Sourcing infusion pumps from China
Infusion pumps from China under 9018 90 50 00 carry 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Before sale in Great Britain, confirm with the MHRA the device registration requirements and whether the overseas manufacturer needs to appoint a UK Responsible Person. Cambridge China Bridge sources infusion pumps.
Duty on infusion pumps
Heading 9018 covers medical, surgical, dental and veterinary instruments and appliances. Transfusion and infusion apparatus falls under 9018 90 50 00. The table includes separately supplied consumables associated with pump use; these are separate commodity lines, not alternative codes for the pump.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, the selected lines carried 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions recorded. The pump line attaches a torture and repression import prohibition and export restriction, plus fluorinated greenhouse gas import control. Confirm their application to the exact pump with your customs broker. Products containing banned fluorinated gases must not be placed on the Great Britain market.
Confirm the commodity code using the intended medical use, operating mechanism and description of any separately supplied consumables. The wider medical instruments guide covers the rest of this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfusion and infusion apparatus, including infusion pumps | 9018 90 50 00 | 0% | None |
| Plastic syringes supplied separately for syringe pumps | 9018 31 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Tubular metal needles supplied separately | 9018 32 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Catheters and cannulae supplied separately | 9018 39 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the pump and its consumables
State whether you need a volumetric pump or syringe pump, its intended treatments and operating environment. Agree delivery accuracy across the proposed flow range, supported syringe brands or administration sets, occlusion alarm behaviour, air detection where applicable, battery operation and protection against unintended free flow. Ask for model-specific test results using the consumables you plan to buy.
Before ordering for Great Britain, confirm the manufacturer's UK Responsible Person and MHRA device registration. Ask the MHRA whether the importer needs to inform the manufacturer or UK Responsible Person of its intention to import and who should submit the importer's details. Check the conformity assessment and accepted UKCA or CE route for the exact model. Agree English instructions, cleaning methods, calibration support, spare parts and software configuration.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative small-business batch of infusion pumps under 9018 90 50 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. 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
Identity: match model, serial number, software version, labels and supplied documents to the approved order and sample.
Delivery: have a competent tester measure delivery against the agreed specification using the intended syringes or administration sets, including start-up and restart behaviour.
Alarms and power: test occlusion response, applicable air detection, door or syringe security, battery warnings and power interruption according to the manufacturer's test procedure.
Consumables and packing: check fit, connectors, clamps, supplied accessories and transport damage. For sterile consumables, check barrier seals, batch details and expiry. Use an agreed inspection brief.
What goes wrong
A pump can look correct while its documentation covers a different model or software configuration. A substitute syringe or administration set can also fail the agreed delivery or alarm tests. Check the actual supplied combination rather than accepting a demonstration with different consumables.
Loose clamps, damaged doors, weak batteries and missing calibration support can prevent acceptance. Record failures against serial numbers and hold affected stock for investigation. Agree who provides replacement parts, software support and corrective action before placing the order.
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 infusion pumps from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 0% for transfusion and infusion apparatus under 9018 90 50 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded.
Does a Chinese infusion pump need a UK Responsible Person?
Confirm with the MHRA whether a manufacturer outside the UK needs to appoint a UK Responsible Person and whether the device needs to be registered before it is placed on the Great Britain market.
Can I use any syringe or administration set with the pump?
Specify the manufacturer's supported consumables and test the supplied combination. Do not accept an untested substitution merely because it fits.
What should I ask the factory for before ordering?
Ask for exact-model conformity documents, MHRA registration details, the UK Responsible Person, delivery and alarm test results, compatible consumables, English instructions and calibration support.