Sourcing dental implants from China
Dental implants and related dental fittings under heading 9021 carry 0% UK duty from China, with no listed trade remedies. Before sale in Great Britain, check conformity assessment, the Chinese manufacturer's UK responsible person and device registration with the MHRA. Cambridge China Bridge sources dental implants.
Dental implant tariff lines
Heading 9021 includes artificial teeth and dental fittings within its wider coverage of artificial body parts and compensatory appliances. The table separates implant fixtures and abutments from artificial teeth used in restorations. Fixtures and abutments share a candidate code; they are separate buying categories rather than separate tariff lines.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, the dental lines shown carry 0% duty for goods from China. These lines have no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. This tariff position does not replace medical device compliance.
Confirm the commodity code using the actual component, material and intended use before declaring an implant system or a mixed shipment. For the wider medical device buying process, see medical instruments and devices.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental implant fixtures, subject to classification confirmation | 9021 29 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Plastic artificial teeth for implant-supported restorations | 9021 21 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Artificial teeth of other materials for implant-supported restorations | 9021 21 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the implant and its matching components
Give the factory a component schedule covering implant material, surface treatment, body shape, diameter, length, connection geometry, abutments and screws. Define the compatible instruments and the manufacturer's tightening instructions. Ask for evidence supporting compatibility rather than accepting a statement that components fit a familiar system.
Agree whether each component is supplied sterile, its packaging, storage conditions and shelf life. Request material traceability, mechanical test reports, biocompatibility evidence and, for sterile products, sterilisation validation and sterile barrier testing for the supplied model.
For Great Britain, manufacturers must meet relevant marking and conformity assessment requirements. The Chinese manufacturer needs a UK responsible person, and devices must be registered with the MHRA before market placement. If the importer is not that responsible person, it must notify the manufacturer or responsible person of its import intention; they supply importer details to the MHRA.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business order of dental implant fixtures under 9021 29 00 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. 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
Identity: match component references, sizes and materials to the order, drawings, conformity documents and packing list.
Connections: check dimensions, threads, seating surfaces and driver engagement on designated inspection samples; compare fixtures, abutments and screws as an assembled system.
Sterile packs: check seals, punctures, crushing, lot references and expiry markings on arrival. Keep stock with damaged barriers aside for investigation.
Documents: check English labels and instructions against approved artwork, confirm the applicable CE or UKCA marking, and retain lot-linked records. Plan quality inspection without opening stock intended to remain sterile.
What goes wrong
Similar-looking connections can conceal different tolerances, leaving abutments poorly seated or screws unable to engage correctly. Surface residues, damaged threads and inconsistent machining can escape a visual check. Agree drawing-based acceptance criteria and inspection samples before production.
A certificate can describe a different manufacturer or product family from the shipment. Damaged sterile packaging or inconsistent lot records also leave the buyer unable to reconcile stock with its supporting evidence. Hold affected goods while the supplier resolves the mismatch; a factory certificate alone does not settle product conformity.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on dental implants from China?
The dental lines in heading 9021 carry 0% duty from China in the supplied tariff reading, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the code for each component.
Can I sell a Chinese dental implant in Great Britain?
Check the device's conformity assessment and marking, the manufacturer's UK responsible person and MHRA registration before market placement. Customs clearance alone does not establish device compliance.
Can I mix implants and abutments from different factories?
Ask for drawing-based compatibility evidence and test the proposed assembly. Similar appearance or a shared system name does not establish matching connection geometry or tolerances.
What should I check when dental implants arrive?
Check model and size, lot and expiry markings, packaging integrity and matching documents. Use designated samples for dimensional and connection checks, preserving sterile sale stock.