Sourcing household insecticide aerosols from China

6% duty on the selected insecticide lines

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3808 covers prepared or retail-packed insecticides alongside other pesticides and disinfectants. The selected insecticide lines carry 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. The table gives alternative chemistry classifications for household aerosols; a tariff description does not establish that a formulation can be sold.

The suspension under 3808 91 90 90 is limited to the specified indoxacarb material on a silicon dioxide support and excludes mixtures and multi-component preparations. Do not assume it covers a finished spray. The selected lines have waste import controls; the pyrethroid line also has fluorinated greenhouse gas controls, while the other-insecticide line has an ozone-depleting-substance restriction. Export controls on dangerous chemicals and waste are also recorded.

Give your broker the full formulation, active substances, propellant and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Confirm the applicable fluorinated-gas and ozone-depleting-substance requirements with the broker before shipment. The tariff attaches these controls, but their application depends on the product. For another product family within the heading, see mosquito coils.

Specify the formulation, propellant and filled can

Specify the target insects, indoor application method, active substances and concentrations, solvent, propellant, net contents, can material, internal coating, valve, actuator and cap. Agree the spray pattern, discharge performance, leakage checks and storage stability assessment against an approved sample. Obtain batch assay results and evidence supporting the claimed insect-control performance.

Household insect sprays are biocidal products. Before ordering, confirm the exact product's GB authorisation or valid transitional route, active-substance eligibility and applicable Article 95 supplier listing. A Chinese approval does not establish GB compliance. Match the formulation, household use and label to the approval conditions. Where required, obtain chemical hazard labels and safety data sheets. Arrange a testing and certification review.

For aerosol compliance marking in Great Britain, UKCA or the reversed epsilon marking can be used. Request the filled-can safety and leak-test records supporting the selected marking route. Products containing banned fluorinated gases must not be placed on the GB market. If a consignment from China is waste subject to notification controls, the exporter must seek consent from the competent authority in China.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 600 cans of household pyrethroid insecticide aerosol under 3808 91 10 90, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,500. Duty at 6% is £390. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,890, so it is £1,378. Import taxes total £1,768; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £390 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Formulation: check the batch assay against the agreed active substances and concentrations, and reconcile the formulation with the approval documents and safety data sheet.

Filled cans: check net contents, seams, corrosion, coating condition, valve crimping and leakage records; isolate leaking or damaged cans on arrival.

Spray performance: check actuator operation, spray pattern, discharge consistency and cap fit against the approved sample using agreed safe test procedures.

Labels and cartons: check the product identity, batch traceability, use instructions, approval conditions, hazard information and selected aerosol marking. Record findings using the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

An approved active substance is mistaken for approval of the finished spray, or a factory changes the solvent, propellant or active content after sample approval. A product may then fall outside its approval conditions. Confirm the regulatory route for the supplied formulation and keep changes subject to written review before production.

Practical failures include leaking valve crimps, blocked actuators, uneven spray, corrosion and active content below the agreed specification. Keep retained samples and compare production records with arrival checks. Customs clearance and payment of duty do not replace the product compliance checks needed before sale.

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.