Sourcing artificial flower heads from China

UK 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. Flower heads fall within this family. The supplied data shows 4% duty for goods from China under both the plastic and other-material lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions.

The other-material line carries CITES import and export controls. Official guidance says species listed in Annex A, B or C require permits. If heads incorporate natural material, identify its species and ask your customs broker to confirm the requirement for the shipment from China. The tariff flag alone does not establish that every artificial flower head needs a permit.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual materials and construction before ordering. The table shows flower-head variants sharing the supplied tariff lines. See the artificial flowers and plants guide for the wider heading.

Petal shape, colour and attachment bases

Specify the flower design, open or closed shape, diameter, depth, petal material, surface finish and colour reference. State whether heads are supplied loose, with a stem socket or with a flat attachment base. Approve physical samples in daylight and retain them as the reference for quality inspection.

Try the heads on the intended stems, wreath bases or display panels. Check socket fit, base visibility, adhesive compatibility and whether petals recover after packing. Agree colour proportions for mixed cartons and require approval before the factory changes petal material, coating or base construction. For finished bouquets, see our artificial wedding bouquet sourcing guide. For hanging arrangements, see our guide to artificial flower hanging baskets.

Consumer products must be safe, and businesses importing or selling them are responsible for their safety. Review loose centres, detachable petals and any exposed wire. For venue orders, agree the customer's fire performance evidence before production and check that it describes the supplied material and treatment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative consignment of plastic artificial flower heads for a decoration business 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 colour: compare unpacked heads with retained samples in daylight; check bloom depth, petal arrangement and shade consistency across cartons.

Attachment and assembly: fit heads to the intended support; pull petals and centres, check socket cracks and inspect bases for exposed wire or excess glue.

Surface finish: rub dark petals for colour transfer, check shedding and inspect soft coatings for tackiness or odour after warm storage.

Packing and assortment: check crushed petals recover, bases have not punctured neighbouring heads, and designs and colours match the agreed carton contents.

What goes wrong

A loose sample can look correct while the packed order arrives flattened, with creased petals or detached centres. Shade differences become more visible when heads are grouped in a wreath or wall display. Inspect grouped production heads and unpack samples from the proposed shipping cartons.

Sockets may not fit the buyer's stems, flat bases may show through a display, and coatings can become sticky in storage. Record the approved base construction and materials, test the intended assembly and resolve substitutions 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.