Asbestos products from China: the UK ban
Asbestos fibres, mixtures and articles have tariff lines under heading 6812, but UK REACH prohibits the manufacture, placing on the market and use of asbestos fibres and of articles and mixtures containing them added intentionally. The real risk is asbestos inside other products, such as gaskets or heat-resistant parts, so ask for testing.
Tariff lines exist, supply is banned
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 6812 covers fabricated asbestos fibres, mixtures with a basis of asbestos or of asbestos and magnesium carbonate, and articles of such mixtures, split by crocidolite and other asbestos. Rates are 0% or 2%, with 0% under authorised use for civil aircraft lines, and no anti-dumping measure.
Entry 6 of Annex XVII to UK REACH prohibits the manufacture, placing on the market and use of asbestos fibres (crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, actinolite, tremolite and chrysotile) and of articles and mixtures containing these fibres added intentionally. Only articles already installed or in service before 1 January 2005 are treated differently, so a new article of asbestos from China cannot be supplied in Great Britain.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Suspension or relief | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crocidolite fibres and mixtures, for civil aircraft | 6812 80 10 10 | 0% | authorised use | None |
| Crocidolite fibres and mixtures, other | 6812 80 10 90 | 0% | — | None |
| Other crocidolite articles, for civil aircraft | 6812 80 90 10 | 0% | authorised use | None |
| Other crocidolite articles, other | 6812 80 90 90 | 2% | — | None |
| Asbestos clothing, accessories, footwear and headgear | 6812 91 00 00 | 2% | — | None |
| Other asbestos fibres and mixtures, for civil aircraft | 6812 99 10 10 | 0% | authorised use | None |
| Other asbestos fibres and mixtures, other | 6812 99 10 90 | 0% | — | None |
| Other asbestos articles, for civil aircraft | 6812 99 90 10 | 0% | authorised use | None |
| Other asbestos articles, other | 6812 99 90 90 | 2% | — | None |
Keeping asbestos out of your imports
The goods most likely to contain asbestos without saying so are gaskets and seals, heat-resistant boards and textiles, brake and clutch parts, some cements and fillers, and products made from minerals such as talc or vermiculite that can carry asbestos contamination. Write an asbestos-free requirement into the specification, and ask for test reports from a laboratory competent in asbestos analysis for any product in these groups.
If asbestos is found after import, the goods must not be supplied and must be dealt with as asbestos waste, which is costly. See our friction materials guide for asbestos-free brake parts.
Why there is no duty example
Duty is not the question for these goods: new articles containing asbestos fibres added intentionally cannot be placed on the GB market, so there is no lawful import for sale to cost. The costs that matter are testing at-risk products before shipment and, if asbestos is found, disposal as asbestos waste.
Inspection checklist
Specification: check the asbestos-free clause in the order.
Testing: check laboratory reports for at-risk products.
Documents: check material declarations from the supplier. See our quality inspection guide.
What goes wrong
Asbestos problems come from goods nobody thought to test. Gaskets, heat-resistant parts or mineral products arrive containing asbestos, the goods cannot be sold, and disposal costs more than the order.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
Can asbestos products be imported into the UK?
Articles and mixtures containing asbestos fibres added intentionally cannot be placed on the GB market under UK REACH Annex XVII entry 6.
Why does heading 6812 have duty rates?
The tariff classifies goods; a duty rate does not make them lawful to supply.
Which imports are at risk of containing asbestos?
Gaskets, heat-resistant boards and textiles, brake and clutch parts, some fillers, and talc or vermiculite products.
How do I prove products are asbestos-free?
Put an asbestos-free clause in the order and get test reports from a laboratory competent in asbestos analysis.