Sourcing copper frying pans from China

Zero duty on copper frying pans

Heading 7418 covers copper kitchen and household articles, domestic non-electric cooking or heating apparatus, scourers and sanitary ware. Copper frying pans fall within the kitchenware family. The table separates lining options within the hand-made and other kitchenware lines; these are product variants, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, all supplied lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. The duty range is therefore uniformly zero. Import VAT is separate; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the construction and manufacturing method before selecting the commodity code. Copper-plated steel or aluminium articles are classified by their base metal. For the wider heading context, see copper roasting pans.

Specify the copper body and frying surface

Specify the body material, wall and base thickness, rim diameter, usable cooking surface, sidewall shape, weight and handle attachment. Record whether the body is copper throughout or a layered construction. Agree the lining material and coverage, exterior finish, intended hob types and packing against an approved sample.

Confirm applicable requirements for constituent transfer from food contact surfaces with the relevant authority. Copper releases into acidic foods, so specify a suitable lining or obtain a food contact assessment. Specify lead-free tin linings. Ask for finished-pan migration testing matched to the intended cooking conditions through testing and certification.

Labelling, advertising and presentation of food contact articles must not mislead consumers. Match claims about copper construction and hob compatibility to the actual pan. Agree care instructions for the lining and handle. The importer remains responsible for product safety after sale.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tin-lined copper frying pans under 7418 10 90 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,100. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,100, so it is £620. 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

Body and base: compare dimensions, weight and measured thickness with the approved sample; check material identity, rim finish and base flatness.

Lining: inspect the cooking surface and rim for exposed copper, scratches and gaps; check bonding and review lead analysis and migration results for the supplied construction.

Handle and use: check rivets or welds for looseness, test the agreed handle load and trial the pan on every claimed hob type.

Finish and packing: inspect for dents, tarnish and polishing marks; check protective bags, separation between pans and protection around projecting handles. Use the quality inspection guide to agree shipment checks.

What goes wrong

A copper appearance can conceal a steel or aluminium body, changing both the specification and classification. Thin tin linings wear through, poorly bonded stainless linings separate, and loose handle rivets make a finished pan unacceptable. Polished exteriors can arrive dented or tarnished.

Keep the approved sample and construction specification with the inspection brief. Check material identity and lining coverage before shipment, then repeat arrival checks before releasing stock. Do not accept an induction claim solely from a catalogue description; trial the actual construction.

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.