Sourcing hands-free pumping bras from China
Hands-free breast-pumping bras from China carry 6% UK duty across the relevant bra lines, with no listed trade remedies. Confirm the applicable fibre composition labelling requirements with the relevant authority, and products sold in Great Britain must be safe. Check flange retention and fit with the intended pump. Cambridge China Bridge sources hands-free breast-pumping bras.
6% duty on hands-free pumping bras
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6212 covers brassières and other corsetry, whether knitted or crocheted. Hands-free breast-pumping bras supplied separately fall within the other brassières line; a retail set containing a bra and briefs has a separate line. The table shows product variants sharing these codes.
Both relevant lines carry 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. This guide covers the garment supplied without a breast pump.
Confirm the construction and retail presentation before choosing the commodity code. See the nursing bras guide for the wider bra family.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hands-free pumping bras with overlapping flange openings | 6212 10 90 00 | 6% | None |
| Hands-free pumping bras in retail sets with briefs | 6212 10 10 00 | 6% | None |
Specify flange support and loaded fit
Specify the intended pump models and flange shapes, opening construction, fabric stretch and recovery, adjustable band, strap attachment and fastening arrangement. Separate designs that hold external flanges from those intended to support wearable pumps. Approve samples with the actual equipment and bottle load, checking retention while seated and moving.
Agree the size chart, measurement tolerances, seam positions, skin-facing finish and wash instructions. For Great Britain, confirm with the relevant authority which fibre composition labelling format applies to the bra, including how to describe the cup and back fabrics. General product safety rules require products supplied in Great Britain to be safe.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,000 hands-free breast-pumping bras under 6212 10 90 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 6% is £408. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,208, so it is £1,441.60. Import taxes total £1,849.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £408 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Pump retention: fit the stated flanges and loaded bottles to production samples; check that openings hold them without slipping, tilting or tearing.
Fit and fastenings: measure each ordered size against the approved chart; check band adjustment, strap joints, clips and front closures under the intended load.
Wash recovery: wash according to the agreed instructions, then repeat the fit and retention checks; look for stretched openings, shrinking panels, seam distortion and colour transfer.
Labels and finish: match the fibre label to the approved composition and chosen corsetry labelling format; check rough edges, exposed fasteners and loose threads. Record findings at inspection.
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What goes wrong
An opening can grip an empty flange but slip once the bottle fills. Changing flange shape can alter retention, while openings that are too tight can distort the assembly. A sample approved without the intended equipment leaves these problems unresolved.
Stretch fabric can lose recovery after washing, and support can vary across sizes even when the smallest sample fits. Keep an approved sample for comparison and require approval before changes to fabric, opening construction, clips or elastic.
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 hands-free pumping bras from China?
The relevant bra lines carry 6% duty.
Which commodity code applies to a hands-free pumping bra?
For a garment supplied separately, check 6212 10 90 00, other brassières. A retail set containing a bra and briefs has code 6212 10 10 00. Confirm the actual construction and presentation.
What fibre label does a pumping bra need?
For Great Britain, confirm with the relevant authority whether the fibre label should describe the whole bra or the outside and inside fabric of the cups and back, together or separately.
How do I check that a pumping bra holds the pump?
Use the intended flanges and loaded bottles on samples across the ordered sizes. Check retention, fit and fastenings during movement, then repeat after washing.