Sourcing firework rockets from China

Firework rocket duty and tariff controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 3604 covers fireworks and other pyrotechnic articles. Firework rockets fall within the fireworks line, 3604 10 00 00, carrying 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The rocket presentations in the table share this tariff line; they are not separate tariff subdivisions.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches import waste control and export waste control to this line. Environment Agency guidance says waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For rockets offered as waste, rejected stock or material for recovery, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable China-to-UK requirement before shipment. The attached export control should also be checked before arranging any waste return.

Confirm the construction and intended function through our commodity code guide. For the wider heading, see aerial firework shells. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

Specify the rocket, stick and approved pack

Specify the intended buyer and use, rocket body dimensions, stabilising stick material and dimensions, attachment method, fuse protection, net explosive content, effect and retail pack contents. Ask your compliance adviser to check whether the proposed rocket dimensions and packaging suit the intended retail or professional market before approving the range.

For supply in Great Britain, ask HSE or your compliance adviser to confirm the conformity assessment and CE or UKCA marking requirements. Ask HSE to confirm the transport classification requirements before carriage in Great Britain. Obtain the supplier's Competent Authority Document and match it to the actual rocket and shipping pack. Agree the dangerous goods route, storage arrangements and customs storage details before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 firework rockets in retail packs under 3604 10 00 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,000, so it is £4,800. 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

Construction: compare body dimensions, stick straightness, attachment and fuse protection with the approved specification. Check for split sticks, loose motors and crushed bodies.

Labels: check the category, registration number, safety distance and English instructions against the approved artwork. Make sure rocket identities match the conformity paperwork.

Packing: check that sticks and fuse covers remain protected, cartons are dry and the shipping pack matches the classification documents. Record damaged cartons before moving stock into storage.

Traceability: reconcile product names, batch references, carton contents and classification references. Use our inspection guide to agree the checks before dispatch.

What goes wrong

Long sticks can arrive bent or broken, fuse covers can detach, and damp cartons can conceal damaged rocket bodies. An attractive effect sample does not establish that production rockets match the agreed construction. Inspect production packing as well as loose samples, and refer damaged stock to the supplier for handling advice.

Paperwork can describe a different rocket or pack from the shipment. Changes to construction or composition can leave the goods outside the classification originally obtained. Freeze the approved specification and have proposed changes reviewed before shipment; arrange specialist performance testing rather than ignition tests at the receiving warehouse.

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.