Sourcing tocopheryl acetate from China
Unmixed tocopheryl acetate from China carries 0% UK duty under the vitamin E derivatives line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. For food supplements, confirm with the FSA whether the vitamin form is permitted; agree the exact form and grade before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources tocopheryl acetate.
Zero duty on unmixed tocopheryl acetate
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 October 2026, heading 2936 covers vitamins, their derivatives used primarily as vitamins, and vitamin mixtures. The unmixed vitamin E derivatives line, 2936 28 00 00, carries 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is recorded for that line. The table shows purchasing grades within the same commodity line.
The supplied tariff record attaches an export waste control to this line. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to the shipment, particularly before returning rejected material. The record does not list an import control for this line.
Confirm the composition and intended use through finding your commodity code. Do not assume a carrier-based powder or finished capsule uses the unmixed ingredient code. Finished vitamin tablets and capsules are usually food preparations or medicines. See the wider vitamins guide for the heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unmixed tocopheryl acetate, food grade | 2936 28 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the acetate form and intended use
Order tocopheryl acetate by its full chemical identity rather than simply “vitamin E”. State whether you want the natural or synthetic form, the intended application, assay basis, appearance and agreed impurity tests. Ask the supplier to disclose carriers and other ingredients. Compare certificates using the same assay basis.
For food supplements, check the exact chemical form against the permitted vitamin forms before purchase. For feed use, confirm applicable additive authorisation requirements with the FSA. For pharmaceutical use, confirm with MHRA what GMP evidence and active substance registration requirements apply, including for licensed medicines. For cosmetic use, obtain ingredient identity, impurity and stability information for the finished product's assessor.
A finished cosmetic sold to consumers in Great Britain needs a Responsible Person with a UK established address, a qualified safety assessment before sale and notification to OPSS before availability. Agree who will handle the finished product before buying the ingredient.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of unmixed tocopheryl acetate in sealed drums under 2936 28 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,480. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,480, so it is £696. 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 and assay: sample the shipped batch and check that it is the specified acetate form, with assay measured on the agreed basis. Match the laboratory result to the batch certificate.
Impurities: commission the agreed heavy-metal and residual-solvent tests. For a carrier-based powder, also check carrier identity and microbiology against the purchase specification.
Packing and traceability: check seals, liners, net weights and batch labels on arrival. Match the retest or expiry information to stability evidence and inspect for leaks or contamination during quality inspection.
Application trial: test the received material in your actual formulation before releasing it for production. Check mixing behaviour and appearance against the approved sample.
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What goes wrong
A certificate headed “vitamin E” can leave the precise chemical form unclear. Substituting tocopherol for tocopheryl acetate, changing the natural or synthetic form, or adding an undisclosed carrier can undermine the agreed formulation. Resolve identity and assay differences before accepting the batch.
Leaking drums, mismatched batch certificates and unsupported shelf-life claims make stock difficult to release. Retain a sample and photograph labels and seals on arrival. A raw-material certificate does not replace the qualified safety assessment required for a finished consumer cosmetic.
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 tocopheryl acetate from China?
Unmixed tocopheryl acetate under 2936 28 00 00 carries 0% duty. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Can I use tocopheryl acetate in a food supplement?
Check the exact chemical form against the permitted vitamin forms. A supplier's description of “food grade” does not establish that the form is permitted.
Does a cosmetic ingredient certificate cover my finished cream?
No. Before a finished cosmetic is made available to consumers in Great Britain, its safety must be checked by a qualified safety assessor.
What should I ask a tocopheryl acetate factory for?
Ask for the exact chemical form, intended-use grade, full composition, batch analysis, test methods, stability evidence and the agreed packing specification.