Sourcing artificial corsages from China

UK duty and corsage materials

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6702 covers artificial flowers, foliage and fruit, their parts and articles made from them. Artificial corsages fall within this family. The supplied data shows 4% duty for goods from China under both material lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions.

The other-material line carries CITES import and export controls. Permits are required for species listed in the relevant annexes. If a corsage includes natural plant or animal parts, identify the species and ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for the shipment from China. Do not assume every artificial corsage needs a permit.

Confirm the commodity code against the complete corsage and its materials before ordering. The table presents product variants sharing the supplied material codes, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. For the wider artificial flower product family, see the artificial wedding bouquets guide.

Flower colours, wristbands and pin fittings

Specify petal and foliage materials, flower shape, overall dimensions, ribbon colour, backing and attachment method. Distinguish pin-on corsages from wrist styles, and approve the finished arrangement rather than loose flower heads. Compare colours with the intended wedding fabrics in daylight and retain the approved sample.

For wrist corsages, agree band adjustment, stretch recovery and the position of the flower backing against the wrist. For pin-on styles, approve the pin closure and flower orientation on fabric. Businesses importing consumer products are responsible for their safety. Review sharp wire ends, loose decorations and fastenings during quality inspection.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 plastic artificial pin-on corsages under 6702 10 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £1,120 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,120. Duty at 4% is £164.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,284.80, so it is £856.96. Import taxes total £1,021.76; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £164.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Colour and arrangement: compare production corsages with the retained sample, checking petal shades, ribbon matching, flower position and visible glue.

Fastenings and comfort: open and close pin fittings, check closures hold, stretch wristbands and inspect backing edges for roughness or exposed wire.

Attachment and finish: handle and gently pull flowers, leaves and decorations; rub dark petals and ribbons against pale fabric to check colour transfer and shedding.

Packing and recovery: unpack corsages to check crushed petals recover, wristbands retain their shape and each pack contains the agreed style and colour.

What goes wrong

Corsages can arrive with flattened petals, mismatched ivory shades, crooked flower heads or ribbons that stain clothing. Loose glue joints allow flowers to rotate or detach. Approve the finished corsage on the intended fabric and inspect production stock against that sample.

Wristbands can lose stretch or leave the backing tilted against the skin. Pin closures may catch fabric or open during handling. Tight packing can distort the arrangement even when the loose sample looked acceptable. Agree packing with the finished sample and check it after unpacking.

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.