Sourcing haemostatic sponges from China

Duty on sterile absorbable haemostatic sponges

Heading 3006 includes sterile absorbable surgical or dental haemostatics. The relevant candidate code for these sponges is 3006 10 90 00. The table shows purchasing formats within this same tariff line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See the sterile surgical sutures guide for the wider surgical-materials family.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, this line carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for this line. This does not replace the medical-device checks before sale.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition, sterile status, intended use and product literature. Do not classify an ordinary cleaning sponge or a non-absorbable surgical sponge solely by its name.

Specify the sponge and its intended surgical use

Specify the material and its source, shape, dimensions, thickness, dry handling characteristics and pack contents. Ask for evidence supporting the manufacturer's absorption and haemostatic-performance claims, together with storage conditions, shelf life, sterilisation validation and sterile-packaging validation. Agree the remaining shelf life required on arrival.

Check the intended purpose and mode of action before accepting the supplier's regulatory description. A medical device's principal intended action must be physical or mechanical. For the medical-device route, check the applicable CE or UKCA marking and conformity documents, the overseas manufacturer's UK Responsible Person and MHRA registration before sale in Great Britain. Ask the supplier to explain its device classification rather than inferring it from the tariff code.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 10,000 individually packed sterile absorbable haemostatic sponges under 3006 10 90 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £64,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £64,000, so it is £12,800. 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 material, shape and dimensions to the agreed specification. Use designated inspection samples for destructive checks, keeping sale stock sealed.

Sterile packs: inspect seals, punctures, moisture damage and crushed cartons. Review packaging and sterilisation records; visual inspection cannot establish sterility.

Batch traceability: match pack batch references and expiry dates to release documents. Check the agreed remaining shelf life and storage instructions.

Documents: match the exact manufacturer and sponge model across conformity documents, registration evidence, labels and English instructions. Use testing and certification support to resolve gaps before release.

What goes wrong

A supplier may substitute a material or pack format while keeping the same product name. Documents can cover a different model, while absorption claims lack supporting evidence. Freeze the specification and require approval before substitutions.

Punctured pouches, weak seals, compressed sponges and short remaining shelf life can make a delivery unsuitable for its intended use. Keep damaged or mismatched batches separate pending review. Do not accept a sterility claim based only on an intact-looking carton.

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.