Sourcing pullulanase enzymes from China

Zero duty, with a veterinary-control flag

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 3507 covers enzymes and prepared enzymes not elsewhere specified or included. The provisional line for pullulanase preparations is 3507 90 90 90, carrying 0% duty on goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure, or suspension, is listed. The table shows different preparations within this same tariff line.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches Veterinary control to this line. Confirm the requirement for the actual Chinese formulation with your customs broker, including the enzyme source and any animal-derived ingredients. For preparations treated as animal products for human consumption, official guidance restricts imports to approved countries and establishments. The tariff flag alone does not establish whether a particular pullulanase preparation falls within that route.

Give your broker the complete formulation, production source and intended use before confirming the commodity code. For related coverage of the wider enzyme heading, see our food-grade alpha-amylase guide.

Specify pullulanase activity and process conditions

Specify whether you want pullulanase alone or a blend, and identify every other enzyme, carrier and stabiliser. Agree the activity unit, assay substrate, method, temperature and acidity used for acceptance. Ask for the production strain, batch certificate of analysis, storage conditions and evidence supporting activity retention during transport.

For food use, the published government guidance says food enzymes falling under the food-enzyme regulation do not need approval before use until initial authorisations are made. Confirm the treatment of your particular enzyme and intended use with the Food Standards Agency before ordering. Agree microbiological and heavy-metal acceptance criteria with your laboratory rather than accepting an unexplained food-grade claim.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 5 tonnes of liquid pullulanase preparation; illustrative order and values under 3507 90 90 90, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £23,800, so it is £4,760. 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

Identity: check the enzyme name, production strain, complete formulation and batch references against the approved specification.

Activity: test a retained sample using the agreed assay and compare the result with the supplier's batch certificate.

Condition: check seals, leaks, powder caking and transport records against the agreed storage conditions.

Documents: check that food-use information and the broker's veterinary-control assessment cover the actual preparation supplied.

What goes wrong

A supplier's activity figure can look acceptable while using a different assay substrate or test conditions. A blend may also contain undeclared enzymes or carriers. Approve a sample using your own acceptance method and require the factory to report formulation changes before production.

Warm transit can reduce activity, while damaged packing can cause leaks or caking. Keep arrival samples and transport records so a disputed batch can be assessed against the agreed specification. Arrange testing and certification support before shipment.

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.