Sourcing vaccines and antisera from China
Vaccines, antisera, blood fractions, immunological and cell therapy products from China pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. The licence is what matters: importing a human medicine into Great Britain from China needs a manufacturer's licence, veterinary vaccines need a VMD route, and pathogens need their own licence. Cambridge China Bridge sources them with the licence route settled first.
Vaccines, antisera, immunological products and blood fractions pay 0% UK duty from China. MHRA, VMD and pathogen licences explained.
Zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, antisera and other blood fractions, immunological products whether mixed, unmixed or in measured doses, human and veterinary vaccines, cell therapy products, human blood and animal blood prepared for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Diagnostic kits built around antibodies may be classified as reagents instead; confirm the commodity code with the full composition.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antisera and other blood fractions | 3002 12 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Immunological products, unmixed, not in doses | 3002 13 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Immunological products in measured doses or retail packs | 3002 15 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Human vaccines, other than coronavirus | 3002 41 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Veterinary vaccines | 3002 42 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Cell therapy products | 3002 51 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Animal blood for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic use | 3002 90 30 00 | 0% | None |
Human medicines: the MHRA route
Regulation 17 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 says a person may not import a medicinal product into Great Britain from a country other than Northern Ireland or an approved country for import without a manufacturer's licence. China is not an approved country, so a vaccine or antiserum used as a medicine needs a licensed importer with batch certification, as well as a UK marketing authorisation to be sold.
The medicines guide explains how that licence chain works in practice.
Veterinary vaccines, diagnostics and pathogens
Veterinary vaccines are regulated by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, which runs import certificate schemes for products without a UK authorisation. Antibody reagents sold for diagnosis are in vitro diagnostic devices, which need UKCA or CE marking and MHRA registration; see medical products.
Pathogens and cultures of pathogens are licensed separately; the Specified Animal Pathogens Order 2008 requires a licence to import the animal pathogens it lists.
Cold chain and documents
Agree the storage temperature, data loggers, packaging validation and the air route before the order, and have the batch certificate, certificate of analysis and licence numbers ready for clearance.
Cambridge China Bridge sources vaccines, antisera and reagents, with the licence route, cold chain and batch documents settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on vaccines from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, human and veterinary vaccines, antisera and other heading 3002 goods carried 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Do I need a licence to import vaccines from China?
Yes. Regulation 17 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 requires a manufacturer's licence to import a medicine from a country that is not an approved country for import, and China is not one.
Who regulates veterinary vaccine imports?
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, through marketing authorisations and its import certificate schemes.
Are antibody test kits medicines?
Usually not. Kits sold for diagnosis are in vitro diagnostic devices, which need UKCA or CE marking and MHRA registration.