Sourcing fashion brooches from China
Fashion brooches within imitation jewellery heading 7117 carry 4% UK duty from China across the relevant lines. Confirm with the relevant authority which UK REACH restrictions on cadmium and lead, and nickel release limits for prolonged skin contact, apply to the metal parts. Specify the pin closure and finish. Cambridge China Bridge sources fashion brooches.
UK duty on fashion brooches
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 16 October 2026, heading 7117 covers imitation jewellery. For fashion brooches, distinguish hand-made base-metal articles without glass parts from other base-metal articles and articles of other materials. The table repeats the other base-metal code to show glass-decorated and other brooches separately. Precious-metal jewellery needs a separate classification check; see the wider jewellery guide.
The relevant lines carry 4% duty on goods from China, so the duty range is a single rate. The supplied tariff reading records no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions. It attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. Imports containing cat or dog fur are banned. For seal decorations, confirm the applicable restriction and documents with your customs broker before ordering.
For CITES-listed animal or plant decorations, check the species and permit requirement before importing from China; official guidance requires permits for species in Annex A, B or C. Have your broker confirm the complete material list, glass content and manufacturing method against the commodity code guidance. Do not classify a brooch from its photograph alone.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made base-metal fashion brooches without glass parts | 7117 19 00 10 | 4% | None |
| Base-metal fashion brooches with glass decorations | 7117 19 00 90 | 4% | None |
| Fashion brooches of other materials, subject to classification | 7117 90 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the brooch body, pin and decorations
Write down the body material, dimensions, weight tolerance, plating colour and protective coating. Specify the pin length, hinge position, closure type and how the point is covered when fastened. Identify glass, resin, enamel and textile decorations separately, together with their fixing method. Approve a physical sample and keep it for comparison with production.
Confirm with the relevant authority which UK REACH restrictions on cadmium and lead, and nickel release restrictions for prolonged skin contact, apply to the metal jewellery parts. Ask for laboratory reports matching the brooch body, pin and plating you are buying. A report for another catalogue item is not a useful check. Businesses importing consumer products are responsible for their safety, so assess pin exposure and detachable decorations as well as appearance.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 base-metal fashion brooches; illustrative order and values under 7117 19 00 90, invoiced at £300 free on board, with £200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £500. Duty at 4% is £20. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £520, so it is £104. Import taxes total £124; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £20 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Closure: operate the hinge and catch repeatedly; check that the pin stays secured and its point is covered when closed.
Finish: compare plating and enamel with the approved sample; check the back and edges for burrs, scratches and exposed adhesive.
Decorations: check stone seating, glued joints and textile attachments; compare placement and colour across pieces from different packs.
Packing: check counts and style identification; confirm individual protection prevents pins piercing adjacent pieces. Plan the checks using the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A brooch can match the front photograph while having a weak catch, a bent pin or a rough back that snags clothing. Loose decorations and inconsistent plating can also escape a visual check of a display sample. Try production samples on the fabric you intend buyers to wear, and agree what counts as an unacceptable defect.
Material substitutions undermine both appearance and the relevance of test reports. Ask the factory to flag changes to the body alloy, pin, coating or adhesive before production. If a design includes animal or plant material, identify it before placing the order rather than discovering an import-control question at clearance.
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 fashion brooches from China?
The relevant imitation-jewellery lines in heading 7117 carry 4% duty in the supplied tariff reading. No anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions are recorded.
Do fashion brooches need chemical testing?
Confirm with the relevant authority which UK REACH restrictions on cadmium and lead, and nickel release limits for prolonged skin contact, apply to the metal jewellery parts. Ask for reports matching your materials and plating.
Which brooch details should I put in the order?
Specify body material, dimensions, plating, pin and catch construction, decoration materials and fixing methods. Keep an approved physical sample.
Can I import brooches decorated with real fur?
Cat and dog fur imports are banned. The tariff also attaches seal-product and CITES controls. Identify the species and have your broker confirm restrictions and documents before ordering.