Sourcing glass cake stands from China

UK duty on glass cake stands

Heading 7013 covers glassware used for tables, kitchens and similar purposes. For glass cake stands, the relevant tableware lines distinguish lead crystal, toughened glass and other glass, including hand or mechanical production. The rows are classification candidates, so confirm the material and manufacturing process rather than choosing a code from appearance alone.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the selected lines carried 10% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. The tariff attaches a cat-and-dog-fur import control: imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned. It also lists cat-and-dog-fur export controls and a cultural-object export licence measure; ask your customs broker to confirm any declaration requirements.

Send the broker photographs, glass composition, production method and details of any dome or mixed-material base to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading, see drinking glasses.

Specify the plate, pedestal and food-contact finish

Write down the usable plate diameter, rim profile, overall height, base footprint and permitted dimensional variation. State whether the pedestal is formed with the plate, bonded or detachable. Specify glass colour, decoration position, dome clearance and the cake load the assembled stand is intended to support. Keep an approved assembled sample.

Food-contact materials must be safe and suitable for their intended use. Ask for test evidence covering the actual glass and any decoration on the food-contact surface, with the intended cake contact and cleaning conditions identified. Agree how dishwasher claims, joint strength and packed-carton protection will be checked before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 mechanically gathered glass cake stands; illustrative order under 7013 49 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

Glass and rim: check for chips, cracks, sharp mould seams, scratches and colour variation against the approved sample.

Plate and pedestal: check levelness and rocking on a flat surface, joint alignment and stability under the agreed cake load.

Dome and finish: check clearance over the intended cake, lid seating, handle attachment and decoration after the agreed cleaning trial.

Packing and records: open packed cartons, check separation around rims and stems, and match the supplied test evidence to the ordered finish. Use the inspection guide to plan the checks.

What goes wrong

A wide plate on a narrow or uneven foot can rock when a cake is cut. A poorly aligned bonded pedestal leaves the plate tilted, while exposed rims and stems can chip when parts touch inside a carton. Check assembled production samples rather than approving the plate and base separately.

A plain-glass sample does not establish the suitability of a decorated version. Changes to paint, metallic trim or bonding adhesive deserve review before shipment. Quarantine chipped or cracked arrivals, photograph the packing and compare the affected pieces with the agreed specification.

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.