Sourcing aluminium foil yoghurt lids from China
Aluminium foil yoghurt lids from China have candidate UK duty rates of 6% to 10%, depending on thickness, backing and presentation. Packaging used for yoghurt must be suitable for food use. Match the sealing layer to the cup and obtain evidence covering the finished lid. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium foil yoghurt lids.
Duty on yoghurt lids and lidding foil
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7607 covers aluminium foil, whether printed or backed, with aluminium thickness not exceeding 0.2 mm excluding backing. The table gives candidate lines for finished yoghurt lids and conversion rollstock. Describe the complete construction and imported form; a trade name alone does not settle classification.
The selected unbacked lines carry 6% duty for goods from China; backed foil under 0.021 mm excluding backing carries 10%. These lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no attached import controls. The suspension under 7607 19 90 96 is restricted to a specified battery-cathode laminate, so it does not cover yoghurt lids. Other thin, embossed small-roll lines in this heading carry 7.50% duty plus 35.60% residual anti-dumping duty.
Ask your broker to confirm the commodity code from the layer specification, foil thickness and whether you import cut lids or rolls. Do not assume lacquer is a backing. For related constructions, see the induction sealing foil liners guide. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether and when the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism applies to your goods under heading 7607; review the UK carbon border adjustment guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other worked, unbacked foil under 0.021 mm, including suitable lid constructions | 7607 19 10 90 | 6% | None |
| Other worked, unbacked foil from 0.021 mm to 0.2 mm, including suitable lids | 7607 19 90 96 | 6% | None |
| Backed lidding foil under 0.021 mm, excluding backing thickness | 7607 20 10 00 | 10% | None |
| Unbacked worked foil rollstock, 0.03 mm to under 0.2 mm, without internal layers | 7607 19 90 75 | 6% | None |
Specify the lid against the actual yoghurt cup
Send the factory the cup material, rim drawing and production cups. Specify lid outline, pull-tab position, aluminium thickness, backing if any, embossing, print artwork and heat-seal coating. Agree the sealing temperature, pressure and dwell time through trials on your equipment, together with peel behaviour and leak-test acceptance criteria.
Packaging used for food must be suitable for food use. Ask for the alloy, coating and adhesive identities, the manufacturer's food-contact statement and migration reports relevant to the finished construction. Request evidence covering yoghurt contact, filling conditions and refrigerated storage. A report for bare foil alone does not establish the suitability of a printed, coated lid.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of unbacked, die-cut aluminium foil yoghurt lids under 7607 19 90 96, 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
Fit and feeding: compare the outline and tab with approved samples, check rim coverage, and trial separation and feeding of stacked lids.
Seal and peel: seal samples onto your production cups, inspect the whole rim, test for leaks and check that peeling does not tear the foil or leave fragments.
Surface and print: inspect for pinholes, creases, coating gaps, scratches, print rubbing and ink transfer onto the food-contact face.
Arrival and records: check cartons for moisture and crushing, inspect lid stacks for distortion, and match batch identifiers to the approved artwork, material specification and reports. Agree these checks in the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A lid can fit the cup but seal poorly because its coating does not match the rim material or the machine settings. Wrinkles and contaminated rims can create leak paths; an overly strong seal can tear the lid during opening. Trial the complete cup-and-lid combination before approving production.
Thin foil, damaged tabs and distorted stacks cause handling failures. Print can rub off or transfer between stacked lids. Keep an approved sample and require approval before changes to foil, coating, adhesive or ink. Separate visual acceptance from food-contact evidence: a clean-looking lid can still have unsuitable supporting documents.
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 yoghurt lids from China?
The selected candidate lines carry 6% for unbacked worked foil and 10% for backed foil under 0.021 mm excluding backing. These lines show no anti-dumping duty. Confirm the complete construction and imported form.
What food-contact documents should I ask the factory for?
Ask for the alloy and layer specification, the manufacturer's food-contact statement and migration reports covering the finished lid, yoghurt contact and intended filling and storage conditions.
Will the same foil lid seal to different yoghurt cups?
Do not assume so. Match the heat-seal coating to the cup rim material and trial the lid on your production equipment. Check leakage and peel behaviour after refrigerated storage.
Does a heat-seal lacquer make a yoghurt lid backed foil?
Do not classify it from that description alone. Give your broker the layer construction, aluminium thickness and imported form so they can distinguish coatings from backing materials.