Sourcing dressed sable furskins from China
Dressed sable furskins from China carry UK duty of 0% to 2%: loose pieces are duty-free, while whole skins and assembled skins pay 2%. Confirm the species, product form and applicable controls before ordering; the tariff lines cover other animals too. Cambridge China Bridge sources dressed sable furskins.
Duty depends on the form of the sable skin
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 4302 covers tanned or dressed furskins, including loose pieces and skins assembled without other materials. Whole dressed sable skins fall within the other-species line at 2%; unassembled pieces carry 0%, and dropped or other assembled sable skins carry 2%. The relevant lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspension.
These broad lines attach restrictions on entry into free circulation, CITES import and export controls, and seal-product import controls. Pieces and dropped skins also carry cat-and-dog-fur import and export controls; loose pieces carry waste import and export controls. Ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for your shipment from China, using the actual species, dressing process and product form.
Confirm whether the goods are whole skins, loose cuttings, dropped skins or assembled panels using our commodity-code guide. Finished fur clothing belongs to a different heading. See the wider furskins and fur articles guide for other species and finished articles.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole dressed sable skins, not assembled | 4302 19 99 00 | 2% | None |
| Dressed sable heads, tails, paws and loose pieces | 4302 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Dropped sable furskins | 4302 30 10 00 | 2% | None |
| Other assembled sable skins and pieces | 4302 30 99 00 | 2% | None |
Specify sable species, dressing and matching
Ask for the scientific species name, the animal's country of origin, whether it was farmed or wild, and records linking the skins to the supplied batch. Agree whole skins or pieces, usable dimensions, hair length and density, natural or dyed colour, dressing method, leather softness and acceptable repairs. Approve a physical sample showing the required guard hairs and underfur.
Check the species before deciding whether CITES paperwork is needed. A permit is required for species listed in the relevant CITES annexes. For loose cuttings, ask whether the shipment is commercial material or waste; waste shipped under notification controls needs consent from the authorities of dispatch, destination and transit before shipment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 whole dressed sable skins, illustrative order only under 4302 19 99 00, invoiced at £27,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £27,500. Duty at 2% is £550. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £28,050, so it is £5,610. Import taxes total £6,160; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £550 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: compare species and origin records with the batch; arrange independent identification if the supplied fur differs from the approved sample.
Hair and colour: check shedding, bald patches, broken guard hairs, underfur density, dye rub-off and matching between skins intended for the same panel.
Leather: check flexibility, brittle areas, tears, holes, repairs, grease, odour and mould; compare usable dimensions with the agreed specification.
Assembly and packing: check seam strength, hair direction and joins on panels, then inspect packing for dampness and compressed fur. Use our quality inspection guide to record findings.
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What goes wrong
A sable description can conceal a substituted species or a mixed batch. Dark dye can obscure colour differences, while poor dressing leaves brittle leather, odour or excessive shedding. Matching a small sample is insufficient when skins across the shipment vary in shade, density or usable area.
Keep the approved sample and compare material drawn from across the batch. Resolve species uncertainty, unexplained origin records and damp packing before accepting the goods. Have the broker check the controls against the actual shipment rather than relying on the supplier's product name.
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 sable furskins from China?
Whole dressed sable skins, dropped skins and other assembled sable skins carry 2%. Unassembled heads, tails, paws and pieces carry 0%. The relevant lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Do dressed sable skins need CITES permits?
Check the exact species. The tariff lines attach CITES controls, but that alone does not establish the requirement for your skins. Permits are required for species listed in the relevant annexes; confirm applicability with your broker.
How do I check that the supplier is sending sable?
Request the scientific species name and batch-linked origin records. Compare the fur with your approved sample and arrange independent species identification where the appearance or documentation raises doubts.
What should I check when dressed sable skins arrive?
Check shedding, colour matching, guard hairs, leather flexibility, usable dimensions, repairs, odour and mould. For assembled panels, also check seams and hair direction.