Sourcing streptomycin from China
Streptomycin active ingredient and the listed dihydrostreptomycin forms from China carry 0% UK duty. Human-medicine active substance importers must register with the MHRA and comply with good manufacturing and distribution practice. Cambridge China Bridge sources streptomycin active ingredient.
Streptomycin duty and commodity codes
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, the streptomycin-family lines within heading 2941 carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions for these lines. This guide covers active ingredient chemicals; see the wider antibiotic guide for the rest of the heading.
The tariff attaches an export control for waste to each relevant line. Environment Agency guidance for England says waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached measure affects your consignment, particularly if rejected material is to be returned to China.
Streptomycin and its salts share a commodity line, so the table repeats that code for different purchase descriptions. Dihydrostreptomycin has separate lines. Confirm the exact substance, salt and hydrate against the commodity code guide, rather than classifying from the word antibiotic alone.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streptomycin active ingredient | 2941 20 80 00 | 0% | None |
| Dihydrostreptomycin sulphate | 2941 20 30 10 | 0% | None |
| Other dihydrostreptomycin forms, salts, esters and hydrates | 2941 20 30 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the salt, potency basis and intended use
Write the exact chemical name into the purchase specification. Distinguish streptomycin sulphate from dihydrostreptomycin sulphate and specify the applicable pharmacopoeial monograph, identity test, assay or potency method, reporting basis, water content, related substances and residual solvents. Agree packaging, storage conditions and the batch documents before approving a sample.
For human-medicine use, UK-based active substance importers and distributors must register with the MHRA and comply with good manufacturing and distribution practice. Check the exporting authority's written confirmation requirements with the MHRA before shipment. For veterinary-medicine use, businesses in Great Britain importing or distributing active substances must register with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
Ask for the actual manufacturing site's quality documents and audit evidence, not just a trader's certificate. Compare the sample certificate of analysis with the agreed specification, including whether potency is reported for the salt as supplied or on a corrected basis.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 kg of streptomycin sulphate active ingredient under 2941 20 80 00, invoiced at £25,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,500, so it is £5,300. 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 chemical name and salt form on each container, invoice and batch certificate; arrange identity testing against the agreed specification.
Batch results: check potency, water, related substances and residual solvents against the purchase specification; reconcile units and reporting basis before comparing results.
Packaging: inspect seals, liners and containers for damage, moisture ingress or powder leakage; compare transport records with the agreed storage conditions.
Traceability: match container batch numbers to the manufacturer and certificate of analysis; record received quantities and keep suspect material separate pending assessment.
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What goes wrong
A quote for streptomycin sulphate can be confused with dihydrostreptomycin sulphate. Another problem is a potency comparison made on different moisture or salt bases. A passing supplier certificate does not resolve a mismatch between the ordered substance, the agreed monograph and the material received.
Other failures include damaged liners, damp or caked powder and documents that identify the trader but leave the manufacturing site unclear. Ask the buyer's quality team to assess affected batches before use. Check registration and written confirmation requirements before dispatch so missing regulatory documents are not discovered at arrival.
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 streptomycin from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 0% duty on the relevant streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. Import VAT is normally 20%.
Do I need MHRA registration to import streptomycin active ingredient?
For human-medicine use, a UK-based active substance importer must register with the MHRA and comply with good manufacturing and distribution practice.
Can I substitute dihydrostreptomycin sulphate for streptomycin sulphate?
Treat them as separate purchase specifications. Obtain the buyer's technical approval before any substitution and recheck the chemical identity, agreed monograph and commodity code.
What registration applies to veterinary streptomycin active ingredient?
A business in Great Britain importing or distributing an active substance for veterinary medicines must register with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.