Sourcing intubation manikins from China

Duty on intubation training manikins

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9023 covers demonstration instruments, apparatus and models unsuitable for other uses. Both supplied commodity lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls.

The table shows product variants against the same provisional anatomical-model code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. Confirm the commodity code using the intended use, construction and included equipment. For related training models within the wider heading, see CPR training manikins. Import VAT is separate from duty; see import duty and VAT.

Specify the airway and teaching functions

Agree adult, paediatric or infant anatomy, oral and nasal access, mouth opening, neck movement and the intended tube and laryngoscope compatibility. State whether the trainer needs visible lung inflation, an oesophageal route, removable airways or placement feedback. Have your instructor approve a sample using the equipment used in your classes.

Describe the product as a training model in the purchase specification and review the supplier's intended-use wording. Equipment used by healthcare professionals is not automatically a medical device. If the manufacturer claims patient diagnosis or treatment functions, assess those claims against the medical-device definition rather than relying on its description as a manikin.

Suppliers must supply safe work equipment. Consumer product safety regulations also apply where consumer use is intended or reasonably foreseeable. For soft plasticised parts, confirm with the relevant authority whether REACH phthalate restrictions apply and agree material evidence through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of adult intubation training heads, not a quotation under 9023 00 80 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

Airway: compare the tongue, epiglottis and passage layout with the instructor-approved sample; demonstrate tube insertion without forcing it.

Ventilation: check the agreed chest or lung response after correct placement, the oesophageal response if included, and leaks at connections.

Durability: inspect soft tissue for tearing, teeth for looseness, neck joints for play and the base for movement during practice.

Contents and care: reconcile replacement airways, lung bags and accessories with the packing list; check English cleaning instructions and try the specified lubricant and cleaning method on a sample.

What goes wrong

An airway can look convincing yet resist the buyer's tubes or laryngoscope. Soft tissue may tear during insertion, lung bags may leak, and loose connections can make placement feedback misleading. Record the actual equipment and procedure used to accept the sample, then repeat those checks on production and arrival samples.

Cleaning can leave inaccessible moisture or damage soft parts, while replacement airways may fit the sample but not the delivered batch. Agree removable parts, drying instructions and spare-part compatibility before ordering. Use quality inspection to document checks against the approved sample.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.