Can China samples go straight to my overseas lab?
Yes. A UK sourcing company can arrange samples from China straight to you or your overseas laboratory, subject to recipient and carrier acceptance. Ask your own customs broker to confirm destination rules, paperwork and treatment before dispatch. Cambridge China Bridge can coordinate the China-side preparation through its own staff in China.
Agree the direct route and responsibilities
Give the sourcing company the actual delivery country, address, receiving contact and purpose: handling, comparison or laboratory testing. Agree who books transport, who handles destination clearance and who pays freight, clearance charges and any return or disposal costs. The sourcing company's UK address need not be the sample's delivery address.
Ask your own customs broker to confirm destination rules and specify the paperwork and customs treatment for the actual goods and intended use. HMRC's commercial sample relief guidance concerns imports into the UK. Do not use it as clearance instructions for a direct China-to-overseas shipment.
Get the recipient's acceptance before booking
Ask the buyer or laboratory to confirm its receiving address, contact, delivery arrangements and booking reference. For a laboratory, obtain a written submission brief covering the product version, tests requested, sample quantity, preparation, accessories and report recipient. Ask whether testing will consume or alter the sample and what happens afterwards. For samples accompanying sale stock, see splitting lab samples and pilot stock.
Confirm whether the laboratory will handle clearance or expects the buyer to arrange it. Do not name it as the clearance party without agreement. Use our testing and certification service to coordinate the brief. For a UK laboratory destination, see sending inspection samples to a UK laboratory.
Check acceptance for the actual contents
Send the proposed carrier a clear description of the contents, materials, condition, package dimensions and weight. Flag batteries, liquids, powders, chemicals or temperature-sensitive contents before booking. Ask the carrier to confirm acceptance for the specific China-to-destination service and identify any information or packing it needs.
Share the carrier's packing instructions with the laboratory so protective packaging does not compromise testing. If acceptance is unclear, pause dispatch and resolve it with the carrier. Compare collection, clearance and delivery scope rather than choosing by headline transit time; see express courier versus air cargo.
Keep the sample identifiable through delivery
Assign a sample identifier and record the factory, product version, drawing revision, materials and known deviations. Photograph the sample and its identifier before packing, then record which package contains it. Keep the dispatch record, tracking details and copies of the documents sent. Ask the broker what description, value and supporting documents to use; explain whether the sample is supplied free.
Ask the recipient to record arrival condition and confirm the identifier before handling or testing. If labels, contents or condition differ, resolve the mismatch before relying on findings. Our sample comparison service can help organise comparisons between identified factory samples.
Separate delivery from approval
A delivery confirmation shows receipt, not product acceptance. Ask for findings tied to the sample identifier: handling observations, measurements or the laboratory report, as appropriate. Check that the report names the intended version and requested tests, and record any exclusions, changes or unresolved findings.
Write the approval against the agreed brief, naming accepted features, supporting evidence and points still open. State whether it permits further development or production, and ask the factory to acknowledge that scope. Use approving a development sample remotely for the detailed approval method. Keep a reference sample where useful and agree how later changes will be reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
Must China samples pass through the UK?
No. Arrange direct delivery to your overseas address or laboratory once the recipient and carrier accept the shipment and your customs broker confirms destination arrangements.
Can my overseas laboratory receive the sample directly?
Yes, if it agrees to receive the identified sample. Confirm its submission brief, delivery contact and clearance arrangements before booking.
What paperwork should accompany a free sample?
Ask your destination customs broker to specify the description, value and supporting documents. Tell the broker that the sample is free and explain its intended use before preparing the paperwork.
Does a laboratory result approve bulk production?
Record a separate production decision. Match the findings to the sample version and agreed brief, list unresolved points and state exactly what the factory is authorised to do.