Sourcing phenoxyethanol from China

Phenoxyethanol duty and the purity suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2909 covers ethers and related compounds, including ether-alcohols. Unblended phenoxyethanol falls within the other ether-alcohols line, 2909 49 80 90. The table shows purchasing descriptions sharing this code, rather than separate tariff lines.

The supplied tariff record gives a standard duty of 4% for goods from China and a 0% suspension specifically for phenoxyethanol with purity of at least 99% by weight. It excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing phenoxyethanol. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded. The attached waste control concerns exports; confirm any requirement with your customs broker if the shipment involves waste.

Confirm the commodity code using the substance identity, composition and batch assay. Do not assume a formulated preservative blend shares the pure substance's treatment. For the wider heading, see methyl tert-butyl ether and related tariff context.

Specify phenoxyethanol identity and batch purity

Specify unblended phenoxyethanol, chemical identity 122-99-6, intended use and an agreed assay method. Set acceptance criteria for water, colour, residual phenol and related impurities. Ask for actual batch results and test methods, rather than a generic specification sheet. Agree sealed packaging, batch traceability and retained samples.

For Great Britain, confirm the applicable UK REACH registration requirements with HSE for your annual imports. Obtain evidence of coverage for your supply chain before ordering. Everyone in the supply chain is responsible for correct chemical labelling and packaging before placing substances or mixtures on the market. Review the safety data sheet alongside the proposed drum labels.

If buying for cosmetic formulation, trial the material in your own formula and agree impurity criteria with your formulation specialist. A raw-material assay alone does not establish performance in a finished product.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative drum shipment of unblended phenoxyethanol below the suspension purity threshold under 2909 49 80 90, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,500. Duty at 4% is £940. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,440, so it is £4,888. Import taxes total £5,828; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £940 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the substance name and 122-99-6 across the order, drum labels, safety data sheet and batch certificate.

Assay: sample the delivered batch and compare purity, water and impurity results with the agreed methods and acceptance criteria.

Packaging: check seals, leakage, container cleanliness, batch markings and the proposed chemical labels before release.

Application: compare colour, odour and behaviour in your formulation with the approved sample; record any difference.

What goes wrong

A quote for phenoxyethanol can conceal a blended preservative, an unspecified impurity profile or a certificate that does not match the delivered batch. These differences can undermine formulation trials and the claimed suspension eligibility. Require composition disclosure and batch-linked results before shipment.

A certificate stating purity without a method or traceable sample leaves the buyer unable to resolve a disputed result. Hold material that fails the agreed specification, retain representative samples and arrange independent analysis. Use the quality inspection guide to plan sampling and reporting.

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.