Sourcing xylanase enzymes from China

Zero duty and a veterinary-control flag

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 3507 covers enzymes and prepared enzymes not elsewhere specified or included. Xylanase preparations should be checked against the residual line 3507 90 90 90. The table shows different product forms under that same code, rather than separate tariff lines.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension on this line. It attaches veterinary control. Confirm with your customs broker whether the preparation's enzyme source, carrier and other ingredients trigger that control. Where veterinary checks apply to animal products entering Great Britain, entry must be through an approved border control post; confirm the documents and China's eligibility for the specific product before shipping.

Send the full formulation and intended use to your broker and confirm the commodity code. For related enzyme sourcing within this heading, see the cellulase guide.

Specify xylanase activity and intended use

Specify powder, granule or liquid form, production organism and strain, carrier ingredients, xylanase activity and the assay substrate. Agree the activity unit, assay temperature and acidity, sample preparation and acceptance method. Ask for a batch certificate using that method and trial a sample in your actual process.

For food use, confirm how the enzyme and intended application are treated with the Food Standards Agency. The domestic food-enzyme list is not yet established; food enzymes remain subject to the applicable food-enzyme rules. Confirm with the relevant feed authority whether the exact feed enzyme preparation and intended use are authorised for Great Britain. Do not treat a supplier's food-grade description as evidence of feed authorisation.

Agree storage conditions, packaging and retained activity on arrival. For powders, assess dust; for liquids, agree protection against heat exposure. Include microbiological and heavy-metal specifications for food or feed grades, and arrange testing and certification support around the agreed specification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of liquid xylanase preparation under 3507 90 90 90, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £23,800, so it is £4,760. 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: check the production strain, carrier and formulation against the approved sample and batch documents.

Activity: test retained and arrival samples using the contracted xylanase assay, rather than comparing unlike supplier units.

Condition: check liquid leakage, powder caking, granule breakdown and any recorded storage or transport excursions.

Traceability: match container labels, lot references and certificates, and check the documents supporting the intended food or feed use.

What goes wrong

A high activity figure can conceal a different substrate or assay method. Heat exposure can reduce liquid activity, while damaged powder packaging allows moisture ingress and caking. A preparation can pass the laboratory assay yet perform poorly in the buyer's process. Agree both the assay and a practical application trial before approving bulk supply.

Paperwork can describe a different production strain or omit a carrier ingredient. That undermines both specification checks and the assessment of food, feed or veterinary requirements. Resolve discrepancies before dispatch and retain batch samples for comparison with arrival testing.

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.