Sourcing drilled aquarium glass from China
Drilled annealed aquarium glass panels from China pay 0% UK duty under 7006 00 90 00, with no listed anti-dumping duty. This covers loose worked panels, not assembled tanks. Confirm the applicable consumer-product safety requirements with Trading Standards before sale in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources drilled annealed aquarium glass panels.
Duty on loose drilled aquarium panels
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 7006 covers glass of headings 7003, 7004 or 7005 that is bent, edge-worked, engraved, drilled, enamelled or otherwise worked, but not framed or fitted with other materials. Loose drilled annealed aquarium panels fall within the other worked glass line, 7006 00 90 00.
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. The table shows panel variants sharing the same commodity line. Solid-wood packing used for imports into Great Britain must meet ISPM15, even though the glass tariff record lists no controls.
Confirm the commodity code using the processing details and the condition in which the panels arrive. Toughened and laminated glass are classified under heading 7007; assembled tanks need a separate classification check. See the wider worked glass guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drilled annealed aquarium rear panels | 7006 00 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the holes and aquarium assembly
Order explicitly as annealed glass. Specify clear or low-iron glass, panel dimensions, thickness and tolerances, squareness, edge finish and the surfaces intended for bonding. Provide a drawing showing hole diameters, centre positions, distance from each hole to adjacent edges, and which face is viewed from inside the tank.
Match each hole to the actual tank connector and gasket. Ask for a sample fitted with your connector, and agree acceptable hole-edge breakout and chip limits. Have the aquarium designer confirm thickness, bracing, support and hole placement for the intended water depth. Assess a representative assembled tank for leakage and structural performance; a loose-panel dimensional check cannot establish tank performance.
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 apply in Great Britain to products intended or reasonably likely to be used by consumers. Confirm the applicable safety requirements with Trading Standards. Annealed glass breaks into sharp pieces, so consider breakage and handling risks when designing the aquarium and preparing assembly instructions.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size batch of drilled annealed aquarium panels for a small aquarium fabricator under 7006 00 90 00, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,500, so it is £5,300. 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
Dimensions and holes: measure thickness, panel size, squareness, hole diameter and hole position against the approved drawing; trial-fit the intended connector and gasket.
Edges and surfaces: inspect hole rims and polished edges for chips and cracks, and check faces for scratches and distortion against the agreed sample.
Assembly: check panel fit and bonding surfaces, then assess a representative completed aquarium for leakage using the intended joints, bracing and support.
Packing and arrival: check separators, corner protection and crate bracing before dispatch; check solid-wood packing for legible ISPM15 marks. Photograph damaged crates before unpacking, and isolate cracked or chipped panels. See quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
Hole drawings become ambiguous when the factory measures from a different edge or reverses the panel orientation. The connector may fit through the hole while its gasket overlaps an edge or damaged glass. Approve a marked drawing and a fitted sample before production.
Breakage can start at chipped hole rims or damaged corners. Wrong panel sizes and contaminated bonding surfaces can also disrupt assembly and sealing. Agree rejection criteria, inspect before packing and keep panel batches identifiable so damaged arrivals can be traced to the relevant crate.
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 drilled aquarium glass from China?
The supplied tariff record, read on 4 October 2026, shows 0% duty under 7006 00 90 00, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Does this code cover a complete aquarium?
This guide covers loose drilled annealed panels without frames or other fitted materials. Check the classification separately for an assembled aquarium.
How do I specify holes for aquarium connectors?
Give hole diameters, centre positions, distances to adjacent edges and panel orientation. Approve a sample using the actual connector and gasket.
Is checking the loose glass enough to approve a tank?
Check the panels against the drawing, but also assess a representative assembled aquarium with its intended joints, bracing and support for leakage and structural performance.