Sourcing ice hockey helmets from China

Duty on ice hockey helmets

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6506 covers other headgear, including safety headgear. Its relevant helmet lines are 6506 10 10 00 for plastics and 6506 10 80 00 for other materials. The table repeats the plastics code for different helmet variants; these are not separate tariff classifications.

Both safety-headgear lines carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The other-materials line attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur and products made from it are banned. Specify synthetic padding and confirm any animal-derived trim with your customs broker.

Confirm the shell materials and complete product description through finding your commodity code. Do not choose a code from the sport name alone. For another helmet family within this heading, see ski helmets.

Shell, fit and face-protection compatibility

Specify shell material, head-circumference range, adjustment mechanism, impact liner, comfort pads, ear coverage and chinstrap assembly. State whether the order includes a cage or visor, and identify the mounting hardware and helmet combinations you intend to sell. Approve a physical sample with the intended face protection fitted.

Treat protective hockey helmets as personal protective equipment when planning the compliance review. For Great Britain, check CE or UKCA marking, the declaration of conformity and English instructions. The importer must indicate their name, registered trade name or trademark and postal address on the equipment. Plan space for these details on the helmet.

Ask for hockey-specific impact and retention test evidence matching the shell, liner, sizes and strap assembly being ordered. Compare the report's product identification with the sample and production specification. Arrange testing and certification support before approving changes to protective components.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size batch of plastic ice hockey helmets under 6506 10 10 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,900. Duty at 2% is £198. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,098, so it is £2,019.60. Import taxes total £2,217.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £198 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shell and liner: check for cracks, distortion, exposed sharp edges, missing padding and uneven liner attachment against the approved sample.

Fit and retention: measure the agreed size range, operate the adjuster, check that it holds its setting, and examine chinstrap stitching, buckles and anchor points.

Face protection: fit the agreed cage or visor, check mounting alignment and hardware, and look for interference with the chinstrap or adjustment mechanism.

Documents and packing: match model descriptions to the declaration and test evidence, check markings and English instructions, and inspect for compression damage on arrival. Use the agreed quality inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A helmet can resemble the approved sample while using a different liner or strap anchor. Adjustment mechanisms may slip, chinstraps may twist, and cage mounts may fit poorly. Record the approved components and require the supplier to submit proposed substitutions for review.

A generic helmet report may describe a different model or protective use. Check the model, construction and tested configurations before accepting it as purchasing evidence. Visual inspection helps find assembly defects; arrange protective-performance testing separately.

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.