Sourcing artificial green wall panels from China

UK duty and material classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 6702 covers artificial flowers, foliage and fruit, their parts and articles made from them. Artificial foliage wall panels fall within this product family. The supplied tariff data lists 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. GOV.UK says permits are required for species listed in Annex A, B or C. If the panel incorporates natural material, identify its species and ask your customs broker to confirm whether the attached control applies to the shipment from China. Do not assume a tariff flag means every artificial panel needs a permit.

Confirm the commodity code against the foliage and backing materials before ordering. The table shows product variants sharing the available tariff lines. See the artificial flowers and plants guide for the wider heading.

Foliage coverage, backing and panel joints

Specify foliage material, leaf shapes, colour mix, panel dimensions, backing construction and connector positions. Approve joined samples against the intended wall background: sparse foliage and visible grid edges can look acceptable in a loose sample but leave gaps across an installed wall.

State indoor or outdoor use. For outdoor panels, request material details and weathering evidence for the foliage and backing. Hotels, restaurants and event venues often request fire performance evidence; agree their test method before production and check that the report describes the supplied materials and treatment.

Consumer products must be safe. Include leaf attachment, exposed wire ends and the proposed mounting arrangement in the sample review. Keep the approved joined sample as the reference for quality inspection.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative consignment of plastic artificial green wall panels 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

Coverage and colour: compare panels with the retained sample under daylight, then join them to check bare areas, repeating patterns and colour differences.

Backing and connections: check grid distortion, cracked clips and connector alignment; assemble and handle joined panels to expose weak joints.

Leaf attachment and finish: pull attached foliage, check exposed wire ends, rub dark leaves for colour transfer and inspect for shedding or sticky coatings.

Packing and evidence: check compressed foliage recovers after unpacking, carton contents match the order, and requested weathering or fire reports describe the supplied construction.

What goes wrong

Panels can arrive with flattened foliage, mismatched greens, brittle connectors or gaps that appear only after assembly. A factory may change the backing or leaf mix after sample approval. Record the approved materials and construction, and inspect assembled production panels rather than loose leaves alone.

Outdoor colour can fade, while coatings can become sticky in warm storage. Venues may reject panels when fire evidence describes a different material or treatment. Resolve these points before shipment and retain samples for comparison with later deliveries.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.