Sourcing banana hair clips from China
Banana hair clips from China carry a flat 2% UK import duty across the relevant material lines, with no trade remedy recorded. Consumer clips sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Specify the curved arms, teeth and end clasp. Cambridge China Bridge sources banana hair clips.
Banana hair clip duty and material controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9615 covers combs, hair slides and similar accessories, hairpins and non-electric curling accessories. For banana clips, the relevant candidate lines distinguish hard rubber or plastics from other materials. The table separates product variants sharing a code; confirm classification from the finished clip's construction and composition.
The supplied record shows 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. It attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls: products containing such fur are banned. The other-material line also carries CITES import and export controls. For listed species materials, including parts or derivatives, confirm the required permits with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and your broker before ordering from China, including corresponding Chinese documentation.
Send photographs, the material breakdown and closure details to your broker using our commodity code guide. See the hair claw clips guide for related products within the wider heading. The worked order is illustrative, not a quotation; see our import duty and VAT guide for the calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain plastic banana hair clips, subject to classification | 9615 11 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Metal banana hair clips, subject to classification | 9615 19 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify curved arms, teeth and the end clasp
Specify the body material, arm length, curvature, tooth spacing and tip shape. Describe how the clip opens and fastens, including the hinge and end clasp. Agree the hair types and amount of hair it should hold. Approve a sample on fine and thick hair, checking whether it closes without forcing the arms together or trapping strands in the clasp.
Consumer products sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Assess sharp tooth tips, clasp pinch points and detachable decorations. Agree screening of plastics and coatings for restricted substances with your testing provider. For children's styles, confirm whether a design intended for play would be treated as a toy.
Agree colour, surface finish, decoration attachment and retail artwork against a packed sample. Include importer address details and necessary warnings in the packaging brief, confirming applicable requirements with the relevant authority. Pack the curved arms without bending them or placing pressure on the clasp.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of assorted plain plastic banana hair clips for a shop's retail range under 9615 11 00 00, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 2% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,568, so it is £1,713.60. Import taxes total £1,881.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Closure: repeatedly open and fasten sampled clips to the agreed test programme; check hinge movement, clasp engagement and cracking around the fastening points.
Teeth and grip: check alignment, rounded tips and moulding flash; try the approved hair types for slippage, snagging and comfortable removal.
Finish and decoration: compare colours with the approved sample, check coating damage and colour transfer, and test decoration attachment using the agreed method.
Arrival and packing: check bowed arms, broken teeth and crushed retail cards; reconcile colours and pack counts and compare labels with approved artwork. Apply the same checks during quality inspection before dispatch.
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What goes wrong
A banana clip can close when empty yet spring open around thick hair. Misaligned arms leave the end clasp under strain, while a loose clasp lets fine hair escape. Check fastening and grip with the intended hair types after repeated opening, rather than accepting the batch by colour and appearance alone.
Brittle plastic can crack at the hinge or clasp, rough tooth edges can snag hair, and decorations can detach. Packing that bends the curved arms can spoil alignment before arrival. Record defects by design and colour and agree corrective work before accepting the batch.
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 banana hair clips from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 2% across the relevant material lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded.
Which commodity code applies to plastic banana clips?
9615 11 00 00 covers hard-rubber or plastic hair slides and similar accessories. Ask your customs broker to confirm the finished banana clip's classification from its materials and construction.
How do I check whether banana clips hold thick hair?
Test production samples on the agreed hair types. Check whether the clasp fastens without forcing the arms, stays engaged during wear and releases without snagging after repeated opening.
Can banana clips contain animal materials?
Products containing cat or dog fur are banned. Listed species materials can trigger CITES controls; confirm the species, permits and Chinese documentation with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and your broker before ordering.