Sourcing greeting cards and postcards from China
Printed or illustrated postcards and printed greeting, message and announcement cards from China, with or without envelopes or trimmings, pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Cards with sound modules or lights bring battery and electrical rules, glitter and embellishments need checking for children, and packaging counts for EPR. Cambridge China Bridge sources greeting cards and postcards.
Printed postcards and greeting cards, with or without envelopes or trimmings, pay 0% UK duty from China. Musical cards, batteries and packaging explained.
Zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, printed or illustrated postcards and printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings, carried 0% duty on goods from China under heading 4909, with no anti-dumping measure.
Blank cards and stationery sets are classified elsewhere. Confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed postcards and greeting cards, with or without envelopes | 4909 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Sound and light cards
Musical and light-up cards contain button or coin cells, so they fall under the Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2009 and bring WEEE questions. Battery compartments must stop small children reaching the cell, and the card must be safe under general product safety law.
Paper, print and packaging
Specify board weight, finish (foil, embossing, spot UV), colour profile and envelope paper, and approve a printed proof. Cellophane sleeves and envelopes are packaging for packaging EPR, and plastic sleeves count towards Plastic Packaging Tax thresholds. Artwork must be yours or licensed; the IP guide explains why.
Inspection
At inspection, check colour against the proof, folding and cutting, envelope fit, and count packs.
Cambridge China Bridge sources greeting cards, postcards and boxed card sets, with print, battery and packaging questions settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on greeting cards from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, printed postcards and greeting cards of heading 4909 carried 0% duty from China.
Do musical cards need extra compliance?
Yes. Their button or coin cells bring battery regulations, WEEE questions and child safety checks on the battery compartment.
Are card envelopes and sleeves packaging?
Yes. They count for packaging EPR, and plastic sleeves for Plastic Packaging Tax thresholds.
Are blank cards in heading 4909?
No. Heading 4909 covers printed cards; blank stationery is classified elsewhere.