Sourcing French barrette hair clips from China

Flat 2% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9615 covers combs, hair slides and similar accessories, including French barrettes. The relevant material lines carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty or tariff suspension. The table separates material variants that share tariff lines.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls: products containing such fur cannot be imported or exported. It also attaches CITES import and export controls to 9615 19 00 00. CITES specimens need an import permit. For natural decoration, confirm the species, applicable permits and China shipment requirements with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and your customs broker before ordering.

For a decorative top fitted to a metal mechanism, give your broker the complete material specification and a sample to confirm the commodity code. Do not classify the assembled clip from its clasp alone. For the wider product family, see our hair claw clips guide.

Specify the clasp and decorative top

Specify the decorative top material, dimensions and curvature, clasp metal and plating, spring strip, hinge and release tabs. Agree the usable hair space, opening resistance and holding performance on the intended hair type. State whether the top is riveted, screwed or glued, and retain an approved assembled sample.

Consumer clips sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Check sharp edges, pinch points and detachable decoration, particularly for children's ranges. Ask for UK REACH screening of plastics and coatings, and agree checks for nickel release where metal rests against skin. Settle the retail card, UK address and necessary warnings before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 7,500 plastic French barrette hair clips, illustrative order under 9615 11 00 00, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 2% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,568, so it is £1,713.60. Import taxes total £1,881.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Clasp: repeatedly open, latch and release sampled clips; check spring recovery, latch alignment and grip on the agreed hair bundle.

Edges and finish: check the hinge, release tabs and underside for burrs and snagging; inspect plating for rust and test colour transfer.

Decoration: pull and twist the top against the agreed specification; check rivets, glue coverage and cracking around fixing points.

Packing: check clips on arrival for crushed tops, bent mechanisms and rubbing damage; verify assortment, count, UK address and necessary warnings. Use the inspection guide to brief the checks.

What goes wrong

A barrette can look correct but fail to latch once hair fills the gap. A weak spring lets it slide, while a distorted latch catches hair or opens unexpectedly. Test the assembled clip with the intended hair bundle, then repeat after opening and closing it.

Decorative tops loosen when glue or rivets cannot withstand flexing. Brittle tops crack around the fixings, and exposed metal edges snag hair. Compare production samples with the approved clip and repeat the same mechanical checks when cartons arrive.

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.