Sourcing Sandarac Resin from China
Sandarac resin from China carries 0% UK import duty under the other natural resins line, with no trade remedy recorded. Importers are responsible for chemical hazard classification, while the tariff's licence controls need checks against the actual material. Cambridge China Bridge sources sandarac resin.
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Sandarac resin duty and control checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 1301 covers lac, natural gums, resins, gum-resins and oleoresins. Unmixed sandarac resin falls within the other line, 1301 90 00 00, carrying 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The forms in the table share this tariff line.
The tariff attaches CITES and Home Office controlled-drug import controls to this broad line. Check the named species and composition with your customs broker. CITES-listed species need the applicable permits; controlled drugs or precursor chemicals need a Home Office licence when imported or exported. These are conditional controls, so confirm their application to the actual sandarac rather than treating the tariff heading as proof that a licence is needed.
The tariff also attaches organic import control. For technical sandarac, confirm the requirement with your customs broker before using organic claims. CITES and controlled-drug export controls are also recorded, so check them before any onward export. Confirm the commodity code using identity, processing and additives. See the copal resin guide for wider natural-resin comparisons.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unmixed sandarac resin tears | 1301 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify sandarac for your varnish process
Write the botanical identity, collection country and processing history into the purchase specification. Ask whether the Chinese supplier collects, cleans, grinds or merely repacks the resin. Agree tears, lumps or powder, acceptable colour, foreign matter and packaging. Request a declaration of any added resin, filler or solvent, and keep an approved reference sample.
Agree a dissolution trial using your intended solvent and mixing method. Compare solution colour, clarity, insoluble residue and the resulting varnish film against the reference sample. Record drying behaviour and brittleness in your own formulation rather than accepting a generic varnish-grade description.
For sale in Great Britain, chemical hazard classification is the responsibility of suppliers, including importers. Request composition and safety data before shipment. A safety data sheet is required where a hazardous chemical is supplied for workplace use. Assess UK REACH applicability using the material's identity and processing history.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of unmixed sandarac resin tears for varnish production under 1301 90 00 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,900, so it is £3,380. 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: match the batch documents, botanical name and declared additives to the approved sample and specification.
Appearance: compare colour and particle form; check for bark, grit, excessive fines, dampness and foreign material.
Performance: repeat the agreed dissolution and varnish-film trials on arrival, recording residue, clarity and film behaviour.
Packing: check seals, liners, batch identification and net weight; retain labelled samples. Use the quality inspection guide to agree the inspection scope.
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What goes wrong
A resin sold only under a trade name can arrive with unclear botanical identity or an undisclosed blend. Colour variation, dirt and excess fines can change solution clarity or handling. A visually similar sample does not establish that the production batch will behave the same in your varnish.
Avoid accepting a substitute solely because it dissolves in the same solvent. Compare the finished film and retain samples from the approved and delivered batches. Resolve identity, composition and tariff-control questions before dispatch; cleaning or grinding in China should be documented separately from where the resin was collected.
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 sandarac resin from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% under 1301 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Does sandarac resin need a CITES permit?
The tariff flags CITES on the broad resin line. Check the botanical identity with your customs broker; listed species need applicable permits. The tariff flag alone does not establish sandarac's status.
What should I specify when buying sandarac resin?
Specify botanical identity, collection country, processing, particle form, colour, foreign matter and any additives. Agree a dissolution trial and varnish-film comparison against an approved sample.
Do I need a safety data sheet for sandarac resin?
Request safety data before ordering. A safety data sheet is required if the chemical is hazardous and supplied for workplace use. Importers are responsible for chemical hazard classification.