Sourcing glass dropper bottles from China
Glass dropper bottles from China carry 0% ordinary UK duty across the listed lines. Covered moulded bottles also attract provisional anti-dumping rates of 24.65% to 52.97%. Match the code to manufacture, capacity and intended contents; food packaging must be suitable for food use. Cambridge China Bridge sources glass dropper bottles.
UK duty on glass dropper bottles
Heading 7010 covers glass containers used to convey or pack goods. For empty dropper bottles, distinguish glass made from tubing from other bottles, then specify capacity, glass colour and intended contents. The table gives possible classifications, not interchangeable codes. See glass cosmetic jars for the wider heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all listed lines carried 0% ordinary duty for goods from China. The listed moulded-bottle lines also show 52.97% residual provisional anti-dumping duty and anti-dumping or countervailing registration. Named exporters may qualify for lower rates with the signed invoice declaration. A guarantee is required during the provisional remedy. HMRC registers covered imports. No suspensions or countervailing duties are listed.
The tubing-made line has no trade remedy or attached control in the supplied tariff data. Ask your customs broker to confirm registration handling, the exporter rate and guarantee arrangements before shipment. Confirm the commodity code using the manufacturing method, capacity, intended contents and the bottle-and-dropper presentation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colourless glass bottles for other products | 7010 90 91 00 | 0% | 52.97% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
| Coloured glass bottles for other products | 7010 90 99 00 | 0% | 52.97% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
| Pharmaceutical glass bottles, capacity not exceeding 0.055 litres | 7010 90 79 00 | 0% | 52.97% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
| Colourless food bottles, capacity less than 0.15 litres | 7010 90 47 00 | 0% | 52.97% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
| Coloured food bottles, capacity less than 0.15 litres | 7010 90 57 00 | 0% | 52.97% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
| Glass containers made from glass tubing | 7010 90 21 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the bottle and dropper together
Specify working and brim capacity, colour, bottle dimensions, neck drawing and tolerances. For the dropper, record cap thread, liner, bulb material, pipette length, tip shape and any graduations. Approve an assembled production sample and keep it as the reference. Check that the pipette clears the base and that the cap seals without excessive tightening.
Trial the complete pack with your intended contents. Check bulb swelling, liner softening, odour, leakage and dispensing consistency after storage. For a cosmetic filled into the bottle, a qualified safety assessor must check its safety before it is made available to consumers in Great Britain. Give the assessor details of every component that contacts the contents.
For food use, packaging must be suitable for food. Ask for supporting evidence covering the glass, pipette, liner and other contact components for the intended contents and conditions. Agree decoration adhesion, label space, clean packing and dividers before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 empty colourless glass dropper bottles; provisional anti-dumping security is additional under 7010 90 91 00, invoiced at £1,404 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £1,904. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £1,904, so it is £380.80. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Glass: check neck rims, threads and pipette tips for chips; inspect for cracks, loose fragments and internal contamination.
Assembly: fit droppers across the batch, check pipette clearance and compare closure fit and leakage with the approved sample.
Dispensing: use the intended liquid to check bulb recovery, liquid pickup, drips and consistency; verify any graduations against the agreed method.
Arrival packing: open cartons from different positions, inspect dividers and broken glass, and record damaged packs before releasing stock. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A cap can appear to fit while its liner fails to seal against an uneven neck. A long pipette can strike the base and chip; a short one leaves contents behind. Bulbs and liners can change when exposed to the actual formulation. Approve the assembled pack with your contents rather than accepting separate bottle and dropper samples.
Breakage can leave fragments inside apparently intact bottles. Quarantine affected cartons and investigate before filling. A zero ordinary-duty rate can also hide a substantial provisional anti-dumping exposure: confirm the exporter evidence and customs arrangements before accepting a landed quotation.
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 dropper bottles from China?
Ordinary duty is 0% on the listed lines. Covered moulded bottles also show 52.97% residual provisional anti-dumping duty; qualifying exporter rates may be lower. The tubing-made line shows no trade remedy.
Which commodity code covers cosmetic dropper bottles?
Colourless bottles for other products may fall under 7010 90 91 00 and coloured bottles under 7010 90 99 00. Confirm manufacture, capacity and intended contents with your customs broker.
Can I use a glass dropper bottle for food flavourings?
Food packaging must be suitable for food use. Request evidence for the complete contact assembly and trial it with your intended flavouring, including the pipette, liner and bulb.
How do I stop glass dropper bottles leaking?
Approve the neck and closure together, check the liner and tightening method, and test filled samples after storage. Include assembly and leakage checks in the production inspection.