Sourcing artificial flowers and plants from China
Artificial flowers, foliage, fruit and plants from China pay 4% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. They fall under the general product safety requirement, and venues and retailers add their own tests: UV stability for outdoor use and fire performance for events and hospitality. Cambridge China Bridge sources artificial flowers and plants for retail, events and interiors.
Artificial flowers, foliage and plants pay 4% UK duty from China. Materials, UV stability for outdoor use, fire performance for venues and freight by volume.
Duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, artificial flowers, foliage and fruit and articles made of them carried 4% duty on goods from China, both of plastics and of other materials, with no anti-dumping measure.
Artificial plants are light and bulky, so freight is charged on volume and the landed price depends on how well the stems nest in the carton. Ask the factory for the carton volume per hundred stems when it quotes.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial flowers, foliage and fruit of plastics | 6702 10 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Artificial flowers, foliage and fruit of other materials | 6702 90 00 00 | 4% | None |
Safety and customer tests
Regulation 5(1) of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 requires a producer to place only safe products on the market. Artificial flowers are low risk, but decorative items with small parts sold where children can reach them should be checked against the toy safety guide if they could be treated as playthings.
Commercial buyers set their own requirements. Hotels, restaurants and event venues often ask for fire performance evidence for decorations, and outdoor planters need UV-stabilised materials so the colour holds. Ask the buyer which test they need, and get it from the factory before production rather than after.
Materials and realism
Price follows realism: polyester fabric petals, PE and PU real-touch flowers, and injection-moulded foliage are different products at different prices. Approve a physical sample of each stem, with the colour judged in daylight, and keep it as the reference for inspection.
Wire stems should bend and hold without the covering splitting, and glued parts should not come away in transit; test both on samples.
Minimums and seasons
Minimums are set per stem design and colour, and the busy seasons are weddings and Christmas, so order early for both. The Christmas decorations guide covers festive ranges.
Cambridge China Bridge sources artificial flowers, foliage and plants for retail, events and interiors, with samples approved, customer tests arranged and cartons planned for freight. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on artificial flowers from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, artificial flowers, foliage and fruit carried 4% duty from China, of plastics or other materials, with no anti-dumping duty.
Do artificial flowers need fire testing?
No product-specific UK law requires it, but hotels, restaurants and event venues often ask for fire performance evidence, so agree the test with the buyer before production.
Which artificial flowers work outdoors?
Those made from UV-stabilised materials, which hold their colour in sunlight. Ask the factory for the material and a UV test.
How is freight on artificial plants charged?
By volume, because they are light and bulky, so ask for the carton volume per hundred stems with the quote.