Sourcing fishing gaffs from China

Fishing gaff classification and duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9507 covers fishing rods, hooks, other line fishing tackle, landing nets and certain hunting requisites. For complete fishing gaffs, confirm the other-tackle code 9507 90 00 00 with your customs broker. The table shows product variants sharing this code, rather than separate tariff lines. See the wider fishing landing nets guide.

The other-tackle line carries 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded. The tariff attaches an import control on cat and dog fur: imports containing such fur are banned, including from China. Specify materials for any trim or accessory. It also lists export controls on cat and dog fur and a cultural-object export licence measure; confirm their relevance with your broker if exporting.

Send photographs, construction details and the intended fishing use to your broker before confirming the commodity code. Describe a complete fishing gaff clearly rather than declaring it simply as a hook.

Specify the hook, shaft and locking mechanism

Specify shaft material, extended and packed length, hook opening, point profile, hook material and attachment method. Agree the intended lifting load and a sample test that checks the complete assembly. For telescopic or folding models, define how the lock engages and how the buyer can tell it is secure.

Consumer gaffs supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Address foreseeable slipping, lock collapse and accidental contact with the point when reviewing the sample. Agree a retained point cover, wet-grip performance, storage instructions and packaging that keeps the hook from piercing the carton.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 short-handled fishing gaffs under 9507 90 00 00, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £1,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,000. Duty at 2% is £300. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £15,300, so it is £3,060. Import taxes total £3,360; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £300 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Hook and joint: inspect points, bends, welds and fasteners; load the assembly using the agreed method and check for rotation, loosening or permanent deformation.

Shaft and locks: measure against the drawing, cycle adjustable sections and test the engaged lock under the agreed load; check for cracks and sharp edges.

Grip and finish: check grip retention when wet, exposed burrs and coating damage; compare corrosion-test results with the agreed saltwater-use specification.

Protection and packing: check that point covers stay fitted during handling, hooks cannot puncture adjacent packs and instructions match the actual locking mechanism.

What goes wrong

A sharp hook can conceal a weak assembly. Look for hook heads that rotate in the shaft, joints that rely on poorly bonded adhesive, telescopic sections that slip and folding locks that appear engaged before seating fully. Test the assembled gaff rather than accepting a material certificate as evidence of lifting strength.

Saltwater exposure can reveal corrosion around mixed-metal joints, while loose covers leave points exposed during unpacking. Record defects against the approved sample and agree corrective work before shipment. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.

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.