Sourcing disposable hairnets from China

Disposable hairnet duty and suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 16 October 2026, heading 6505 covers textile headgear and hairnets of any material. Disposable hairnets under 6505 00 90 90 have a 2% base duty and a 0.00 % autonomous tariff suspension. The supplied facts contain only this relevant commodity line, so the table excludes unrelated hats. See the caps and hats guide for the wider heading.

The suspension applies only to disposable hairnets falling under the code. Its footnote excludes mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these products. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. The UK Trade Tariff also attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. The importer should confirm the applicable requirements with their customs broker using the actual material specification.

Confirm the commodity code and suspension eligibility before shipment, particularly for sets containing other hygiene items. Give the broker the material composition, construction, intended use and packing list. Import VAT is separate from duty; see UK import duty and VAT.

Specify coverage, material and elastic fit

State whether the product is an open mesh hairnet or a nonwoven covering, its fibre composition, colour, expanded dimensions, elastic construction and intended working environment. Agree how long hair will be contained and whether the edge sits securely without excessive pressure. Approve a physical sample worn by the intended users.

Food businesses must ensure staff wear suitable, clean, protective clothing. For catering orders, make coverage, cleanliness and low fibre shedding explicit purchase specifications. Agree pack counts, carton protection and batch identification. Labels must include safety information if the product could be dangerous; check any relevant information against the actual product and intended use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20,000 disposable hairnets under 6505 00 90 90, invoiced at £900 free on board, with £770 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £1,670. Duty at 2% is £33.40. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £1,703.40, so it is £340.68. Import taxes total £374.08; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £33.40 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Coverage and fit: compare expanded dimensions with the approved sample and trial the hairnet with the intended hairstyles; check that hair remains contained during movement.

Elastic and joins: stretch and release sampled hairnets, inspect edge joins and look for snapped elastic, detached seams or material tearing.

Cleanliness and shedding: open packs from different cartons and check for loose fibres, dirt, foreign matter, dampness and unusual odours.

Packing and identification: count sampled packs, check seals and carton condition, and match material, colour and batch details to the order. Record findings through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A hairnet can look acceptable while folded but fail when opened. Elastic may detach, thin material may split at the edge, and inadequate coverage can leave hair exposed. Compare production pieces with the approved sample after stretching and wearing, rather than judging unopened packs.

Loose fibres, dirty packing and short pack counts undermine an otherwise usable order. Substituted material can also change fit and shedding. Keep the agreed composition and packing details in the purchase specification, and have the broker check suspension eligibility separately from the factory's product description.

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.