Sourcing fluorescent pigment pastes from China
Non-aqueous fluorescent pigment pastes for paint manufacture carry 0% UK duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Check UK REACH coverage for the constituent substances and hazard labels for the mixture before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources non-aqueous fluorescent pigment pastes.
Duty and controls for fluorescent pigment pastes
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 3212 covers pigments dispersed in non-aqueous media in liquid or paste form for paint manufacture, alongside stamping foils and retail colouring matter. Relevant fluorescent pastes fall within 3212 90 00 00, carrying 0% duty from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is listed. The table shows colour variants sharing this tariff line.
The tariff attaches waste import and export controls and an ozone-depleting-substance restriction. For a China-to-England shipment treated as waste under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent. Importing ozone-depleting substances into Great Britain requires a licence. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable declarations and permitted use from the formulation; also confirm the waste export requirements before returning rejected material.
Give your broker the formulation, carrier, physical form and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Dry pigment and finished paint need separate classification checks. For another pigment-paste family within this heading, see the non-aqueous pearlescent paste guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-aqueous yellow fluorescent pigment paste for paint manufacture | 3212 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the carrier and fluorescent performance
Specify the fluorescent pigment identity, carrier solvent, resin system, pigment content, viscosity and dispersion fineness. Agree the viscosity measurement conditions and a retained reference sample. Trial the paste in your actual binder on the intended substrate, recording dilution, film thickness, drying conditions and illumination. Agree a light-exposure comparison if the coating will be used outdoors.
Obtain an English safety data sheet where UK REACH requires it and hazard labels where chemical classification rules require them. Check registration coverage against annual imports of each constituent substance, rather than treating the paste as a single substance. Registration is per substance, per legal entity. Classifying and labelling requires scientific competence; arrange a competent review of the formulation before supply.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 400 kg of non-aqueous yellow fluorescent pigment paste under 3212 90 00 00, invoiced at £6,800 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,500, so it is £1,500. 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
Shade and fluorescence: compare batch drawdowns with the retained reference under the agreed daylight and ultraviolet illumination, using the same binder, substrate and film thickness.
Dispersion and compatibility: check for grit, specks, flocculation and colour bleed in the actual coating formulation; inspect after drying as well as during mixing.
Viscosity and settling: measure under the agreed conditions, inspect separation and sediment, and confirm settled material redistributes using the agreed mixing procedure.
Packing and identity: check seals, leakage, net weight and batch identification against the analysis certificate; compare the supplied product identity with the safety data sheet and label.
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What goes wrong
A paste can match the reference in the jar but produce weaker fluorescence or a different shade after dilution and drying. Carrier incompatibility can cause flocculation, thickening or colour bleed. Hard sediment can make a batch difficult to remix, while poor seals allow leakage or solvent loss.
Approve the sample in your coating formulation before ordering and repeat the agreed drawdown checks on arrival. Keep a retained sample from each batch. Assess fading against the intended exposure conditions, and require written approval before the factory changes the pigment, carrier or resin.
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 fluorescent pigment pastes from China?
Non-aqueous fluorescent pigment pastes for paint manufacture under 3212 90 00 00 carry 0% duty. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Do fluorescent pigment pastes need UK REACH registration?
Check each constituent substance. Confirm with HSE whether the annual imported quantity requires UK REACH registration, whether an exemption applies, or whether the manufacturer's appointed representative can provide coverage.
How do I compare fluorescent paste batches?
Make drawdowns in your actual binder and compare with a retained reference under agreed daylight and ultraviolet illumination. Keep dilution, substrate, film thickness and drying conditions consistent.
Why does fluorescent pigment paste separate or thicken?
Check carrier and resin compatibility, pigment dispersion, storage conditions and seal integrity. Trial remixing and the finished coating before accepting a separated batch.