Sourcing hair dyes from China
Hair dyes within heading 3305 carry 0% UK import duty from China. Before sale in Great Britain, obtain the cosmetic safety assessment and confirm the Responsible Person and notification requirements with the relevant authority. Agree the formula and shade reference before production. Cambridge China Bridge sources hair dyes.
UK import duty on hair dyes
Heading 3305 covers preparations for use on the hair. Hair dye creams and lotions are candidates for the other hair preparations line, 3305 90 00 00. The table shows product variants sharing that line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. Colouring shampoos need a separate classification check. For the wider heading, see hair conditioners.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 16 October 2026, all listed heading 3305 lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. It attaches an export control of mercury. Confirm its relevance to the formulation and shipment with your customs broker. Import VAT is 20%.
Confirm the commodity code against the actual formulation, presentation and kit contents before ordering. The cosmetics steps below concern sale in Great Britain.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent hair dye preparations | 3305 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the dye, shade and developer together
State whether the product is permanent, semi-permanent or temporary, and whether it is intended for salon or home use. Specify the shade reference, intended starting hair colour, application method and colour result on agreed hair swatches. For oxidative kits, identify the dye and developer separately and agree their mixing instructions.
Obtain the full quantitative formulation for the safety assessor under confidentiality. Confirm applicable substance restrictions with the relevant authority; a formula sold in China is not automatically suitable for Great Britain. Before sale, confirm the Responsible Person's responsibilities for the product information file, safety report and cosmetic notification with that authority.
Agree fill quantity, viscosity, fragrance, tube or bottle materials, seals and kit contents. Approve packaging with the actual formula, including stability and compatibility checks. Obtain approval for formula or component substitutions before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative air-freighted salon hair dye assortment under 3305 90 00 00, invoiced at £3,305 free on board, with £3,307 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,612. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,612, so it is £1,322.40. 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
Shade: compare batch samples with retained standards on the agreed hair swatches using the approved application procedure.
Formula records: match the batch formulation, dye and developer identities to the assessed product and approved specification.
Packaging: check fill, tube crimps, bottle seals, leakage and the complete kit contents against the packing specification.
Labels: check ingredients, batch identification, durability information, function, precautions and Responsible Person details against approved artwork. Make sure shade names and mixing instructions match the enclosed components.
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What goes wrong
A shade name alone leaves the colour result open to interpretation. Different starting hair colours or application procedures make sample comparisons unreliable. Retain the approved dye, developer and swatch result together so a disputed batch can be compared using the same method.
An attractive sample does not resolve an undisclosed formula or missing safety assessment. Complete the compliance work before sale. On arrival, isolate leaking packs, mismatched developer bottles or batches that differ from the approved shade reference while the supplier investigates.
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 hair dyes from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% for other hair preparations under 3305 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. Import VAT is 20%. Confirm the code for the actual product.
Can I sell Chinese hair dye under my own brand?
For Great Britain, obtain the safety assessment and confirm the UK-established Responsible Person, product information file and cosmetic notification requirements with the relevant authority before sale.
Does the factory need to disclose the formula?
Your safety assessor needs the full quantitative formulation, not just a marketing ingredient list. Agree confidential disclosure before committing to production.
How do I check hair dye shade consistency?
Use agreed hair swatches, the approved application procedure and retained reference samples. For oxidative products, keep the dye and developer combination consistent during comparison.