Sourcing facial cleansing foams from China
Facial cleansing foams from China have a 4% standard UK duty rate, with a conditional suspension giving a 0% to 4% range. Before sale in Great Britain, confirm the Responsible Person, safety-assessment and cosmetic-notification requirements with OPSS. Specify the formula and foaming dispenser together. Cambridge China Bridge sources facial cleansing foams.
UK duty on facial cleansing foams
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3401 includes retail liquid or cream preparations for washing the skin, whether or not containing soap. Facial cleansing foams supplied in those forms fall within the scope of 3401 30 00 00. The table shows product variants under the same commodity line. For the wider product family, see hotel guest amenities and toiletries.
The supplied tariff record lists 4% standard duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. An autonomous suspension at 0.00 % applies only to retail liquid or cream hand or skin washes. Its footnote excludes mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing those products. Have your customs broker confirm eligibility for the actual formulation and presentation before budgeting at the suspended rate.
The tariff also attaches waste import and export controls. If a shipment from China to England is waste subject to notification controls, it cannot ship until the destination, dispatch and transit authorities have consented. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable waste-control declaration for your goods. Confirm the commodity code using the composition, physical form, intended use and retail packaging.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail liquid facial wash in a foaming pump bottle | 3401 30 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the formula and foaming dispenser
State whether you want liquid dispensed as foam or a cream that foams during washing. Agree the cleansing ingredients, fragrance, colour, acidity, viscosity, fill volume and rinse feel. Approve the formula in the intended bottle and pump: the dispenser mesh and liquid viscosity affect foam texture and delivery.
For sale in Great Britain, confirm with OPSS the Responsible Person's address requirements, the safety assessor's qualifications and the notification procedure and timing before making the product available. The Responsible Person must keep a product information file in English. Request formula documents and agreed stability, microbiological and packaging compatibility test results before approving production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,200 retail pump bottles of facial cleansing foam; standard duty scenario before confirming suspension eligibility under 3401 30 00 00, invoiced at £6,440 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,640. Duty at 4% is £345.60. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,985.60, so it is £1,797.12. Import taxes total £2,142.72; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £345.60 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Formula: compare colour, smell, texture, acidity and foam collapse with the approved sample and agreed specification; review the batch test results.
Dispenser: check priming, foam consistency, pump return, cap fit and leakage after transport simulation using the filled production bottle.
Fill and packing: measure contents against the agreed fill specification; check bottle damage, seals, carton condition and the packing list on arrival.
Documents and artwork: check that batch identifiers, ingredient wording and approved label artwork match the delivered formula and the documents held by the Responsible Person.
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What goes wrong
A replacement pump can turn the approved foam into a wet stream or fail to prime. Formula changes can alter fragrance, rinse feel or stability, while leaking closures stain cartons. Keep the approved filled sample and specify that ingredient, bottle and pump changes need buyer approval.
A supplier's generic safety paperwork may describe a different formula or pack. Match documents to the product being ordered, and review discrepancies before release. Use testing and certification support to organise the agreed evidence and quality inspection to check the production goods.
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 facial cleansing foam from China?
For 3401 30 00 00, the supplied tariff record lists 4% standard duty and a conditional 0.00 % suspension for retail liquid or cream hand or skin washes. Confirm suspension eligibility before using the lower rate.
Do facial cleansing foams need a UK Responsible Person?
For cosmetic products sold in Great Britain, confirm with OPSS the Responsible Person's address requirements, the safety-assessment requirements and the notification procedure and timing before making the product available.
Can I use my own brand on facial cleansing foam?
Specify the formula, bottle, pump and label artwork together. Agree the Responsible Person arrangements and match the safety documents to the actual branded product before release.
What should I check when facial cleansing foam arrives?
Check leakage, fill quantity, pump priming and foam consistency against the approved sample. Match batch identifiers and labels to the formula documents, then review the agreed batch test results.