Sourcing fishing keepnets from China

UK duty on fishing keepnets

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9507 covers fishing tackle, landing nets and similar nets. Fishing keepnets fall within the other-goods line, 9507 90 00 00, carrying 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table shows keepnet variants sharing this code.

The record attaches import and export controls on cat and dog fur. Imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned; specify synthetic netting and check any trim. It also attaches a DCMS Export Licence control. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements and distinguish importing the keepnets from any later export.

Confirm the commodity code using the finished net’s construction and intended use. For related nets within this heading, see fishing landing nets.

Specify the mesh, rings and bank attachment

Agree the netting material, knotless construction, mesh-hole circumference, overall extended length, supporting-ring spacing and ring circumference. State whether frames are round or rectangular, how the bank attachment adjusts and locks, and how the base is reinforced. Approve an assembled sample rather than a fabric swatch.

England’s national rod-fishing byelaws are legally enforceable freshwater-fishing rules. Before approving the sample, compare its mesh, length and supporting-ring geometry with the intended fishing rules. Record the measurements rather than accepting a supplier’s description of the net as suitable for UK fishing.

Only safe consumer products may be supplied on the Great Britain market. Check exposed ring ends, sharp edges, pinch points and attachment failure during the safety review. Agree instructions, cleaning guidance and batch identification before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 fishing keepnets; illustrative order, not a quotation 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

Mesh: inspect inside and outside for abrasive seams, loose threads, torn netting and exposed frame ends; compare the hole circumference and fabric with the approved sample.

Frames: measure extended length, ring spacing and ring circumference; extend and collapse the net, checking frame shape and attachment locking.

Seams and base: wet the sample and apply an agreed distributed load; inspect stitching, reinforcement and ring sleeves for tearing or movement.

Arrival: unpack samples across the shipment; check dampness, mould, bent frames, missing attachments and consistency with the labelled model and batch.

What goes wrong

A factory can match the colour and outline while changing the netting or reducing the extended length. Rough seams and exposed frame ends can damage fish, while thin ring sleeves tear when the net is lifted or dragged. An adjustable attachment can slip once wet.

Write the approved materials, measurements and test method into the order. Inspect assembled production nets before shipment and compare arrival samples with the retained sample. Use the quality inspection guide to plan the checks.

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.