material in your intended reaction before accepting a production batch. For Great Britain, confirm the UK REACH registration route and any only-representative coverage with HSE for the substance and your annual import volume. Confirm chemical-classification responsibilities with HSE before sale. Importers are responsible for correct labelling and packaging before placing the material on the market.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 kg of N-hydroxysuccinimide, subject to classification confirmation under 2928 00 90 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,480. Duty at 6% is £208.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,688.80, so it is £737.76. Import taxes total £946.56; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £208.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the ordered chemical to the container labels, invoice and batch analysis; reject unexplained substitution with a derivative.
Analysis: compare batch-specific assay, water and impurity results with the agreed methods and acceptance criteria; test a representative arrival sample.
Packaging: check seals, liners, leakage, visible contamination and unexpected caking before releasing the material for use.
Documents: match batch numbers across containers and certificates. Check the safety data sheet against the supplied material; hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require one.
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What goes wrong
A headline purity result can conceal differences in water content or the reporting basis. Generic certificates, unidentified impurity peaks and damaged seals leave the buyer unable to establish whether the delivered batch matches the approved sample. Keep suspect material separate until testing resolves the discrepancy.
A supplier may also quote a suspension belonging to another substance in the same tariff heading. Ask your broker to verify the exact entry rather than copying the factory's code. Use quality inspection guidance to agree sampling and acceptance before dispatch.
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 N-hydroxysuccinimide from China?
Budget 6% if your broker confirms residual code 2928 00 90 90. The snapshot records no trade remedy and establishes no N-hydroxysuccinimide-specific suspension.
Do I need UK REACH registration for N-hydroxysuccinimide?
For Great Britain, confirm registration responsibilities with HSE for the substance and your annual import volume. Confirm with HSE whether valid only-representative coverage applies to your imports.
What should a N-hydroxysuccinimide certificate of analysis show?
Request batch identity, assay and its reporting basis, water, residual solvents and agreed related impurities, with methods and actual results.
Does the tariff's Home Office control mean I need an import licence?
The residual line carries a conditional control. Ask your customs broker to confirm its application to the exact substance; a tariff flag alone does not establish that this product needs a licence.