Sourcing whey protein concentrate from China
Relevant UK duty is 0% for grades unfit for human consumption, or £13 to £103 per 100 kg for edible forms. Chinese food-grade whey protein concentrate cannot be imported into Great Britain under the dairy prohibition. Cambridge China Bridge checks whether a product can be imported before any order is placed.
Whey concentrate duty and import eligibility
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3502 includes concentrates of two or more whey proteins containing more than 80% whey proteins by weight on the dry matter. A supplier's concentrate description alone does not establish this classification. Specify composition, protein basis, physical form and intended use. See the whey protein isolate guide for the wider heading.
The supplied China lines show 0% for milk albumin unfit, or to be rendered unfit, for human consumption, £103 per 100 kg for dried edible forms and £13 per 100 kg for other edible forms. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is listed on these lines. Chinese food-grade whey protein concentrate is prohibited from import into Great Britain; the duty table does not establish permission to import.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches veterinary control requiring a common health entry document for animal products. For a proposed laboratory or industrial grade from China, ask your customs broker to confirm eligibility, documents and the applicable import route before dispatch. Confirm the commodity code against the specification. Powder and flakes share the dried code in the table.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whey protein concentrate unfit, or to be rendered unfit, for human consumption | 3502 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Dried edible whey protein concentrate powder | 3502 20 91 00 | £103.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Edible whey protein concentrate in other forms | 3502 20 99 00 | £13.00 per 100 kg | None |
Specify dry-matter protein and intended use
Establish import eligibility before placing a food-grade order. A supplier's food-grade certificate does not overcome the Chinese dairy prohibition. For any proposed non-food purchase, document the actual use and ask your broker to confirm the route before committing to manufacture or freight.
Specify milk source, whey protein composition, protein content on the dry-matter basis, moisture, lactose, fat and ash. Agree the assay method and reporting basis, rather than accepting an unexplained protein result. Request a batch certificate of analysis and retain an approved sample.
Define the performance you will test: dissolution, sediment, foaming or gel formation in your own process. Agree sampling, acceptance criteria, storage conditions and moisture-resistant packing with the factory.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative only: 100 kg of whey protein concentrate unfit for human consumption, for a laboratory business, conditional on confirmation of import eligibility and veterinary requirements under 3502 20 10 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,000, so it is £800. 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 milk source, intended use and batch number across the specification, analysis certificate and bags.
Composition: check protein, moisture, lactose, fat and ash against the agreed specification and reporting basis.
Performance: compare dissolution, sediment and the relevant foaming or gel test with the retained sample.
Packing: inspect seals, liners, caking, unusual odour and moisture damage. Plan sampling with the inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
The main purchasing failure is treating a tariff rate or supplier certificate as import permission. Chinese food-grade whey protein concentrate is prohibited in Great Britain. Calling a shipment non-food without establishing its actual use and applicable route leaves the eligibility question unresolved.
Protein results can differ because the factory and buyer use different assay methods or moisture bases. A batch can meet the protein figure yet dissolve poorly or arrive caked. Agree methods, compare retained and arriving samples, and investigate discrepancies before accepting the batch.
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 whey protein concentrate from China?
Relevant lines show 0% for grades unfit for human consumption, £103 per 100 kg for dried edible forms and £13 per 100 kg otherwise. No trade remedy or suspension is listed. These rates do not override the dairy prohibition.
Can I import Chinese whey protein concentrate for food production?
Chinese food-grade whey protein concentrate is prohibited from import into Great Britain under the dairy prohibition. Establish eligibility before ordering; a supplier certificate does not override it.
Does whey protein concentrate always fall under heading 3502?
The heading covers concentrates of two or more whey proteins containing more than 80% whey proteins by weight on the dry matter. Confirm composition and classification rather than relying on the product name.
Can I import a non-food whey concentrate for laboratory use?
Do not assume permission from the 0% tariff rate. Veterinary control is attached. Ask your customs broker to confirm eligibility, the actual laboratory use, required documents and the applicable route before dispatch.