Sourcing denture adhesives from China
Denture fixative pastes and powders from China carry 0% UK duty under the other oral-care preparations line. Confirm the product's regulatory classification before ordering; medical devices need MHRA registration before entering the Great Britain market. Cambridge China Bridge sources denture adhesives.
Zero duty for denture fixative preparations
Heading 3306 covers oral or dental hygiene preparations, including denture fixative pastes and powders. This guide focuses on those preparations; the toothpaste and oral care guide covers the wider heading. The table shows product variants under the same tariff line.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, code 3306 90 00 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. The supplied tariff record attaches an export control of mercury. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to the formula and shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, presentation and intended use of the actual product. Customs classification and regulatory classification are separate checks.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denture fixative paste | 3306 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Fixative formula, retention and regulatory status
Specify paste or powder, full composition, zinc content, flavour, declared quantity and final packaging. Agree how retention, removal, dispensing and storage stability will be assessed against approved samples. Ask for safety and performance evidence covering the supplied formula and its intended oral use.
MHRA assesses medical-device status using intended purpose and mode of action. Confirm the status of the proposed adhesive before approving claims or artwork. If it is a medical device, the overseas manufacturer must appoint a UK Responsible Person, and the device must be registered with MHRA before placement on the Great Britain market. Manufacturers must meet the relevant marking and conformity assessment requirements.
Request product-specific documents for review through testing and certification. Check that the formula, manufacturer, product name and packaging match the goods being ordered.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of denture adhesive tubes 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 records and test results with the approved composition, including zinc content and any zinc-free claim.
Performance: check dispensing, consistency, retention and removal against agreed methods; examine paste for separation and powder for caking.
Packaging: check tube seals, caps, powder closures, leakage and declared fill quantity; retain samples in the final retail pack.
Documents and artwork: compare delivered goods with the reviewed regulatory documents, approved instructions, batch identification and shelf-life evidence.
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What goes wrong
Reject batches that differ from the approved sample through paste separation, blocked nozzles, powder caking, leaking closures or inconsistent dispensing. A sample tested in different packaging does not establish how the final retail pack performs.
A supplier may offer generic oral-care paperwork that does not identify the adhesive being purchased. Resolve mismatches in formula, manufacturer or claims before releasing the shipment, and require approval before any formula or packaging substitution.
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 denture adhesives from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% under 3306 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm that code for the actual preparation.
Are denture adhesives automatically cosmetics?
Confirm the product's status before ordering. MHRA bases medical-device decisions on intended purpose and mode of action; the tariff heading does not settle that status.
Does a Chinese medical-device manufacturer need a UK Responsible Person?
Yes, for the Great Britain market. An overseas manufacturer must appoint a single UK Responsible Person, and the device needs MHRA registration before market placement.
What should I check when denture adhesive arrives?
Check formula identity, dispensing, retention and removal against agreed methods, paste separation or powder caking, closures, fill quantity and consistency with reviewed documents.