Sourcing industrial limit switches from China

Industrial limit switch duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, the selected switch lines carried 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspensions recorded. Heading 8536 covers switching apparatus for voltages not exceeding 1,000 V. For other products within the heading, see electromechanical relays.

The tariff attaches mercury export controls to the selected lines and mercury import controls to the rotary and other-switch lines. The mercury controls concern intentionally added mercury. Confirm with the relevant authority or your customs broker whether a listed mercury-added switch may be imported into Great Britain and whether an exemption applies. Ask for written confirmation that the switch contains no mercury; have your customs broker confirm any relevant control and declaration requirement.

A snap-action mechanism meeting the current description may fall under 8536 50 07 00. Other switches split by voltage and type. The rotary-switch row is relevant only where the product meets that description, not merely because its actuator rotates. Confirm the commodity code using the mechanism description, datasheet and rated voltage.

Specify actuator travel and contact behaviour

Specify the roller lever, plunger or other actuator, mounting-hole positions, operating direction, operating force, switching point, overtravel and reset point. State the normally open and normally closed contact arrangement, terminal layout, cable entry and housing material. Give the actual load and switching duty, rather than accepting a current rating without its test conditions.

For switches designed for 50 to 1,000 V alternating current, confirm with the relevant product-safety authority whether the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 apply and which technical documentation, declaration of conformity, UKCA or CE marking and importer identification are needed. Match the documentation to the exact switch and rating. Business-to-business component parts are outside the hazardous-substance regulations, but a final assembly within scope must comply, including its components. Request material evidence for the intended assembly.

Approve a sample on the intended mounting and operating cam. Agree checks for contact resistance, repeatable switching, terminal retention and sealing against the conditions stated in the order. If the switch is intended for a guard or safety function, specify the required contact-opening behaviour and obtain supporting test evidence before approving the model.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 600 industrial snap-action limit switches, illustrative order under 8536 50 07 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,600, so it is £2,520. 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

Actuator: compare lever length, roller movement, mounting dimensions and head orientation with the drawing and approved sample.

Contacts: check the terminal diagram, continuity at rest and when operated, switching point, reset point and contact resistance against the agreed limits.

Housing: inspect seals, cable entries, lid fit, terminal screws and signs of cracks or corrosion; repeat agreed sealing checks on arrival.

Documents: match model markings, electrical ratings and batch identity to the order and test records; check applicable conformity documents and importer identification.

What goes wrong

A replacement may fit the mounting holes but switch at a different point. Excessive lever play, a sticking roller or insufficient reset travel can cause missed signals. Test the approved sample on the actual mechanism and check bulk goods against the same fixture.

A rating for a different load can conceal unsuitable contacts, while a changed terminal arrangement can reverse the intended signal. Poor cable-entry sealing can admit coolant or dust. Record the agreed contact arrangement and sealing checks in the order, then use quality inspection to compare production with the approved sample.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.