Sourcing bobby pins from China

Bobby pin duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 18 October 2026, heading 9615 covers combs, hair slides, hairpins, curling pins, grips and non-electric curlers. Metal bobby pins fall within the hairpin and grip family under 9615 90 00 00. The table shows product variants using the same tariff line.

The supplied data records 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The bobby pin line carries cat and dog fur import and export controls. Imports and exports of these furs and products made from them are banned, including Chinese products with such decorations.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual construction and presentation before shipment. For other products within the heading, see the hair claw clips guide.

Specify the spring, tips and finish

Specify steel grade, pin length, wire thickness, straight or waved shape, opening gap and the grip expected on the intended hair type. Approve a physical sample and agree how repeated opening will be checked. Record the coating colour, gloss, tip covering and retail card layout.

Confirm with the relevant product safety authority which general product safety requirements apply to consumer hair accessories in Great Britain. Check sharp edges and exposed points, and avoid detachable small decorations on products marketed for young children. Agree restricted-substance screening for coatings and plastics, with nickel-release testing where metal sits against the skin.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order only: 50,000 coated metal bobby pins under 9615 90 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

Grip: compare sampled pins with the approved sample on the intended hair type; check that repeated opening does not leave the arms spread or twisted.

Tips and edges: check that tip coverings are secure and smooth, with no exposed cut ends, burrs or surfaces that snag hair.

Finish: inspect coating coverage and adhesion, check colour transfer on light hair, and examine samples for rust after the agreed corrosion test.

Packing: count pins per card, check colour assortment and barcode, and verify the UK address and relevant warnings. Record results through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Pins can match the sample colour while using steel that bends permanently or loses grip. Uneven arms and rough cut ends snag hair; thin tip coverings can detach and expose the metal. Compare function and finish with the approved sample before accepting the batch.

Poor coating adhesion leaves flakes on hair, while damp packing exposes weak corrosion protection. Reject mixed finishes, missing tip coverings and incorrect card counts against the agreed specification.

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.