Sourcing retail animatronics from China
Animatronic retail display figures for shop window dressing from China carry 0% UK duty under heading 9618. Cat and dog fur, including products made from it, is banned from import and export. Specify movement, controls and access to the mechanism. Cambridge China Bridge sources animatronic retail display figures.
Duty on animated shop window figures
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 9618 covers tailors' dummies and other lay figures, automata and other animated displays used for shop window dressing. The supplied tariff data contains a single commodity line, 9618 00 00 00. The display variants in the table share that line. See our wider mannequins and dress forms guide.
The supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. The tariff attaches import and export controls on cat and dog fur. Imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned. Specify synthetic coverings and ask for material identification rather than accepting an unspecified 'fur' description.
Confirm the commodity code using the figure's intended shop window use, photographs, mechanism description and complete supplied configuration. Do not assume that a toy, decorative ornament or separately supplied component uses the same code. The worked order is illustrative; see UK import duty and VAT for the calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animated human figures for shop window dressing | 9618 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the movement and installation
Define the character, overall dimensions, shell and covering materials, finish, base fixing and full movement envelope. Describe each moving part, its sequence, speed, pauses and return position. Agree operating hours, acceptable noise, indoor conditions and how staff reach the mechanism for maintenance.
Specify the power supply, supplied plug and adaptor, controller, trigger method, sound playback and restart behaviour after power loss. Approve a working sample using the actual costume and accessories. Check that clothing cannot catch in linkages and that visitors cannot reach moving joints.
Ask a compliance adviser to assess the complete powered figure against machinery rules before ordering. Where those rules apply, the responsible person must compile a technical file available on request and provide information necessary for safe operation. Use testing and certification support to agree the evidence needed for the supplied model.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2 tabletop animatronic retail display figures under 9618 00 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £590 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,090. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,090, so it is £618. 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
Movement: run the agreed sequence repeatedly with the costume fitted; check smooth travel, return position, trigger response, abnormal noise and rubbing cables.
Installation: assemble the base and fixings; check stability throughout the movement envelope, access to the stop control and separation between visitors and moving parts.
Finish and materials: compare paint, skin, clothing and synthetic covering with the approved sample; check cracked shells, loose seams, exposed sharp edges and material descriptions.
Arrival and packing: check transport restraints, protected hands and faces, labelled connectors and separately secured accessories; inspect for damage before powering up. Follow the quality inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A demonstration video can conceal jerky movement, noisy gears or a figure that only works without its costume. Ask for an uninterrupted run of the finished sample and agree inspection criteria for the complete motion sequence. Check that the production controller and power supply match the approved sample.
Loose transport restraints can let limbs strike the shell, while compressed coverings can foul joints after unpacking. Require clear unpacking and reassembly instructions, labelled connections and a packing arrangement that immobilises the mechanism without loading fragile fingers or facial parts.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on animatronic display figures from China?
The supplied tariff data shows 0% for shop window animated displays under 9618 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed.
Can an animated animal display have real cat or dog fur?
No. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur and products made from it are banned. Specify synthetic covering and confirm its material.
What should I approve before ordering an animatronic figure?
Approve a working sample with the final costume, controller and power supply. Agree the movement sequence, noise, trigger response, base fixing and maintenance access.
What should I check when the figures arrive?
Inspect shells, limbs, connectors and transport restraints before powering up. Assemble the base, fit the costume and run the agreed sequence while checking for rubbing, instability and abnormal noise.