Sourcing sucralose and furan chemicals from China

Rates by substance

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, tetrahydrofuran, 2-furaldehyde (furfural), sucralose, gamma-butyrolactone, isosafrole, piperonal and safrole carried 6% duty on goods from China, while residual lines of other furans, lactones and heterocyclics carried 0% for listed pharmaceutical substances under additional code 2500 and 6% otherwise. None had an anti-dumping measure.

Autonomous suspensions change several of these rates: sucralose, furfural and piperonal are suspended to 0% until 31 December 2028, tetrahydrofuran with a purity of 99.8% or more to 0% until 31 December 2026, and some named substances on the residual lines, such as furan and L-lactide of set purities, also have 0% suspensions. None of the suspensions covers mixtures, and a suspension that depends on purity has to be claimed on the declaration. Gamma-butyrolactone (2932 20 20 00) is also suspended to 0% until 31 December 2026, and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (2932 13 00 10) until 31 December 2028.

The heterocyclics guide explains the additional codes; confirm the commodity code with the CAS number. For aldehyde derivatives, see our aldehyde derivative sourcing guide. For aroma ingredients, see vanillin and aroma aldehydes. For ethyl maltol, see our ethyl maltol sourcing guide.

Drug precursors and controlled drugs

Isosafrole, 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)propan-2-one, piperonal and safrole are Category 1 scheduled substances in Annex I to the retained drug precursors regulation, so trade in them needs Home Office licensing and end-user declarations. Tetrahydrocannabinols are controlled drugs that section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 prohibits importing without a licence.

Sucralose and solvents

Sucralose used in food must meet the E 955 purity specification on the FSA register of authorised food additives; ask for a certificate of analysis per batch. Tetrahydrofuran and furfural are flammable solvents shipped as dangerous goods, and imports of one tonne or more a year need a UK REACH position. For related solvent sourcing, see our ethyl and butyl acetate guide. For acetylacetone purchases, see our acetylacetone sourcing guide.

Worked duty example

Take a hypothetical order of 5 tonnes of food-grade sucralose, entered under 2932 14 00 20: £150,000 free on board plus £2,500 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £152,500. While the suspension runs, sucralose carries no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £152,500, £30,500, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. If the suspension lapsed, the 6% rate would add £9,150 of duty. Sucralose bought as a food ingredient may be zero-rated for VAT, so confirm the liability with HMRC. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.

Inspection checklist

Sucralose identity and assay: test each lot by infrared identification and HPLC assay against the E 955 specification on the FSA register, including related chlorinated sugars, and compare with the supplier's certificate of analysis.

Water and metals: measure water by the Karl Fischer method, for example as in ISO 760, and lead and other metals by ICP-MS against the E 955 limits, on a sample drawn from sealed bags rather than the supplier's retained sample.

Solvent drums: check tetrahydrofuran for peroxide value and stabiliser content before shipment, check drums carry UN packaging marks and dangerous goods labels under the IMDG Code, and check lot numbers match the certificates.

What goes wrong

Sucralose and furan chemicals fail on purity, grade and handling. Sucralose below the E 955 assay or with chlorinated by-products above the specification cannot go into food, material sold as food grade may come from a plant without food safety certification, and powder cakes when moisture gets into the bags. Tetrahydrofuran forms peroxides when stored without stabiliser or exposed to air, and furfural darkens with age.

Ask for a certificate of analysis per batch against the E 955 specification, test the first delivery in a UK laboratory for assay, related substances, heavy metals and moisture, ask for the plant's food safety certificate, check stabiliser content and peroxide values for tetrahydrofuran, and check lined, sealed bags and UN-marked drums at inspection.

Documents and inspection

Ask for the safety data sheet, certificate of analysis and, for food grades, evidence of food-grade production. At inspection, check drum or bag labels, seals and lot numbers. For supplement ingredient sourcing, see our biotin sourcing guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources sucralose, solvents and oxygen heterocyclics, with grade, precursor status and dangerous goods handling settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.