Sourcing glass separatory funnels from China

Duty depends on the glass category

Heading 7017 covers laboratory, hygienic or pharmaceutical glassware, whether graduated or calibrated. For laboratory glass separatory funnels, distinguish fused quartz or other fused silica, qualifying low-expansion glass, and other glass. The stopcock material alone does not establish the glass category.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 24 October 2026, all listed lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. The table repeats the low-expansion code for different stopcock options.

Obtain the glass composition and expansion data before confirming the commodity code. For the wider heading, see the laboratory glass condenser guide. The import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation separately from product acceptance.

Specify the funnel, stopcock and stopper together

Specify working capacity, pear-shaped or cylindrical body, neck joint, outlet bore and stem length. Identify the glass composition, stopcock and seal materials, stopper type and retention arrangement. Give the supplier your intended solvents and cleaning process, and ask for compatibility information covering every wetted component.

Employers must provide safe equipment for use at work. Translate that duty into purchasing checks for the intended laboratory task: agree a leak-test method, joint-fit checks and acceptance criteria before production. Request handling, venting, cleaning and stopcock-maintenance instructions, and approve an assembled sample.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 low-expansion glass separatory funnels, illustrative order under 7017 20 00 00, invoiced at £2,400 free on board, with £190 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,590. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,590, so it is £518. 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: inspect the neck, body, stopcock connection and outlet for cracks, chips, sharp edges and visible defects; compare dimensions and supplied material information with the approved specification.

Seals: test the assembled funnel by the agreed method for leakage through the closed stopcock and around the stopper; check smooth operation and controlled drainage.

Fit: check stopper seating, stopcock retention and replacement-part interchangeability; confirm capacity markings against the order, without treating them as proof of calibration.

Packing: check separate protection for the outlet and stopcock, cushioning between funnels and carton restraint. Record arrival damage during inspection.

What goes wrong

A funnel can look sound but leak through a poorly fitted stopcock or stopper. Seals that do not suit the solvent can swell or become stiff, and mismatched replacement parts can prevent sealing. Require approval before the supplier changes the stopcock, seal or joint design.

Outlet stems and stopcock connections can break when loose funnels touch in transit. Check protective packing on the approved sample and production shipment, then retain photographs and batch identification when investigating damage or leaks.

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.