Sourcing gas, water and electricity meters from China

Zero duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, gas meters, liquid meters, single-phase and multiphase electricity meters, other electricity supply meters, and parts of each carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.

Heat meters, flow sensors and data loggers may sit under other headings; confirm the commodity code for each item.

Measuring Instruments Regulations

Schedule 1 of the Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016 lists water meters, gas meters and volume conversion devices, active electrical energy meters and thermal energy meters among the instruments it covers. Where a meter is used for those regulated purposes, it needs conformity assessment by an approved or notified body under the applicable route and the conformity and metrology marking before it is placed on the market.

Ask the factory which accuracy class and module the certificate covers, and check the certificate against the model on the sample.

Smart and connected meters

A meter with a radio link is radio equipment; a wired network link alone does not make it radio equipment. Consumer meters with a network link can be connectable products under the PSTI rules, subject to the applicable exemptions. Smart meters installed by energy suppliers also have to meet the government's smart metering equipment specifications, so agree the target specification before sampling.

Electricity meters bring WEEE obligations like other electricals.

Worked duty example

An invented example rather than a quote: 5,000 domestic water meters, commodity code 9028 20 00 00, bought for £45,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance, so £47,000 is the value customs works from. No duty is due on water meters; import VAT at 20% of £47,000 is £9,400. If you are VAT-registered, that VAT is normally reclaimable. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.

Inspection checklist

Approval and marking: the type examination certificate under the Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016 matched to the model, and each meter checked for the applicable UKCA or CE marking and metrology marking, accuracy class and serial number, with water meters built to ISO 4064, diaphragm gas meters to BS EN 1359 and electricity meters to BS EN 50470-3.

Accuracy tests: sampled water meters tested on a calibrated bench at the minimum, transitional, permanent and overload flow rates, gas meters at several flows and temperatures, and electricity meters for error at several loads and power factors, starting current and no-load creep.

Materials and security: water meters in contact with drinking water checked for materials approval under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, enclosures checked for the IP rating of IEC 60529 claimed, seals and tamper detection checked, and battery life and communications tested on smart meters.

What goes wrong

Meters fail on accuracy, marking and materials. Water meters drift outside their accuracy class at low flow, electricity meters creep or fail to start at low current, and gas meters lose accuracy with temperature. Meters arrive with conformity and metrology markings but no approved body certificate for the model, seals that can be removed without trace, and brass or plastics in water meters that are not approved for contact with drinking water.

Ask for the approved body type examination certificate and check the model and markings against it, test samples at several flow rates or loads including the lowest, run a creep and starting current test on electricity meters, check tamper seals and display, confirm drinking water approval for wetted materials, and test communications on smart models.

Testing and inspection

Ask for accuracy test reports at several flow rates or loads, check seals and display, and test communications on samples. At inspection, check serial numbers, markings and calibration labels against the certificate.

Cambridge China Bridge sources gas, water and electricity meters and sub-meters, with metrology and security evidence settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.

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