Sourcing aluminium butter wrappers from China
Aluminium foil butter wrappers and related foil stock from China carry standard UK duty of 6% to 10%, depending on backing and processing. Some unbacked embossed rolls also carry anti-dumping duty. Wrappers must meet food-contact rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium foil butter wrappers.
Duty on butter wrappers and foil stock
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7607 covers aluminium foil not exceeding 0.2 mm thick, excluding backing, whether printed or backed with paper or plastics. Paper-backed butter wrappers with an aluminium layer under 0.021 mm fall within the backed-foil description for 7607 20 10 00, carrying 10% duty from China. The table also includes unbacked stock for wrapper production.
Other unbacked worked foil under 7607 19 10 90 carries 6%. The listed unbacked embossed rolls under 7607 19 10 19 carry 7.50% plus residual anti-dumping duty of 35.60%; exporter-specific rates may apply. Converter foil under 7607 11 19 91 carries 6%, with a conditional 0.00% suspension for reels meeting every listed specification. That suspension is not a general relief for finished backed wrappers. These selected lines show no countervailing duty or attached import controls.
Give your broker the layer construction, aluminium thickness, processing details and roll weight to confirm the commodity code. See the wider aluminium foil guide. Ask HMRC or your broker whether and when goods under heading 7607 fall within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism; request supplier emissions data and review the UK carbon border adjustment guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-backed butter-wrapper foil, aluminium layer under 0.021 mm | 7607 20 10 00 | 10% | None |
| Unbacked printed wrapping foil under 0.021 mm, other | 7607 19 10 90 | 6% | None |
| Unbacked embossed foil stock, 0.007 to under 0.021 mm, rolls up to 10 kg | 7607 19 10 19 | 7.5% | 35.60% residual anti-dumping |
| Unbacked converter foil stock for wrapper production | 7607 11 19 91 | 6% | None |
Specify the laminate and wrapping-machine fit
Specify the aluminium alloy and thickness separately from the paper backing, adhesive and food-contact coating. Identify which face touches the butter. Agree sheet dimensions or reel width, print repeat, winding direction, core dimensions, splice marking and artwork. Approve samples folded around your actual butter block and trial reels on your wrapping machine.
Butter wrappers must comply with the general food-contact framework in Great Britain. Ask for the manufacturer's declaration and migration reports covering the supplied construction and intended butter contact, including storage conditions. Have a laboratory assess whether the evidence covers the backing, coating, adhesive and print. Arrange testing and certification support where the evidence needs review.
Agree checks for grease resistance, folding, separation of layers and odour. Confirm whether the wrapper is folded or sealed, and specify the sealing method where relevant. Keep an approved sample and record the agreed material construction so that repeat orders can be compared.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 kg of paper-backed butter-wrapper reels, illustrative under 7607 20 10 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,500. Duty at 10% is £350. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,850, so it is £770. Import taxes total £1,120; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £350 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Construction: check aluminium thickness separately from total laminate thickness, backing identity and coating side against the approved specification.
Surface and print: inspect pinholes over a light box, rubbed print, stains, odour and ink transfer onto the food-contact face.
Machine trial: check unwinding, curl, print registration, folds and any seal using the intended butter block and wrapping equipment.
Arrival and documents: check crushed cores, wet cartons, damaged sheet edges and batch identification against the order and test reports. Agree the checks through quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A wrapper can match the artwork but fail on the packing line. Curl causes feeding problems, weak folds spring open, pinholes expose the butter, and poorly bonded layers separate at corners. Print may rub off or transfer onto the contact face while reels are wound. Trial the finished printed laminate rather than approving bare foil alone.
A report for a different coating or backing does not establish the suitability of your ordered construction. Match the evidence to the supplied wrapper and investigate unexplained material changes before accepting the batch. Confirm with the relevant environmental regulator whether packaging supplied into the UK creates obligations for your business under packaging producer responsibility.
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 aluminium foil butter wrappers from China?
Thin backed foil under 7607 20 10 00 carries 10%. The selected unbacked stock carries 6% or 7.50%; listed embossed rolls also carry residual anti-dumping duty of 35.60%. Confirm the construction and code.
Does the paper backing count towards the tariff thickness?
No. Heading 7607 measures aluminium thickness excluding backing. Record aluminium thickness and total laminate thickness separately in the specification.
What food-contact documents should I ask the factory for?
Ask for the manufacturer's declaration and migration reports matching the finished wrapper, material layers and intended butter-contact conditions. Have the evidence reviewed if its scope is unclear.
How do I check whether the wrappers will run on my machine?
Trial printed production reels with your butter blocks. Check reel width, winding direction, core fit, print repeat, unwinding, folds and any seal before approving the order.