Sourcing grease-barrier paper from China
Grease-barrier-coated packaging paper from China carries 0% UK duty across the relevant heading 4811 lines. Choose the code by coating composition, bleaching and weight. Paper used to wrap food must be suitable for food use; grease resistance alone does not establish this. Cambridge China Bridge sources grease-barrier-coated packaging paper.
Duty on grease-barrier-coated packaging paper
Heading 4811 covers coated, impregnated or covered paper and paperboard supplied in rolls or rectangular sheets, subject to the heading exclusions. For grease-barrier packaging paper, establish whether the barrier is plastic, wax or another treatment. A water-based coating description alone does not identify the dry coating composition.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the selected plastic-coated, wax-coated and other coated-paper lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.
Confirm the commodity code using the coating composition, bleaching, grammage and supplied format. The table describes possible categories rather than interchangeable codes. See the wider coated-paper and cupstock guide and the explanation of UK import duty and VAT.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic-coated bleached paper and board, over 150 g/m², excluding adhesives | 4811 51 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other plastic-coated paper and board, excluding adhesives and thermal paper | 4811 59 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Other paper and board coated with wax, paraffin, stearin, oil or glycerol | 4811 60 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Other coated or impregnated paper and board, excluding thermal paper | 4811 90 00 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the barrier and the food it will wrap
Specify the base paper, virgin or recycled fibre, grammage and tolerance, dry coating composition, coated face, coating weight, reel or sheet dimensions and packing. Describe the intended food, contact temperature and duration, and whether the paper will be folded, printed or heat-sealed. Agree a grease-resistance test and acceptance criteria using the intended food or an agreed test medium.
If you package food yourself, the paper must be suitable for food use. Ask for food-contact test results covering the supplied coating and intended conditions. Plastics used for food packaging have special rules requiring written compliance evidence. If the barrier contains plastic, have a testing adviser confirm the applicable evidence before approving the order.
For paper products within the UK Timber Regulations, confirm with the relevant authority the due-diligence obligations concerning pulp legality before first placement on the Great Britain market. Ask whether any exemptions apply to bamboo-based or recovered products. Establish the fibre mix and obtain the pulp source, species and country of harvest rather than relying on a general mill brochure.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 12 tonnes of unbleached plastic-coated grease-barrier paper in reels under 4811 59 00 90, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £15,800, so it is £3,160. 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
Barrier: test samples from different reels or packs with the agreed grease challenge, both flat and after folding; check for penetration, pinholes and coating streaks.
Conversion: check grammage, thickness, curl, surface friction and print adhesion; trial the paper on your wrapping or converting equipment.
Arrival: check reel width, cores, edges, splices or sheet dimensions; inspect wrapping for moisture damage and the paper for odour, blocking and contamination.
Documents: match batch labels and coating details to the approved sample and test reports; check the stated food-contact conditions and fibre-source records. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A flat sample resists grease, but creasing cracks the coating and food stains appear along folds. Uneven coating leaves weak patches; sheets stick together in storage; curl disrupts feeding; or a substituted coating changes print adhesion and sealing. Approve a converted sample and repeat the agreed barrier check on production material.
A supplier's grease-resistance result may cover a different coating or food-contact condition. Keep the approved formulation and intended use in the purchase specification, and ask for replacement evidence when either changes. Do not infer plastic-free construction from the words water-based, or accept recyclability claims without supporting evidence.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on grease-barrier-coated paper from China?
The relevant heading 4811 lines carried 0% duty on 30 September 2026. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties. Confirm the code from the actual coating and paper specification.
How should I test grease resistance?
Agree the food or test medium, contact temperature, duration and acceptance criteria. Test the paper flat and after folding, then trial it in the intended wrapping process.
Does a water-based barrier mean the paper is plastic-free?
Do not assume so. Ask for the dry coating composition and evidence supporting the claim. The application medium alone does not identify what remains on the paper.
Do timber due diligence rules apply to coated paper?
For paper within the UK Timber Regulations, confirm with the relevant authority the due-diligence obligations before first placement on the Great Britain market. Confirm whether any exemptions apply to bamboo-based or recovered products; establish the fibre source and mix.