Sourcing artificial floral garlands from China
Artificial floral garlands from China carry 4% UK duty for both plastic and other-material lines, so the rate does not vary between them. Consumer decorations must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Check flower attachment, exposed wire and the intended display setting. Cambridge China Bridge sources artificial floral garlands.
Duty and material classification
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 floral garlands fall within this family. Both listed material lines carry 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure or tariff suspension recorded. The table repeats these codes for relevant garland descriptions.
The other-material line has CITES import and export controls attached. CITES specimens include real plants or animals, their parts and derivatives, and items made from them. Importing CITES specimens into Great Britain requires a permit. If a garland incorporates natural material, ask your customs broker to confirm whether the control applies to the actual components from China.
Give your broker the full material breakdown and a sample photograph to confirm the commodity code, particularly for fabric flowers combined with plastic foliage and wire. See the artificial flowers and plants guide for the wider heading. For wreaths, see our artificial floral wreath sourcing guide. For moss mats, see our artificial moss mat sourcing guide. For wearable floral decorations, see our artificial corsage sourcing guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic artificial floral garlands | 6702 10 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Artificial floral garlands of other materials | 6702 90 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the garland, flowers and hanging points
Specify overall length, decorated length, flower size and spacing, foliage density, colour references and the backbone material. State whether the garland should hang straight, drape around an arch or wrap around a rail. Approve a physical sample in that position, rather than judging only a factory photograph.
Agree indoor or outdoor use, end loops, joining method and how flowers attach to the backbone. For outdoor displays, ask for weathering evidence for the actual materials and colours. For venues, agree any requested fire performance test before production. Consumer garlands must meet the general product safety requirement. For separately purchased flowers, see our artificial flower head sourcing guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 plastic artificial floral garlands under 6702 10 00 00, invoiced at £25,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £28,000. Duty at 4% is £1,120. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £29,120, so it is £5,824. Import taxes total £6,944; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,120 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Shape and coverage: measure overall and decorated length, compare flower spacing and foliage density with the approved sample, and hang the garland to reveal bare sections.
Attachments and wire: pull glued flowers and leaves, flex the backbone, check covered wire ends and test hanging loops and joins under the intended display arrangement.
Colour and surface: compare batches in daylight, rub petals against a light cloth, and check for loose glitter, shedding flock and sticky coatings.
Packing and arrival: open cartons from the shipment, check crushed blooms and tangled lengths, and confirm that flowers recover their shape after unpacking. Record findings using the inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A garland can match the sample colour yet look sparse when hung because flowers bunch around joins or slide along the backbone. Weak glue lets blooms detach during unpacking, exposed wire scratches display surfaces, and compressed cartons leave petals creased. Approve the hanging arrangement and packing method alongside the product.
Outdoor colours can fade, dyes can transfer to walls, and coatings can become sticky in warm storage. A venue may also reject a decoration without the fire performance evidence it requested. Check these points on production samples before shipment.
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 artificial floral garlands from China?
Both listed material lines carry 4% duty. The tariff facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no tariff suspension.
Do artificial floral garlands need fire testing?
Venues may request fire performance evidence. Agree their test method before production and check that the report covers the supplied material and treatment.
Do artificial floral garlands need CITES permits?
The other-material code has CITES controls attached. Permits concern CITES specimens, including real plant or animal parts. Ask your broker to check the components rather than assuming every artificial garland needs a permit.
How do I check whether a floral garland will look full?
Approve flower spacing and foliage density on a physical sample hung in the intended arrangement. Check decorated length, bare joins and whether flowers move along the backbone.