Sourcing hair masks from China
Hair masks from China carry 0% UK import duty under the other hair preparations line, so the duty range for the products covered here is 0%. Before sale in Great Britain, arrange a qualified safety assessment and confirm the UK Responsible Person, product information file and notification requirements with the relevant authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources hair masks.
UK duty on hair masks from China
Heading 3305 covers preparations for use on the hair. Conditioning hair masks are candidates for 3305 90 00 00, other hair preparations. The table shows different presentations under that same line; it does not give them separate classifications. Confirm the formula and intended function, particularly for products described as straightening treatments.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 16 October 2026, the supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions recorded. Import VAT is 20%. The tariff attaches an export control of mercury; ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to the shipment and whether any requirement applies.
Confirm the commodity code against the actual product before ordering. The beauty and personal care guide explains the wider cosmetics obligations. The sales requirements discussed here concern Great Britain.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rinse-out conditioning hair masks in jars | 3305 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the formula and the filled pack
Specify rinse-out or leave-in use, intended hair type, application instructions, fragrance, colour and viscosity against an approved retained sample. Agree fill quantity and tolerance, jar or tube material, closure, liner and seal. Test dispensing and rinsing with the actual formula rather than approving an empty pack.
Establish whether the manufacturer will disclose the full quantitative formula to your safety assessor under confidentiality. Before sale in Great Britain, arrange the qualified safety assessment and confirm the UK Responsible Person, product information file and notification requirements with the relevant authority. Check restricted ingredients and support any claimed effect. Agree that formula, fragrance and packaging substitutions need your written approval.
Ask for stability, preservative and packaging compatibility evidence for the actual formulation. Include checks for separation, fragrance change, discolouration, leaking seals and product trapped around the closure. Agree batch records and retain production samples for comparison.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 200 cartons of rinse-out hair masks under 3305 90 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,600, so it is £1,320. 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
Formula: compare colour, fragrance and viscosity with the approved sample; refer differences to the assessor before accepting a substituted formulation.
Pack: check fill quantity against the agreed tolerance, intact seals, secure lids, clean jar threads and leakage inside cartons.
Label: check ingredients, instructions, warnings, durability information, batch identification and the Responsible Person’s name and address against approved artwork.
Batch evidence: match carton and unit batch markings to production records; check that supporting test documents identify the delivered formulation.
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What goes wrong
An attractive sample does not show whether a thick mask will separate in storage or react with its jar liner. A changed fragrance or preservative can also leave your assessment describing a different formula. Control substitutions and compare the production batch with retained samples.
Loose lids, damaged seals and product on jar threads can spoil otherwise acceptable stock. Missing formula disclosure can prevent completion of the safety assessment, while unsupported treatment claims create a separate problem. Resolve the documents and artwork before production; arrival inspection cannot replace the safety assessment.
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 masks from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 0% for other hair preparations under 3305 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures recorded. Import VAT is 20%. Confirm classification for the actual formulation.
Do private-label hair masks need a UK Responsible Person?
Before sale in Great Britain, confirm the UK Responsible Person, product information file and notification requirements with the relevant authority. Agree who will hold the role and the file, and complete the qualified safety assessment before sale.
What if the factory will not disclose the hair mask formula?
Ask whether it will disclose the full quantitative formula confidentially to your safety assessor. Without the information needed for the assessment, you cannot complete the work required before sale.
What should I check when hair masks arrive?
Compare fragrance, colour and viscosity with retained samples. Check fill quantity, seals, lid security, leakage, approved labels and batch markings, then match the batch to its production and test documents.