Sourcing prednisolone from China
Prednisolone active ingredient from China carries 0% UK import duty under 2937 21 00 00, with no trade remedy listed. For human-medicine use, UK importers must register with the MHRA; confirm the applicable good manufacturing practice requirements with the MHRA. Obtain the exporting authority's written confirmation. Cambridge China Bridge sources prednisolone active ingredient.
Prednisolone duty and tariff scope
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 13 November 2026, heading 2937 covers hormones and their derivatives and structural analogues. Prednisolone, also named dehydrohydrocortisone in the tariff, appears under 2937 21 00 00 alongside cortisone, hydrocortisone and prednisone. The table shows specification variants sharing this single commodity line.
The prednisolone line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. The UK Trade Tariff attaches an export waste control. Have your customs broker confirm its relevance, particularly before returning rejected stock as waste. Waste shipments require checks on the rules of every country along the route.
Confirm the exact substance and presentation using finding your commodity code. This guide concerns bulk prednisolone active ingredient for human-medicine manufacture. For related substances within the heading, see hydrocortisone active ingredient.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prednisolone active ingredient | 2937 21 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify prednisolone identity, impurities and particle size
Write prednisolone explicitly on the enquiry and purchase order. Agree the pharmacopoeial monograph, identity tests, assay, related substances and residual solvents. Specify particle-size distribution, whether micronisation is needed, and any relevant crystal form. Agree the test methods and acceptance criteria with the medicine manufacturer before approving a sample.
For human-medicine use, a UK business importing or distributing active substances must register with the MHRA. Confirm the applicable good manufacturing practice requirements with the MHRA. Obtain the exporting authority's written confirmation for the China supply. Have the importer confirm any applicable exemption before relying on it. Match manufacturing-site details across the documents and use factory verification to investigate discrepancies.
Agree sealed inner packaging, protection against moisture, storage and transport conditions, batch identification and the retest date. Request a batch certificate of analysis and the supporting documents needed for the medicine manufacturer's regulatory file.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 kg of prednisolone active ingredient (illustrative order) under 2937 21 00 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,800, so it is £8,160. 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
Documents: match the manufacturer, production site, substance name and batch across the order, certificate of analysis and manufacturing documents.
Laboratory: independently test a representative sample for identity, assay, related substances and residual solvents against the agreed specification.
Particle size: check the delivered batch against the agreed distribution and micronisation requirement.
Packing: inspect seals, inner liners, batch labels and retest dates; review transport records against the agreed conditions before release.
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What goes wrong
A quotation can name prednisolone while the supporting documents describe prednisone or another steroid. An assay result alone also leaves impurity levels and particle size unresolved. Match the exact substance, obtain batch-specific results and investigate any change of manufacturer or production site.
Do not release a batch solely because its certificate looks complete. Damaged liners, mismatched batch labels or unsuitable particle size need investigation against the purchase specification. Agree sampling and testing through the quality inspection guide, and confirm waste controls before arranging an overseas return of discarded 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on prednisolone from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot lists 0% duty under 2937 21 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Do I need MHRA registration to import prednisolone active ingredient?
For human-medicine use, UK businesses importing or distributing active substances must register with the MHRA. Confirm the registered activities before ordering.
What documents should I request from the Chinese manufacturer?
Request the batch certificate of analysis, manufacturing compliance evidence, exporting authority's written confirmation and documents needed by the medicine manufacturer. Match the substance and production site throughout.
Should I specify micronised prednisolone?
Agree this with the medicine manufacturer. Specify the required particle-size distribution and test method, then check the delivered batch rather than relying on the word micronised.