Sourcing HALS blends from China

Duty on prepared light stabiliser blends

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3812 covers prepared rubber accelerators, compound plasticisers and anti-oxidising preparations and other compound stabilisers for rubber or plastics. This guide covers prepared hindered amine light stabiliser blends, including listed combinations with light absorbers and carrier-supported preparations.

The relevant lines for goods from China all carry 0% duty. The supplied tariff facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. This tariff position does not establish chemical compliance.

Confirm the commodity code using the complete composition, ingredient identities, proportions and carrier. A named line applies only when its description matches the formulation. See the prepared polymer antioxidant blends guide for wider heading context.

Specify the hindered amine and the complete blend

Specify the hindered amine chemistry, active content, accompanying light absorber or antioxidant, carrier and physical form. State the intended polymer, processing conditions and existing approved grade. Agree acceptance criteria for dispersion, colour and weathering performance in your own compound.

Request a complete composition statement, an English safety data sheet and a batch certificate of analysis. UK REACH registration is per substance, per legal entity: review the substances in the blend rather than treating its trade name as a registration identity. For plastic food packaging, confirm applicable additive authorisation requirements with the relevant food safety authority; ask the supplier to confirm the listing and restrictions for each additive.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 16 tonnes of carrier-supported hindered amine stabiliser blend under 3812 39 90 35, invoiced at £32,000 free on board, with £1,600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £33,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £33,600, so it is £6,720. 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

Composition: compare ingredient identities and active content with the approved formulation and batch certificate; investigate any change of carrier or light absorber.

Physical form: check colour, particle form, moisture, caking and dispersion against the agreed specification.

Performance: process a retained sample in your own polymer and compare ageing, yellowing and appearance with the approved grade.

Packing and records: check seals, batch labels and the English safety data sheet; retain a sample linked to the shipment. Use the quality inspection guide to plan checks.

What goes wrong

A blend can match a supplier's trade description but contain a different hindered amine, less active material or a changed carrier. Poor dispersion and chemistry substitutions can undermine ageing or yellowing results. Approve the complete formulation and compare incoming batches with the retained reference.

A generic stabiliser description can also hide a mismatch with a named tariff line. Obtain composition evidence before clearance, and keep customs classification separate from approval for the intended polymer and end use.

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.