Sourcing aluminium chocolate foil from China
Aluminium chocolate wrapping foil from China carries standard UK duty of 6% to 10%, depending on backing and processing. Certain plain or embossed small rolls also attract 35.6% residual anti-dumping duty. Wrappers used to package chocolate must be suitable for food use. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium chocolate wrapping foil.
Duty depends on the finished wrapper
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7607 covers aluminium foil not exceeding 0.2 mm thick, excluding any backing. Chocolate wrappers may be plain, embossed, printed or backed with paper or plastic. The table gives possible lines for those constructions, rather than a single code for every chocolate wrapper.
The selected lines carry standard duty of 6%, 7.5% or 10% for goods from China. Plain and embossed unbacked rolls, 0.007 mm to under 0.021 mm thick and weighing no more than 10 kg, carry 7.5% plus 35.6% residual anti-dumping duty; named exporters may have lower rates. Other worked thin unbacked foil carries 6%, while thin backed foil carries 10%. No suspension is listed for these selected lines.
Give your broker the aluminium thickness, backing composition, processing details and roll weight to confirm the commodity code. Describe printing, lacquering and cutting separately from embossing. For related constructions across the wider heading, see aluminium foil and butter wrappers.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain unbacked foil rolls, 0.007 to under 0.021 mm, up to 10 kg | 7607 11 11 19 | 7.5% | 35.60% residual anti-dumping |
| Embossed unbacked foil rolls, 0.007 to under 0.021 mm, up to 10 kg | 7607 19 10 19 | 7.5% | 35.60% residual anti-dumping |
| Other worked unbacked foil under 0.021 mm, including printed wrappers | 7607 19 10 90 | 6% | None |
| Paper- or plastic-backed foil, aluminium thickness under 0.021 mm | 7607 20 10 00 | 10% | None |
Specify the foil around the chocolate
Specify aluminium thickness separately from total laminate thickness, alloy and temper, sheet dimensions or roll width, and backing, lacquer and adhesive composition. Identify the chocolate-contact face. Agree artwork, colour references, embossing pattern, fold positions and packing orientation. Trial the wrapper around your actual bars, eggs or moulded chocolates, checking corners, overlap and whether folds stay closed.
If you package chocolate yourself, the wrapper must be suitable for food use. Ask for the manufacturer's declaration and migration reports for the finished construction, including coatings and backing. Explain the chocolate type, contact duration and storage conditions to the testing provider. Ask how the supplier checks ink transfer between stacked sheets or wound layers, using testing and certification support where needed.
Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether your aluminium foil falls within UK CBAM and whether the planned start date of 1 January 2027 applies to your imports. Ask the supplier about emissions information when planning repeat imports, and review the UK CBAM guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 cartons of printed chocolate wrapping sheets, illustrative only under 7607 19 10 90, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,200. Duty at 6% is £192. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,392, so it is £678.40. Import taxes total £870.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £192 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure aluminium thickness and sheet size or roll width against the agreed specification; check sheet counts, roll length and packing orientation.
Surface: hold samples against a light box for pinholes; inspect creases, edge tears, oil staining and odour on arrival.
Print and folding: compare colours and registration with the approved sample; rub and fold printed areas, check transfer onto the contact face, and wrap actual chocolates.
Construction and records: check backing adhesion and layer separation, carton dryness and batch identification. Match the supplied alloy, coatings and backing to the declaration and test reports at inspection.
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What goes wrong
Foil that looks acceptable flat can split at chocolate corners or spring open after folding. Thin spots, deep embossing and damaged edges can expose the chocolate. Poorly cured print can rub off or transfer between sheets, while rolling-oil residue can leave an odour. Compare wrapped samples as well as flat sheets.
A report for bare aluminium does not demonstrate the performance of your printed or laminated wrapper. Ask for evidence matching the supplied construction and agree approval before any material substitution. Keep damp cartons, visibly contaminated sheets and wrappers with unexplained odour out of the packing trial while investigating with the supplier.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on chocolate wrapping foil from China?
Standard duty on the selected lines is 6% to 10%. Certain plain or embossed small rolls carry 7.5% plus 35.6% residual anti-dumping duty. Confirm the construction and code before ordering.
Does paper-backed chocolate foil have the same duty as plain foil?
No. Backed foil with an aluminium layer under 0.021 mm falls under 7607 20 10 00 in the supplied data and carries 10% duty, with no anti-dumping measure listed.
What food-contact evidence should I ask for?
Ask for the alloy, manufacturer's declaration and migration reports matching the finished wrapper. Include its inks, coatings, adhesive and backing, and explain the chocolate and intended storage conditions.
How do I check foil before using it to wrap chocolate?
Check thickness, dimensions, pinholes, odour and print rubbing. Wrap actual chocolates to assess corner tearing and fold retention, then compare the delivered construction with the approved sample.