Sourcing disposable gas lighters from China
Disposable gas pocket lighters from China carry 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. They must be safe and child-resistant; novelty lighters are banned. Check production against the tested mechanism and arrange dangerous goods shipping. Cambridge China Bridge sources disposable gas pocket lighters.
Duty on disposable gas pocket lighters
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 9613 covers lighters and their parts, excluding flints and wicks. Disposable gas pocket lighters fall under 9613 10 00 00, described as gas-fuelled, non-refillable pocket lighters. The remaining table rows are classification comparisons for orders containing other lighters or separate parts.
The duty range is 0% throughout the supplied heading. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is listed. The disposable line has no attached import control. The refillable pocket and other-lighter comparison lines have CITES import and export controls. CITES specimens need an import permit; for goods from China under those comparison lines, ask your customs broker to confirm whether the material requires CITES documents.
Confirm the commodity code from the finished product and whether it can be refilled. For the wider heading, see our refillable and utility gas lighter guide. Allow for 20% import VAT and consult UK import duty and VAT when preparing the landed-cost calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disposable gas pocket lighters | 9613 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Refillable gas pocket lighters, for classification comparison | 9613 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other lighters, for classification comparison | 9613 80 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Lighter parts, for classification comparison | 9613 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the ignition mechanism and sealed reservoir
Specify the ignition type, child-resistant mechanism, body material, dimensions, fuel fill, valve construction, flame adjustment, colours and printing. Agree the retail pack and display-tray layout. Keep an approved sample showing the mechanism, valve and reservoir construction, and ask the factory to obtain approval before changing these components.
For Great Britain, the General Product Safety Regulations require safe consumer products. Disposable flame lighters must be child-resistant, and novelty lighters are banned. Obtain model-specific child-resistance and lighter-safety reports from an accredited laboratory before shipment, and match them to the production design. Gas lighters travel as dangerous goods: agree suitable packaging, declarations and carrier acceptance before booking. Use testing and certification support to review the evidence.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 40,000 disposable gas pocket lighters; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 9613 10 00 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,500, so it is £1,300. 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
Mechanism: compare ignition parts and operating force with the approved sample and tested model. Check that guards and child-resistant features have not been removed or substituted.
Flame and shut-off: check ignition consistency, flame height and stability, adjustment where fitted, and whether the flame extinguishes when the control is released.
Reservoir and valve: arrange the agreed leak, drop and warm-storage checks through a suitable inspection or testing provider. On arrival, check for cracked bodies, loose valves and damaged packs.
Packing: compare warnings, importer contact details, batch identification and artwork with the approved pack. Check dangerous goods marks and shipping documents before dispatch. Agree the sampling brief using our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A tested sample can conceal a changed production mechanism. Easier ignition, leaking valves, cracked reservoirs and unstable flames can make the delivered batch unsafe. Require the factory to identify component changes, retain samples from production and resolve failed checks before shipment.
Child-appealing shapes, music or flashing effects can turn a design into a prohibited novelty lighter. Carrier rejection also occurs when dangerous goods packaging or paperwork is missing. Review the design before tooling or printing, and obtain the carrier's acceptance before releasing the shipment.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on disposable gas lighters from China?
The supplied tariff reading shows 0% duty for 9613 10 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Import VAT is normally 20%.
Do disposable gas lighters need child-resistance testing?
Yes. Obtain a model-specific child-resistance report from an accredited laboratory and match the mechanism and operating force to production. A report for a different design does not establish the safety of your order.
Can I import novelty-shaped disposable lighters?
Novelty lighters are banned. Avoid designs resembling toys, food or animals appealing to children, and entertaining features such as music or flashing lights.
Can disposable gas lighters ship as ordinary cargo?
Do not assume an ordinary courier service will accept them. Ask the carrier to confirm the dangerous goods classification, and agree packaging, declarations and acceptance with a carrier handling this cargo before booking.