Sourcing incense sticks from China
Incense sticks from China carry 6% UK duty under 3307 41 00 00, so the duty range for this product is a single rate. Before sale in Great Britain, importers must ensure consumer products are safe and provide relevant risk information. Specify the formulation and check burning behaviour. Cambridge China Bridge sources incense sticks.
UK duty on incense sticks
Heading 3307 includes preparations for perfuming or deodorising rooms. Its burning-preparations line, 3307 41 00 00, covers incense sticks. The table shows product variants sharing that commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications. For related home fragrance products, see our candles guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, the incense line carries 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. It attaches an export control of mercury; ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to the goods and declaration.
Confirm the commodity code using the actual composition, form and intended use before ordering. Keep the incense specification separate from holders or other accessories supplied alongside it.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo-core incense sticks | 3307 41 00 00 | 6% | None |
Specify the incense blend and burn
Specify bamboo-core or coreless construction, stick length and diameter, coating consistency, fragrance, binder and combustible base. Ask for the formulation and agree that ingredient substitutions need your approval. Retain an approved sample of each fragrance, including its retail packaging.
Agree how samples will be burned and compared: ignition, continued smouldering, burn duration, ash fall, smoke and scent during use. Include the intended holder in the assessment. Treat these as purchasing checks, with acceptance criteria agreed before production.
Before placing consumer incense on the Great Britain market, ensure it is safe and provide relevant risk information. Ask a chemical assessor to review the blend: substances and mixtures placed on that market must be classified and labelled under its chemical classification rules. Arrange testing and certification support around the actual formulation.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 200 kg of packed incense sticks under 3307 41 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 6% is £396. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,996, so it is £1,399.20. Import taxes total £1,795.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £396 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Sticks: check straightness, broken tips, exposed core, loose coating and consistency against the approved sample.
Burning: compare production samples with the retained sample using the agreed holder and conditions; record extinction, falling embers and unexpected smoke or odour.
Labels: check approved risk information and formulation-based label review. Check producer name and address and product or batch reference on the product or packaging where reasonable.
Packing: open cartons and check pack contents, crushed sleeves, moisture, fragrance transfer and protection against sticks rubbing or snapping.
What goes wrong
A sample can smell right before lighting but perform differently when burned. Changing the binder, fragrance loading or coating can alter ignition, smoke and ash. Keep the approved formulation and burning observations together, and investigate differences before accepting the batch.
Thin sleeves and loose cartons leave sticks vulnerable to breakage. Damp packing can damage the coating and change the scent. Inspect packed production goods, retain batch samples and compare arrival condition with the shipment inspection record.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on incense sticks from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 6% under 3307 41 00 00, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing measure or suspension.
What should I specify when ordering incense sticks?
Specify core construction, dimensions, formulation, fragrance, burn behaviour and packaging. Retain approved samples and require approval for ingredient substitutions.
Do incense sticks need safety warnings?
For Great Britain consumer sales, producers must provide relevant information about risks that are not immediately obvious and precautions against them. Base the wording on the actual product assessment.
How do I inspect incense sticks on arrival?
Check breakage, loose coating, moisture, pack contents and labels. Burn retained and arrival samples under the agreed conditions and investigate differences in smoke, scent or ash.