Sourcing greasy and scoured wool from China
Wool that is not carded or combed from China, such as greasy shorn wool, scoured wool for stuffing, felting and insulation, and carbonised wool, pays 0% UK duty with no anti-dumping duty, but the tariff flags a veterinary control because untreated wool is an animal by-product. Clean yield, micron and vegetable matter decide the price. Cambridge China Bridge sources wool.
Greasy, scoured and carbonised wool from China pays 0% UK duty but carries a veterinary control. Animal by-product rules, yield and micron tests, an example.
Zero duty with a veterinary control
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, wool not carded or combed of heading 5101, whether greasy, degreased or carbonised, carried 0% on goods from China on every line, with no anti-dumping measure, but every line carries a veterinary control at import.
Untreated wool is an animal by-product under retained [Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2009/1069/contents), so check the current GB import conditions, documents and any approved-premises requirement on the [GOV.UK animal products import guidance](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/import-of-products-animals-food-and-feed-system) before shipping; fully scoured wool is treated differently from greasy wool. Carded and combed wool and tops are in our wool tops guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greasy shorn wool | 5101 11 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other greasy wool, such as skin wool | 5101 19 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Degreased shorn wool, not carbonised | 5101 21 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other degreased wool, not carbonised | 5101 29 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Carbonised wool | 5101 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying wool
Raw and scoured wool is bought on clean wool yield, mean fibre diameter, vegetable matter, colour, staple length and strength, and residual grease for scoured lots, tested by IWTO methods on core samples from the bales. Put the grade and test basis in the product specification with the bale weight and packing.
Wool used for stuffing, bedding or insulation becomes part of products with their own rules, such as fire safety for upholstered furniture, and wool resold as a textile product needs fibre names that follow the textile labelling regulations.
Worked duty example
Take a hypothetical order of 10 tonnes of scoured shorn wool in pressed bales, entered under 5101 21 00 00: £28,000 free on board plus £2,000 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £30,000. Scoured wool carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £30,000, £6,000, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.
What goes wrong
Wool fails on yield, contamination and paperwork. Clean yield is lower than the invoice so the real price per kilo rises; vegetable matter, kemp or coloured fibre spoil the lot; scoured wool keeps too much grease and smells; bales arrive damp and yellowed or with polypropylene contamination; and the veterinary documents do not match the goods, so the shipment is held.
Core-test bales for yield, diameter and vegetable matter against the lot certificate, check colour and residual grease on scoured wool, inspect for polypropylene and dark fibre, check bale moisture and weights, and confirm the veterinary and commercial documents match the bales before loading.
Cambridge China Bridge sources scoured and carbonised wool for felting, bedding, insulation and spinning buyers, starting with sample bales and small first lots. See how we handle first and smaller orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on scoured wool from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, wool of heading 5101 carried 0% from China on every line, with a veterinary control.
Why is there a veterinary control on wool?
Untreated wool is an animal by-product under retained Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, so GB import conditions apply.
How is wool priced?
On clean wool yield and micron, so core-test bales for yield, diameter and vegetable matter.
Can I start with a small lot?
Often yes. We start with sample bales and small first lots where the supplier allows.