Sourcing Adhesive Backless Bras from China

Duty and classification for adhesive bras

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6212 covers brassières, girdles, corsets and similar articles and their parts. Other brassières under 6212 10 90 00 carry 6% duty from China. The supplied data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.

The table shows product variants against the same other-brassières line, subject to confirmation of the actual construction. Send your broker photographs, material details and a sample to confirm the commodity code, especially for all-silicone designs or products described as breast covers. See bras and lingerie for the wider heading.

Specify the adhesive, cup shape and care method

Specify the cup material, fabric covering, padding, adhesive formulation and coverage, release liner, clasp and side-wing construction. Agree cup dimensions, edge thickness, colours and the size breakdown against approved physical samples. Ask the factory to identify the adhesive supplier and record any formulation changes.

Agree how adhesion, removal, cleaning and reuse will be assessed. Include warm and perspiring wear conditions in the sample brief. General product safety rules require consumer products sold in Great Britain to be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Ask a laboratory to assess the finished skin-contact materials and adhesive, with support from testing and certification.

For textile bras, ask the relevant authority whether composition should be stated for the whole product or for the outside and inside fabric of the cups and back, together or separately. Confirm how the actual backless construction is labelled before approving artwork. Treat an all-silicone design separately when checking textile labelling applicability.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,000 adhesive backless bras under 6212 10 90 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 6% is £408. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,208, so it is £1,441.60. Import taxes total £1,849.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £408 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Adhesive: compare coverage and tack with the approved sample; check for dry patches, contamination, lifting liners and adhesive transfer during removal.

Fit and construction: measure cup depth, width and edge thickness across the ordered sizes; check symmetry, clasp engagement and side-wing attachment.

Cleaning and reuse: follow the agreed care instructions, then compare adhesion, cup shape and liner replacement with the approved sample. Support any reuse claim with recorded results.

Labels and packing: check the agreed composition information, size, application and removal instructions, care text and protective packaging. Include these checks in the quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Possible failures include cups lifting during warm wear, adhesive leaving residue, edges showing through clothing and a clasp pulling the cups out of position. Samples may also fit differently from production because the cup mould, padding or adhesive coverage changes.

Keep an approved sample and written acceptance criteria for adhesion, removal and fit. Inspect production pieces after the agreed cleaning and storage conditions. Investigate irritation reports and unsupported wear or reuse claims before releasing stock.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.