Sourcing dressed rabbit furskins from China
Dressed rabbit furskins from China carry 0% to 2% UK duty: whole unassembled skins and loose pieces pay 0%, while assembled panels and dropped skins pay 2%. Confirm the species and construction before ordering; cat and dog fur is banned. Cambridge China Bridge sources dressed rabbit furskins.
Rabbit skins: 0% or 2% by construction
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 9 November 2026, heading 4302 covers tanned or dressed furskins, loose pieces and assemblies without added materials, excluding articles of heading 4303. From China, whole unassembled rabbit skins and unassembled pieces carry 0%; assembled rabbit panels and dropped skins carry 2%. The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
The rabbit-specific whole-skin and assembled-skin codes have no controls attached in the supplied tariff snapshot. The shared cuttings and dropped-skin codes attach restrictions on entry into free circulation, CITES controls, and cat and dog fur and seal-product controls; cuttings also attach waste controls. These shared codes cover other species. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements and declaration evidence for rabbit goods from China.
Confirm the commodity code using the species, dressing, assembly method and any added backing or lining. Finished garments need separate classification. See the wider furskins and fur articles guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole dressed rabbit skins, not assembled | 4302 19 35 00 | 0% | None |
| Assembled dressed rabbit skins or pieces, excluding dropped skins | 4302 30 25 00 | 2% | None |
| Dressed rabbit heads, tails, paws and cuttings, not assembled | 4302 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Dressed rabbit furskins assembled by the dropped-skin technique | 4302 30 10 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the rabbit skin and usable cutting area
Specify the species by scientific name, farmed origin, tanning and dressing method, natural or dyed colour, hair length and density, leather softness and usable cutting area. Agree how holes, bald patches, repairs and edge damage affect acceptance. Approve a physical sample showing both the hair side and the skin side.
For assembled panels, specify finished dimensions, hair direction, colour matching, seam construction and whether the skins are assembled by the dropped-skin technique. State whether any backing, lining or other material is added. UK REACH restrictions address chemical risks in articles; agree a laboratory test plan for the intended use, including the tanning and dyeing chemicals.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 dressed rabbit fur panels, illustrative order under 4302 30 25 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,500. Duty at 2% is £190. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,690, so it is £1,938. Import taxes total £2,128; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £190 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Species: compare batch documents with the agreed species and origin; arrange independent identification if the fur differs from the approved sample.
Hair and colour: brush and gently pull sampled areas to assess shedding; check bald patches, hair direction, colour matching and dye transfer onto a clean cloth.
Skin and seams: check softness, holes, repairs and tearing around stitching; measure usable areas and panel dimensions against the order specification.
Packing and condition: inspect for dampness, mould, persistent odour and crushed hair; match carton identification to the batch and laboratory reports. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A skin can meet the overall size while offering too little usable area because of holes, thin edges or repairs. Poor dressing can leave brittle leather, persistent odour or shedding; mismatched panels show different shades or hair directions after cutting. Compare production samples with the approved skin and check the actual cutting yield before accepting the lot.
Species substitution can create a legal problem: cat and dog fur cannot be imported or sold. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether the supplied rabbit species is CITES-listed and which documentation applies; listed species require the relevant CITES documentation. The tariff also flags waste controls on cuttings; waste shipment controls apply when the material is waste. Confirm species and waste status with the broker before shipping.
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 dressed rabbit furskins from China?
Whole unassembled rabbit skins and loose pieces carry 0%; assembled rabbit panels and dropped skins carry 2%. The selected tariff lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Are dressed rabbit skins and rabbit fur coats classified together?
No. Heading 4302 covers dressed skins and qualifying assemblies. Finished fur garments fall under heading 4303; added backing or lining also needs a classification check.
How do I check whether rabbit skins will shed?
Brush and gently pull production samples, then compare hair loss with the approved sample and agreed acceptance criteria. Check across the batch rather than relying on the supplier's display sample.
Do farmed rabbit furskins need CITES permits?
Ask your customs broker to confirm whether the supplied rabbit species is CITES-listed. Confirm the species: shared cuttings and dropped-skin codes carry CITES controls covering other species. Ask the broker which declaration evidence applies.