Sourcing knitted cleanroom gloves from China
Knitted cleanroom gloves from China carry 8% UK duty, with a conditional suspension reducing qualifying coated lines to 0%. Fibre labelling rules apply, and gloves supplied as PPE need the applicable conformity route. Specify particle shedding and clean packing before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources knitted cleanroom gloves.
UK duty on knitted cleanroom gloves
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6116 covers knitted or crocheted gloves, mittens and mitts. The selected cleanroom-glove lines carry 8% duty for goods from China. Qualifying knitted gloves impregnated or covered with plastics or rubber have a 0% suspension; uncoated cotton and synthetic-fibre gloves remain at 8%. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal-product controls. Imports and exports of products containing cat or dog fur are banned. Seal products face a ban with limited exceptions; confirm eligibility and attesting documents with your customs broker if any seal material is proposed. Animal-hair and other-textile lines also attach CITES controls; ask your broker to confirm requirements for any proposed animal material from China.
Confirm the commodity code using the actual fibre, coating material and laminated construction. Ask your broker to confirm suspension eligibility and the declaration claim before shipment. Cleanroom use alone does not identify the tariff line. See knitted anti-static gloves for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated synthetic-fibre knitted cleanroom gloves | 6116 93 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Uncoated cotton knitted cleanroom gloves | 6116 92 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Plastic-coated knitted cleanroom gloves, not laminated | 6116 10 80 91 | 8% | None |
| Rubber-coated knitted cleanroom gloves, not laminated | 6116 10 20 91 | 8% | None |
Specify shedding, processing and clean packaging
State the liner fibre, knit structure, palm and fingertip coating, cuff construction and finished measurements. Describe the task and surfaces the glove will touch. Agree particle-shedding acceptance criteria and a test method with the receiving facility, using samples made with the proposed washing, drying and packing process. Treat low-lint, sterile and anti-static descriptions as separate claims to verify.
Specify whether gloves are washable, how they are cleaned, the intended reuse conditions and how packs are opened inside the facility. Agree inner-bag material, seals, batch identification and storage instructions. For sale in Great Britain, textile labels must show fibre content, including animal parts where present. For gloves supplied as PPE, most new PPE must be CE or UKCA marked, with a declaration of conformity and instructions in English.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 pairs of uncoated synthetic-fibre knitted cleanroom gloves; FOB value and freight are illustrative. under 6116 93 00 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,700. Duty at 8% is £616. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,316, so it is £1,663.20. Import taxes total £2,279.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £616 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Shedding and cleanliness: compare production samples with the agreed particle test results; inspect loose fibres, yarn ends, visible debris and residues using the receiving facility's agreed method.
Fit and coating: measure palm width, finger length and cuff length against the approved chart; check holes, snagging, coating penetration, grip and peeling after flexing.
Packs on arrival: check sealed inner bags for damage, moisture and contamination; match glove size, batch identification and pack contents to the order before opening.
Documents and claims: match fibre wording and any protective claims to the exact model and supporting reports. Plan sampling and records with the inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A glove can look clean yet shed fibres during handling. A changed yarn or finishing process can alter shedding, fit and grip. Coating can penetrate the liner or flake at the fingertips. Cleaned gloves can also pick up debris during packing, while a damaged inner bag exposes the contents during transport.
Approve samples after the proposed cleaning and packing process, then retain sealed comparison packs. Require approval before changes to yarn, coating, cleaning or packaging. Test production samples in the intended handling task, and isolate damaged or contaminated packs on arrival.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on knitted cleanroom gloves from China?
The selected lines carry 8%. Qualifying gloves impregnated or covered with plastics or rubber can enter at 0% under the suspension. Uncoated cotton and synthetic-fibre gloves remain at 8%.
Do knitted cleanroom gloves need CE or UKCA marking?
For gloves supplied as PPE in Great Britain, most new PPE must carry CE or UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Settle the intended protective claims before ordering.
How do I check whether knitted gloves shed fibres?
Agree a particle-shedding test method and acceptance criteria with the receiving facility. Test production samples after the proposed cleaning process and compare them with retained approval samples.
Are knitted cleanroom gloves sterile?
Do not assume sterility from the cleanroom description. If sterility is part of your specification, agree the supporting process evidence and packaging checks before approving the product.