Sourcing plaque disclosing tablets from China
Dental plaque disclosing tablets entered as other oral hygiene preparations under 3306 90 00 00 carry 0% UK duty from China. Confirm the regulatory status and the effect of any medicinal claims with the MHRA before ordering; a human medicine needs marketing authorisation before sale. Cambridge China Bridge sources dental plaque disclosing tablets.
0% duty under the other oral hygiene line
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3306 covers preparations for oral or dental hygiene and retail dental floss. The relevant candidate line for this guide is 3306 90 00 00, other preparations. The table shows product and packaging variants sharing that line, subject to confirmation. See the toothpaste and oral care guide for the wider heading.
The recorded China duty for this line is 0%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. The tariff attaches an export control of mercury. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance and any requirement for your shipment from China before dispatch.
Give your broker the full formulation, intended use, claims and packaging to confirm the commodity code. Customs classification does not settle the product's regulatory status. Agree the intended sales territory and resolve that status before approving production.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other oral hygiene preparations: red-staining plaque disclosing tablets | 3306 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the dye system and intended use
Specify the colourants and their concentrations, flavour, sweetener, tablet weight, hardness, staining pattern and packaging. Agree an assessment method and retained sample for colour contrast, dispersion and staining persistence. If contrasting colours are claimed to distinguish plaque conditions, request evidence for that claim rather than accepting a colour chart alone.
Ask the MHRA to confirm whether the medicinal claims or active substances affect the product's regulatory status, using the actual formula, instructions and promotional wording. If classified as a human medicine, marketing authorisation is needed before sale; arrange a specialist review of the import route before placing an order.
If the product is confirmed as a cosmetic for Great Britain, confirm with the relevant authority the requirements for a Responsible Person and their address, a product information file, a qualified safety assessment and notification before sale. Have the colourants and artwork reviewed against that route. Agree the scope of testing and certification before approving the formula.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 100,000 plaque disclosing tablets, subject to classification under 3306 90 00 00, invoiced at £26,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £28,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £28,400, so it is £5,680. 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
Formula: compare batch documents with the approved formula, including colourant identity and concentration, flavour and sweetener. Request laboratory checks appropriate to the agreed formulation and regulatory route.
Performance: compare representative tablets with the retained sample using the agreed method. Check dispersion, staining contrast and consistency; inspect for excessive residual staining against the specification.
Tablet condition: check for cracks, crumbling, powder accumulation, sticking and changes in colour or smell. Compare tablet weight and hardness with the agreed tolerances.
Packaging and instructions: check blister seals or bottle closures, moisture damage, pack counts and batch identification. Match the printed instructions, warnings and claims to the reviewed artwork.
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What goes wrong
A satisfactory fresh sample can conceal moisture sensitivity. Tablets may soften, crumble or stain their packaging during storage. Test the actual formula in the proposed pack, and investigate damaged seals or colour changes before accepting stock.
Another failure is approving an oral hygiene sample while the final artwork introduces treatment or diagnostic claims. Review the formula, instructions and advertising together before printing. Keep the approved documents and retained samples so that later substitutions can be identified.
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 plaque disclosing tablets from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot records 0% for other oral hygiene preparations under 3306 90 00 00, with no trade remedy or suspension listed. Confirm that this code fits your tablets.
Are plaque disclosing tablets automatically cosmetics?
Do not assume this. Have the actual formulation, intended use and claims reviewed. Ask the MHRA to confirm whether medicinal claims or active substances affect the regulatory route and whether the product is classified as a medicine.
Can I sell tablets classified as a human medicine?
Marketing authorisation is needed before selling a human medicine. Arrange a specialist review of the product and import route before ordering from a Chinese factory.
What should I check when the tablets arrive?
Check tablet condition, staining performance against the approved sample, batch documents, pack counts, moisture protection and the printed instructions. Investigate formula or packaging substitutions.