Sourcing finger paints from China

0% duty on sets and other finger paints

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3213 covers artists', students' and amusement colours in jars, bottles and similar packaging. Finger paint colour sets fall under 3213 10 00 00; other finger paints fall under 3213 90 00 00. Both lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. The table shows packaging variants under these same codes.

Both lines have import and export waste controls attached. For paint shipped as waste from China to England under notification controls, the exporter applies to the competent authority in China. Shipment can start only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved. Confirm whether the waste control applies to your consignment with your customs broker.

Confirm the commodity code against the formulation and whether the paints are supplied as a set or separately. For the wider heading, see poster paints.

Specify the finger paint formulation and pack

Agree the intended age group, colour range, consistency, spread on paper, drying behaviour and fill quantity. Specify jar or bottle closures, seals and carton packing. Keep an approved sample for every colour. Define how you will assess washing from hands and fabrics before accepting a washable claim; agree the surfaces and washing method used for the comparison.

Confirm with the relevant product safety authority whether finger paints intended for play by children under 14 fall within the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 and which essential safety requirements apply. For toys placed on the Great Britain market, check CE or UKCA marking and a declaration of conformity. Importers must also check that the manufacturer has prepared the relevant technical documentation. EN 71-7 covers finger paints, including colourants, preservatives and bitter taste; EN 71-3 addresses heavy-metal migration. Confirm with the relevant product safety authority how these standards can be used to demonstrate compliance. Agree the scope of testing and certification before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 finger paint colour sets under 3213 10 00 00, invoiced at £5,508 free on board, with £540 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,048. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,048, so it is £1,209.60. 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

Formulation and reports: match the supplied colours and formulation to the approved samples and laboratory reports. Check finger paint testing and heavy-metal migration coverage for every colour.

Paint performance: compare shade, consistency and spread with the approved samples. Look for separation, lumps, unusual odour or visible mould, and repeat the agreed washability checks.

Containers and seals: check sampled fill quantities, leaking closures, damaged seals and dried paint around the lid. Inspect cartons for staining and crushed jars.

Artwork and traceability: compare conformity markings, age warnings, instructions and contact details with the approved artwork. Match batch identifiers on the packs to the inspection and test records.

What goes wrong

A report for another paint formulation or colour range does not establish that the delivered finger paints match the tested samples. Changes to pigments or preservatives can undermine the agreed testing position. Freeze the approved formulation and require the supplier to flag proposed changes before production.

Watery paint, weak colour, separation and mould make a batch unsuitable for the agreed use. Washable claims can also fail on the buyer's chosen fabrics. Poor seals allow leakage or drying during transport. Assess retained samples and arrival samples against the same agreed checks, and hold disputed batches apart while investigating.

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.