Sourcing vegetable ivory ornaments from China

Duty on carved vegetable ivory ornaments

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 9602 covers worked vegetable or mineral carving material and its articles, alongside specified moulded or carved materials and unhardened gelatin articles. Carved vegetable ivory ornaments are the plant-material product family covered here. The supplied tariff lists only hand-made and other lines, so the table contains those entries.

Both lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. Confirm the material and manufacturing method before choosing the commodity code. For another product family within the wider heading, see beeswax foundation sheets.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches Veterinary control to both lines, with wording concerning products of animal origin. APHA states that detailed animal-product import conditions are given in commodity-specific guidance. No ornament-specific determination was verified here. Give your customs broker the material declaration, including coatings and adhesives, and confirm what the attached control requires for your shipment from China.

Specify the plant material and carved finish

Ask the supplier to identify the plant material and its source in writing, and list dyes, coatings, adhesives and attached parts. Agree whether the ornament is hand-carved or machine-worked, its dimensions, carving depth, base shape and acceptable natural colour variation. Keep an approved sample showing the permitted finish and visible grain.

Consumer ornaments supplied in Great Britain must be safe under the general product safety rules. Review pointed details, sharp edges, detachable fittings and stability when approving the design. Specify individual wrapping and carton dividers that protect projecting carvings without rubbing the polished surface.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,500 hand-carved ornaments, illustrative only under 9602 00 00 10, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,700. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,700, so it is £740. 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: compare the supplier declaration and production samples with the approved material; investigate unexpected weight, texture or colour.

Carving: check for cracks, chipped tips, rough recesses, filled defects and loss of detail against the approved sample.

Finish and stability: check colour transfer with an agreed rubbing test, inspect coating coverage and confirm that freestanding ornaments sit securely.

Packing and identification: inspect individual protection, dampness, mould and carton movement; check product descriptions and batch identification. Repeat these checks on arrival before releasing stock.

What goes wrong

Common rejection points include chipped projections, cracks around thin carved sections, uneven dye, rough surfaces and unstable bases. Agree which natural variations are acceptable before production. Photograph rejected examples and compare production samples with the retained approval sample.

A description such as ivory ornament leaves the actual material unclear. Use a specific plant-material description consistently on the order, invoice and supplier declaration, and resolve the attached control before shipment. Use the quality inspection guide to organise checks.

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.