Sourcing TCEP from China
Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate from China carries 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. For Great Britain, UK REACH authorisation is the main gate: use or placing on the market requires an authorised use or an exemption. Confirm that position before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate.
TCEP duty and import checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, CAS 115-96-8, falls under 2919 90 00 20 within heading 2919 for phosphoric esters and their salts and derivatives. Its Chinese-origin duty is 0%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension.
The tariff attaches export controls on dangerous chemicals and waste. For imports into Great Britain, HSE says PIC-listed chemicals have no PIC import notification obligation, but importers must report the preceding calendar year's quantities to HSE. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached export measures relate to your declaration, especially for returned or waste material.
Confirm the commodity code using the chemical identity, composition and CAS number. The supplied data contains only the TCEP line for this substance. Other phosphoric esters are covered in the wider phosphate flame retardants guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate | 2919 90 00 20 | 0% | None |
Specify TCEP identity and lawful end use
Specify tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate by its full name and CAS 115-96-8. Agree assay, water, acidity, colour, test methods and packaging in the purchase specification. Obtain a batch certificate of analysis and an English safety data sheet. Qualify the supplied grade in the intended formulation rather than accepting a generic phosphate flame retardant description.
TCEP is subject to REACH authorisation. After the sunset date, an authorisation-listed substance cannot be used or placed on the market for a use unless that use is authorised or exempt. Authorisation has no tonnage threshold. Establish the applicable authorisation or exemption before shipment; a small order does not remove this requirement.
Registration is a separate check: confirm applicable registration or only-representative arrangements with HSE using your annual imported quantities. For toys intended for young children or to be placed in the mouth, confirm the applicable TCEP content restrictions with the relevant product-safety authority.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative bulk order: 20 tonnes in sealed drums, conditional on lawful import and use under 2919 90 00 20, invoiced at £32,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £34,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £34,500, so it is £6,900. 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 full chemical name and CAS number across the order, drum labels, safety data sheet and batch certificate; investigate any substitution with another phosphate ester.
Batch chemistry: test assay, acidity and water against the agreed specification, and compare colour and appearance with the approved sample.
Packing: check drum seals, leaks, damage, batch identification and hazard pictograms; reconcile delivered batch numbers with the certificates.
Release: retain a traceable sample and compare its formulation performance with the qualified grade before releasing the batch. Use the quality inspection guide to define acceptance checks.
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What goes wrong
A supplier's generic flame retardant description can conceal a different phosphate ester or an unqualified blend. A certificate that covers a sample rather than the delivered batch leaves purity, acidity and water unverified. Set acceptance criteria before production and investigate haze, sediment or damaged seals on arrival.
Zero customs duty can distract from the authorisation check. Do not treat registration paperwork or a supplier's assurance as proof that your intended TCEP use is authorised. Resolve the lawful supply route before committing to the order, and verify the finished-product limit when the customer makes relevant toys.
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 TCEP from China?
The supplied tariff record, read on 1 October 2026, gives 0% for 2919 90 00 20, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed.
Can I import TCEP from China into Great Britain?
Confirm an authorised use or applicable exemption before importing. TCEP is subject to REACH authorisation, and PIC import reporting also applies. Zero duty does not establish permission to import and use it.
Can TCEP be used in children's toys?
Confirm the applicable TCEP content restrictions for toys intended for young children or to be placed in the mouth with the relevant product-safety authority. Checking finished-product restrictions does not replace the separate authorisation check for the substance.
What should a TCEP batch certificate show?
Ask for the chemical identity, delivered batch number, assay, acidity, water and colour, with the agreed test methods. Compare the results with your purchase specification and retained sample.