Sourcing cricket helmets from China

UK duty on cricket helmets

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6506 covers other headgear, including safety headgear. The relevant cricket-helmet lines are 6506 10 10 00 for plastics and 6506 10 80 00 for other materials. Both carry 2% duty for goods from China. Adult and junior variants share these material-based codes.

Neither safety-headgear line has a listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension. The plastics line has no attached controls. The other-materials line carries import and export controls on cat and dog fur. Imports and exports of that fur and products containing it are banned, including goods from China. Exclude it from linings and trim.

Confirm the finished helmet's construction and material classification through finding your commodity code. For another protective-helmet family within this heading, see the horse riding helmet guide.

Specify the helmet and grille together

Specify the intended adult or junior use, head circumference range, shell material, impact liner, padding, chinstrap, buckle and adjustment system. Define grille material, finish, mounting points and its position relative to the peak. Approve the assembled helmet with its supplied fixings, rather than approving the shell and grille separately.

The importer must indicate its name, registered trade name or trademark and postal address on the protective equipment. Plan this into the helmet artwork before production.

Ask for model-specific conformity assessment evidence and test reports identifying the shell, liner, grille, fixings and sizes supplied. Agree the cricket-specific test specification and intended ball use with the laboratory. Use testing and certification support to check that the documents describe the actual assembled product.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 900 cricket helmets under 6506 10 10 00, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £38,500. Duty at 2% is £770. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £39,270, so it is £7,854. Import taxes total £8,624; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £770 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shell and liner: check for cracks, dents, crushed liner material, loose padding and differences from the approved sample.

Grille and fixings: compare grille shape, peak clearance and mounting positions with the approved assembly; check coating damage, sharp edges, missing fasteners and loose attachments.

Fit and retention: measure the agreed head circumference range, check adjuster travel, and test chinstrap stitching, buckle engagement and strap slipping against the purchase specification.

Documents and packing: match model and size identifiers to the assessment evidence; check marking, importer details and English instructions. Confirm packing protects the grille and liner during quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A grille can look correct while its mounting position or clearance differs from the tested assembly. Substitute padding changes fit, straps slip through adjusters, and weak stitching loosens the retention system. Packing pressure can bend the grille or crush the liner before delivery.

Another failure is accepting a report for a different shell, grille or size range. Keep an approved assembled sample and a component specification, compare production against both, and hold stock with damage or unexplained component changes while the supplier and assessment provider resolve the discrepancy.

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.