Sourcing false beards and moustaches from China

Duty and animal-hair controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 19 October 2026, heading 6704 covers false beards and moustaches alongside wigs, eyebrows, eyelashes and similar hair articles. The relevant synthetic textile, human-hair and other-material lines all carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.

The other-material line attaches CITES and cat-and-dog-fur import controls, with corresponding export controls. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur products are banned. For animal hair, obtain the species identity: CITES permits are required for listed species in the relevant annexes. Before ordering from China, ask your customs broker and APHA to confirm the species-specific documentation and any restrictions.

Confirm the commodity code against the finished article and its material composition. Complete synthetic wigs have a separate line and should not be used to classify a standalone beard. See the wider hair-products guide.

Specify the fibre, shape and attachment

State whether the article is a full beard, chin piece or moustache. Specify fibre composition, colour reference, hair length, density, curl, backing dimensions and edge finish. Identify the attachment method: elastic, clips, adhesive tabs or a lace base supplied for separate adhesive application.

Approve a sample on the intended wearer size, checking mouth clearance, backing comfort and removal. State whether adhesive is included and obtain its identity and instructions separately. Consumer products must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Versions sold as toys must meet applicable toy safety requirements; ask Trading Standards to confirm the applicable flammability requirements and request reports covering the actual fibre and backing.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 synthetic false beards, illustrative order under 6704 19 00 00, invoiced at £1,200 free on board, with £300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £1,500. Duty at 2% is £30. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £1,530, so it is £306. Import taxes total £336; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £30 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shape and colour: compare beard outline, moustache symmetry, curl and density with the approved sample; measure the backing and hair length.

Attachment: check elastic anchoring, clip operation and backing seams; trial adhesive tabs for grip, removal and residue on the intended surface.

Fibre and shedding: check the declared composition, comb samples and inspect for loose fibres, colour transfer and exposed backing.

Packs and safety evidence: check that packaging preserves the shape, components match the order and toy test reports cover the supplied construction. Plan these checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A dense approval sample can become a sparse production beard with visible backing. Moustaches arrive flattened or asymmetric, elastic pulls out, lace edges fray and adhesive tabs lift during wear. Compare arrival samples with the retained approval sample and record each defect before accepting the batch.

Unexplained animal-fibre substitutions also change the import-control assessment. Obtain written composition and species information before approving a substitution, and have the broker resolve the attached controls. For children's toy ranges, changing the fibre, backing or attachment should trigger a review of whether the existing safety evidence still covers the supplied product.

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.