Sourcing carved amber figurines from China

UK duty on carved amber figurines

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 9602 covers worked vegetable or mineral carving materials and their articles, carved or moulded natural resins and other listed materials, and unhardened gelatin articles. This guide focuses on carved amber figurines. Both supplied commodity lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions recorded.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches veterinary control to both lines. For animal products subject to veterinary checks, the Common Health Entry Document must accompany the consignment to its destination. The supplied tariff note concerns products of animal origin; it does not establish a requirement specifically for amber. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the control applies to your goods before shipment.

Confirm the material, any added components and the manufacturing method before selecting the commodity code. The file contains only the hand-made and other lines shown here. For the tax calculation, see UK import duty and VAT.

Specify the amber and the carving

Specify whether the figurine is carved from natural amber or made from pressed or reconstituted material. Ask the supplier to declare heating, colouring, fillers, coatings and repairs. Agree the design, dimensions, weight range, colour variation, acceptable inclusions, surface finish and base. Keep an approved sample and photographs of acceptable natural variation.

Consumer ornaments supplied in Great Britain must be safe. Include checks for sharp chipped edges, detachable details and an unstable base in your inspection brief. Agree individual cushioning that supports protruding ears, tails and limbs without loading them. For material identification, arrange suitable laboratory examination through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: A mixed shipment of small hand-carved amber figurines, illustrative under 9602 00 00 10, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,000, so it is £800. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Material: check that the supplier's declaration and any laboratory findings match the ordered material and declared treatments; appearance alone is insufficient.

Carving: compare proportions and detail with the approved sample; inspect recesses and projections for cracks, chips, rough tool marks and repairs.

Finish and stability: check polish, surface residue, sharp edges, loose components and whether each figurine stands securely on its intended base.

Packing and arrival: check individual cushioning, separation between pieces and carton identification; photograph damage before removing the packing. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

Orders can fail when the delivered material differs from the sample, treatments are undeclared, or natural colour variation exceeds the agreed range. A polished surface can conceal repaired cracks. Record the material description and acceptable variation in the purchase specification, and examine production samples rather than relying on catalogue photographs.

Fine projections can break when cushioning presses against them or pieces touch in transit. Inspect the packing arrangement before dispatch and compare arrival damage with the pre-shipment photographs. Keep damaged pieces and their packing together while discussing the cause with the supplier.

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.