Sourcing construction safety nets from China
Construction safety nets within heading 5608 pay a flat 8% UK duty from China, with no listed trade remedy. For nets intended to catch people, confirm applicable testing and labelling requirements, the relevance of BS EN 1263-1, and installation inspection and handover arrangements with HSE. Cambridge China Bridge sources construction safety nets.
A flat 8% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, heading 5608 covers knotted netting of twine, cordage or rope and made-up textile nets. This guide focuses on construction nets intended to catch falling people. See the wider nets and netting guide for other uses.
Every listed commodity line carries 8% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Nylon construction nets and nets made from other man-made fibres have separate lines.
Confirm the fibre, construction and whether the goods are made-up nets before choosing the commodity code. The table gives possible material-based lines, rather than interchangeable classifications. Use the duty and VAT guide when budgeting the shipment.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made-up nylon safety nets of twine, cordage or rope | 5608 19 11 00 | 8% | None |
| Other made-up nylon or polyamide safety nets | 5608 19 19 00 | 8% | None |
| Made-up safety nets of other man-made textile materials | 5608 19 30 00 | 8% | None |
| Other textile safety nets, where the material fits this line | 5608 90 00 90 | 8% | None |
Specify a net for catching people
State the intended personnel fall-arrest use, fibre, yarn construction, mesh size, knot type, finished dimensions and border rope construction. Agree how dimensions will be measured and identify the supplied attachment ropes. Specify outdoor weathering performance and storage instructions.
Confirm with HSE whether BS EN 1263-1 applies to your safety nets and which mesh, energy absorption, testing and marking provisions are relevant. Ask for reports identifying the actual net design and material, together with the applicable labels and test evidence. Arrange testing and certification checks before approving production.
Confirm with HSE the applicable arrangements for a competent person to inspect the safety-net system after installation and for a handover certificate documenting its safety. Plan this site acceptance separately from the factory inspection.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 8 made-up polyester construction safety nets under 5608 19 30 00, invoiced at £1,600 free on board, with £648 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,248. Duty at 8% is £179.84. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,427.84, so it is £485.57. Import taxes total £665.41; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £179.84 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Mesh and dimensions: measure sampled nets against the agreed specification, including mesh openings and finished shape.
Ropes and joints: check border rope attachment, knot tightness, joins and supplied attachment ropes for substitutions or damage.
Evidence and labels: match net identification, material and construction to the reports; check the safety-net labels and test evidence.
Arrival condition: inspect packaging and nets for cuts, abrasion, contamination and brittle yarn. Keep suspect stock separate while the supplier investigates.
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What goes wrong
A supplier may offer debris-catching mesh when the order calls for a net to catch people. Describe the intended use explicitly and assess the sample and reports together. A report for a different yarn, mesh or border construction does not establish the performance of the supplied design.
Thin yarn, slipping knots, weak border attachments and omitted weathering treatment can undermine the order. Missing labels also make matching nets to their evidence difficult. Use a quality inspection brief that checks the agreed construction and paperwork together.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on construction safety nets from China?
The supplied tariff data gives 8% on every line of heading 5608, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control.
Which standard covers construction safety nets?
Confirm with HSE whether BS EN 1263-1 applies and which safety-net requirements, testing and marking provisions are relevant. Ask for labels and test evidence matching the net design and material supplied.
Can I buy debris netting to catch falling workers?
Specify personnel fall-arrest use explicitly. Do not approve debris netting for that order without evidence establishing that the supplied design meets the safety-net specification.
Does a factory inspection replace inspection after installation?
Confirm with HSE whether a competent-person inspection of the installed safety-net system and a handover certificate are required before use.