Sourcing talc and steatite from China
Talc and natural steatite from China, whether crushed or powdered or in lumps and blocks, pay 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 2526, with no anti-dumping duty. The key checks are asbestos testing, because asbestos is banned under UK REACH, whiteness, particle size and, for cosmetic talc, the Annex III warning on powders for children under 3.
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0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 2526 covers natural steatite, whether or not roughly trimmed or cut into rectangular blocks or slabs, and talc. Both lines, not crushed or powdered (2526 10 00 00) and crushed or powdered (2526 20 00 00), carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure, no registration and no suspension.
Talc-filled plastic compounds are classified as plastics (see our polypropylene granules guide); confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talc and steatite, not crushed or powdered | 2526 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Talc and steatite, crushed or powdered | 2526 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
Asbestos and chemical rules
Entry 6 of Annex XVII to UK REACH lists six asbestos fibres, including chrysotile and tremolite, and prohibits the manufacture, placing on the market and use of these fibres and of articles and mixtures containing them added intentionally. Talc deposits can occur with asbestos minerals, so ask for asbestos test reports on each lot and name the test method in the contract.
Talc is a substance under UK REACH, but naturally occurring talc that is not chemically modified is exempt from registration; otherwise, importers of one tonne or more a year need a registration position unless another exemption applies. Any required safety data sheet follows UK REACH, while classification and labelling follow the retained CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
Cosmetic talc
Annex III to the retained Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 lists talc (hydrated magnesium silicate, CAS 14807-96-6) at entry 59. Powdery products intended for children under 3 years of age must carry the warning to keep powder away from children's nose and mouth.
Specifying talc
Specify use (plastics, paper, paint, ceramics or cosmetics), talc content, whiteness, particle size or mesh, top cut, moisture, loss on ignition, iron and heavy metal limits, asbestos test method and packing. For mica specifications, see our mica and mica powder guide.
Worked duty example
Take a hypothetical order of 20 tonnes of powdered talc in 25 kg bags, entered under 2526 20 00 00: £8,000 free on board plus £1,800 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £9,800. Talc powder carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £9,800, £1,960, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.
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Inspection checklist
Asbestos: check a test report for the shipped lot, not only a historical certificate for the mine.
Analysis: check whiteness, particle size and moisture against the certificate, and verify a sample in an independent laboratory.
Packing: check bag integrity, weight and lot marking.
What goes wrong
Talc orders fail on contamination and grade. Asbestos testing is missing or covers a different lot, whiteness is lower than the sample, particles are coarser than specified, and grades are mixed between bags.
Test samples before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources talc for UK plastics, paint, ceramics and cosmetic buyers, checking the processor's testing and lab first. See factory verification.
Related guides: Sourcing mica and mica powder from China.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on talc from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, talc and steatite under 2526 carried 0% from China on both lines.
Why test talc for asbestos?
Talc can occur with asbestos minerals, and UK REACH Annex XVII entry 6 bans asbestos fibres added to mixtures and articles.
Does cosmetic talc need a warning?
Powders for children under 3 must say to keep powder away from children's nose and mouth.
Does talc need REACH registration?
Importers of one tonne or more a year need a UK REACH position.