Sourcing hair claw clips from China
Hair claw clips from China carry a flat 2% UK import duty across the relevant material lines, with no trade remedy recorded. Confirm applicable consumer product safety requirements with the relevant authority, taking intended and foreseeable use into account. Specify the body material, hinge, spring and decorations before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources hair claw clips.
Hair claw clip duty and material controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 October 2026, heading 9615 covers combs, hair slides and similar accessories, alongside hairpins and non-electric curling accessories. Hair claw clips of hard rubber or plastics fall within 9615 11 00 00; other materials fall within 9615 19 00 00, subject to confirmation of the finished product. The table separates product variants sharing a commodity code.
The supplied tariff record shows 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. It attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls: products containing such fur are banned. The other-material line also carries CITES import and export controls. If a clip incorporates a listed species, including its parts or derivatives, confirm permits with APHA and your customs broker before ordering from China; corresponding Chinese permit arrangements also need checking.
Confirm the complete material composition and decoration with your broker using our commodity code guide. See combs and hair accessories for the wider heading. The illustrative order values are not a quotation; our import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain plastic hair claw clips | 9615 11 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Metal hair claw clips | 9615 19 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the claw body, hinge and spring
State the body material, colour, finish, tooth shape, opening span and intended hair type. Agree spring material, plating, hinge-pin retention and opening resistance against an approved sample. Specify whether decoration is moulded, mechanically attached or glued, and record the adhesive and attachment method.
Confirm with the relevant authority which general product safety requirements apply to hair claw clips sold in Great Britain, including how normal or reasonably foreseeable use should be assessed. For children's styles, avoid detachable small decorations and sharp points; confirm whether an accessory designed for play would be treated as a toy. Ask for restricted-substance screening of plastics and coatings, and agree checks for metal finishes and colour transfer.
Agree the retail card, importer address, necessary warnings, barcode and protection for projecting teeth. Keep an approved packed sample so the factory and inspector can compare the finished batch.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50,000 plastic hair claw clips across a retail range under 9615 11 00 00, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 2% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,568, so it is £1,713.60. Import taxes total £1,881.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Hinge and spring: repeatedly open and close sampled clips to the agreed test programme; check pin movement, cracking, spring tension and jaw alignment.
Teeth and grip: inspect for moulding flash and sharp edges, then try the clips on the agreed hair types to check snagging, slippage and comfortable opening.
Finish and decoration: check plating for rust, rub coloured surfaces against light material and pull-test glued decorations using the agreed method.
Arrival and packing: check for broken teeth and crushed cards, compare labels and warnings with the approved artwork, and reconcile colours and pack counts. Use the same checks for quality inspection before dispatch.
What goes wrong
A clip can match the sample colour yet fail at its hinge. Brittle bodies crack around the pin, poorly retained pins move out, and weak springs lose grip. Uneven jaws and rough teeth snag hair. Compare production samples with the approved sample after repeated opening and the agreed drop test.
Glued decorations can detach and plating can rust. Packing that leaves the teeth exposed allows breakage in transit. Record these defects separately and agree corrective work before accepting the batch, rather than judging it only by appearance.
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 hair claw clips from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 2% for plastic, hard rubber and other-material hair claw clips, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded.
Which commodity code applies to plastic claw clips?
9615 11 00 00 covers hard rubber or plastic hair slides and similar accessories. Confirm the finished claw clip's composition and construction with your customs broker.
What should I test before accepting hair claw clips?
Check repeated opening, hinge-pin retention, spring grip, tooth finish, decoration attachment and transit damage against the approved sample and agreed test programme.
Can I import claw clips decorated with animal materials?
Cat and dog fur products are banned. CITES controls may apply to listed animal materials; confirm the species and permit requirements with APHA and your broker before ordering.