Sourcing moth repellent strips from China
Insecticidal moth repellent strips from China carry a 6% base UK duty across the relevant insecticide lines. Strips whose primary function is moth control are biocidal products: confirm product authorisation or an HSE-recognised transitional route before sale in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources insecticidal moth repellent strips.
Duty and classification for moth strips
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3808 covers insecticides and similar preparations or articles. This guide concerns strips impregnated with insecticide for clothes-moth control. The table gives possible chemistry-based classifications, not a list of approved formulations. Confirm the active substance, complete formulation and intended claims through finding your commodity code.
The selected lines carry 6% base duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. The other-insecticides line has a 0.00 % suspension restricted to specified Indoxacarb material on a silicon dioxide support, excluding mixtures and preparations containing it. Do not treat that as a general exemption for moth strips. See the wider pesticides and disinfectants guide.
The tariff attaches waste import controls to the selected lines, fluorinated greenhouse-gas import controls to the pyrethroid line, and an ozone-related restriction on entry into free circulation to the other-insecticides line. Ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for the actual strips and formulation. If a consignment from China is waste subject to notification controls, shipment requires consent from the competent authorities involved. Export measures shown in the tariff also need separate checking if goods are later re-exported.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrethroid-based insecticidal strips | 3808 91 10 90 | 6% | None |
| Carbamate-based insecticidal preparations | 3808 91 30 00 | 6% | None |
| Organophosphorus-based insecticidal preparations | 3808 91 40 00 | 6% | None |
| Other insecticidal preparations and articles | 3808 91 90 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the insecticide and sealed strip pack
Specify the active substance and content per strip, substrate, dimensions, impregnation uniformity, perforations and hanging arrangement. Define the target moths and life stages, intended wardrobe or drawer use, coverage, replacement instructions and storage conditions. Ask for efficacy and storage-stability evidence for the finished strip in its proposed packaging.
A strip whose primary function is biocidal is a biocidal product. Confirm product authorisation or an HSE-recognised transitional route. Where pesticide-control approval is the applicable route, supply must follow its approval conditions. Check active-substance eligibility and the GB Article 95 supplier listing where required. Review chemical hazard labels and safety data sheets where applicable, as explained in the wider guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 4,000 retail packs of insecticidal moth repellent strips under 3808 91 10 90, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,320 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,320. Duty at 6% is £319.20. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,639.20, so it is £1,127.84. Import taxes total £1,447.04; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £319.20 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Active content: check batch assay results against the agreed loading and sample strips from different positions within the batch.
Strips: check dimensions, perforations, hanging strength and visible impregnation consistency against the agreed sample.
Packaging: check individual seals, tears, dampness and pack counts on arrival; retain unopened samples for comparison.
Labels: check product identity, batch details, use instructions and claims against the agreed artwork and applicable authorisation or approval. Arrange testing and certification support before shipment.
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What goes wrong
A factory may offer an insecticide-impregnated strip as an ordinary treated household article, although moth control is its primary function. Without the required authorisation or valid transitional route, it cannot be sold in Great Britain. Establish the route for the actual formulation before ordering.
Physical failures include uneven active loading, torn sachets, weak perforations and staining during the buyer's fabric-contact checks. A sealed sample does not establish the claimed protection period. Agree finished-product efficacy, packaging and storage checks, and 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. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on insecticidal moth strips from China?
The selected insecticide lines carry 6% base duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. The restricted suspension on the other-insecticides line is not a general moth-strip exemption.
Do insecticidal moth strips need approval in Great Britain?
Confirm product authorisation or an HSE-recognised transitional route for the actual formulation and claims. A strip whose primary function is biocidal is a biocidal product.
Can I sell moth strips as ordinary treated articles?
A treated article with a primary biocidal function is considered a biocidal product. An insecticidal strip intended principally for moth control needs its biocidal product route checked.
What should I test before accepting a moth-strip batch?
Check active loading, consistency between strips, sachet seals, perforations and hanging strength. Request efficacy and storage-stability evidence for the finished product and its packaging.