Sourcing hospital beds from China

Hospital-bed duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 October 2026, hospital beds with mechanical fittings fall within heading 9402, under 9402 90 00 00. The recorded duty for goods from China is 0%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension listed. The table shows bed configurations sharing this commodity line.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches a torture-and-repression import prohibition and a cat-and-dog-fur import control. Confirm their application to the exact goods from China with your customs broker before ordering, particularly if a design includes restraints or animal-derived coverings. The file also lists cultural-interest export licensing and torture-equipment and fur export controls; these are export entries.

Confirm the complete bed's construction and mechanical functions using finding your commodity code. Check separately supplied mattresses and accessories separately rather than assuming the bed's code applies. See the wider medical-furniture guide for other products within this heading.

Specify the bed, mattress and rails together

State the intended medical use, adult or paediatric users, mattress dimensions, adjustment functions, height range and rated load. Specify castors, brakes, rail locks, removable boards, cleaning agents and replacement components. Approve the complete bed and mattress combination rather than a frame photograph.

For beds intended for medical use, confirm the applicable conformity route with MHRA and settle MHRA registration before placing them on the Great Britain market. Request the exact model's declaration, labels, English instructions and electrical test evidence for powered models. Use testing and certification support to review the documents against the supplied configuration.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative small-business batch of electrically adjustable hospital beds under 9402 90 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £35,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £35,000, so it is £7,000. 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

Frame and brakes: inspect welds, coating and fixings; test castor movement and brake holding with the agreed load.

Adjustment: cycle the lift and backrest under the agreed load; check drift, unusual noise, hand controls, cable routing and the specified emergency functions.

Mattress and rails: check compatibility of installed equipment and correct fitting. Test rail locks and compare mattress fit and rail gaps with the manufacturer's instructions.

Documents and packing: match model labels and instructions to the approved sample and reports; check that controls, boards and rails are protected for transport. Arrange quality inspection before dispatch and repeat functional checks on arrival.

What goes wrong

A bed can pass a demonstration without carrying a patient load, then drift or stall during use. Loose rail locks, damaged castor brakes and trapped actuator cables are practical rejection points. Test the supplied configuration under the agreed load and retain a record of the approved components.

Replacing the mattress or rails can change the fit and create entrapment gaps. A report for a different actuator, controller or bed configuration also leaves the supplied model's evidence unresolved. Agree component substitutions in writing and review compatibility and supporting documents before accepting them.

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.