Sourcing glass beer steins from China
Glass beer steins from China carry 10% UK duty across the relevant lines, with no trade remedy or suspension recorded. A stein used to measure and serve alcoholic drinks must meet capacity serving measure requirements, including conformity assessment and markings. Cambridge China Bridge sources glass beer steins.
UK duty on glass beer steins
Heading 7013 covers table, kitchen and similar glassware. Glass beer steins are handled drinking vessels; the relevant lines distinguish toughened glass, hand or mechanical manufacture, and decoration. These rows cover glass other than lead crystal or glass ceramics. See the wider drinking glasses guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, all relevant lines carried 10% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls: products containing such fur are banned from import and export. It also lists a cultural-object export licence control; confirm any export documentation with your customs broker.
Confirm the glass composition, manufacturing method and decoration before choosing the commodity code. Describe any metal lid or mixed-material fittings to your broker and provide photographs and a sample rather than relying on the supplier's code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toughened glass beer steins | 7013 37 10 00 | 10% | None |
| Hand-gathered glass beer steins, cut or decorated | 7013 37 51 00 | 10% | None |
| Hand-gathered glass beer steins, other | 7013 37 59 00 | 10% | None |
| Mechanically gathered glass beer steins, cut or decorated | 7013 37 91 00 | 10% | None |
| Mechanically gathered glass beer steins, other | 7013 37 99 00 | 10% | None |
Specify the handle, capacity and intended use
Specify glass composition, toughening if ordered, capacity to the brim and fill line, dimensions, weight, handle clearance and attachment shape. For lidded steins, agree lid material, hinge movement and clearance from the drinking rim. Keep an approved sample and define acceptable mould seams, bubbles and colour variation.
Decide whether the stein is giftware or a measure used to sell drinks. A capacity serving measure used to measure and serve alcoholic drinks must meet the essential requirements, undergo conformity assessment and bear the full conformity markings. Obtain the evidence for the actual model before ordering for that use.
Ask for food-contact test evidence covering the finished glass and decoration for the intended drink and repeated use. Agree washing trials, decoration adhesion and packing with separators that protect the handles. Use testing and certification support to settle the testing brief.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 plain glass beer steins, illustrative order under 7013 37 99 00, invoiced at £2,400 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,900. Duty at 10% is £290. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,190, so it is £638. Import taxes total £928; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £290 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Rim and body: check for chips, cracks, sharp seams and unstable bases against the approved sample.
Handle and lid: check handle attachments under the agreed filled-cup test, grip clearance and hinge movement where fitted.
Capacity and decoration: measure brim and fill-line capacity, compare artwork placement, and check decoration after the agreed washing trial.
Arrival packing: open cartons from different positions, check handle separation and record breakage, carton damage and batch identification before releasing stock.
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What goes wrong
Heavy-looking glass can conceal weak handle joints or an uneven base. Handles touching neighbouring cups can break during transport. A showroom sample may also differ from production in capacity, glass colour or rim finish. Inspect production samples and packed cartons before shipment.
Printed decoration may rub off or deteriorate during washing. A decorative fill line can also be mistaken for evidence that the stein is an assessed serving measure. Match the capacity-serving evidence to the model and check the full markings when buying for measuring and serving alcoholic drinks.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on glass beer steins from China?
The relevant glass beer stein lines carried 10% duty on 29 September 2026. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension for these lines.
Can imported glass beer steins be used as pub serving measures?
If used to measure and serve alcoholic drinks, they must meet capacity serving measure requirements, undergo conformity assessment and bear the full conformity markings. Check evidence for the actual model.
How do I check glass beer stein handles?
Inspect the attachment points for cracks and sharp seams, compare grip clearance with the approved sample, and test filled cups using the method agreed in the purchase specification.
What should I request for decorated glass beer steins?
Request food-contact test evidence for the finished glass and decoration, approved artwork placement, washing-trial results and packing that separates and protects the handles.