Sourcing laboratory overhead stirrers from China
Laboratory overhead stirrers under 8479 82 00 00 carry 0% UK duty from China, so the duty range for the variants covered here is 0%. Confirm the applicable machinery safety, conformity documentation and marking requirements for supply in Great Britain with the relevant authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources laboratory overhead stirrers.
UK duty on laboratory overhead stirrers
Heading 8479 covers machines with individual functions not specified elsewhere in the chapter. Its stirring-machine line, 8479 82 00 00, is the starting point for complete laboratory overhead stirrers. The table shows product variants sharing this code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. For the wider equipment category, see laboratory equipment for university labs.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, line 8479 82 00 00 carried 0% ordinary duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, tariff suspension or attached import control for this line. Other lines within the heading have different controls, so do not extend this conclusion to unrelated machines or separately imported parts.
Confirm the commodity code from the complete configuration, its function and the items shipped together. Describe the drive head, shaft, impeller and stand separately in the specification, particularly where accessories or replacement parts travel without the complete machine.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory overhead stirrers with mechanical speed adjustment | 8479 82 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify torque under your actual mixing conditions
Specify the liquid viscosity, vessel geometry, working volume, speed range and torque available across that range. Agree a loaded test using your intended material or an agreed substitute. A maximum mixing-volume claim alone does not show that a stirrer can start or maintain speed in your process.
Define the chuck capacity, shaft diameter and length, impeller shape, wetted materials, chemical compatibility and cleaning method. Include stand height, clamp arrangement, vessel clearance, supply voltage and frequency, cable and plug, overload behaviour and the accessories supplied.
For supply in Great Britain, confirm the applicable machinery safety, technical-file, declaration of conformity, marking and instruction-language requirements with the relevant authority. Conformity marking requires compliance with all relevant regulations. Ask for documents covering the exact drive head and configuration, and agree replacement chuck, shaft and clamp availability before ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative batch of laboratory overhead stirrer sets with stands and impellers under 8479 82 00 00, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,200, so it is £1,840. 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
Loaded operation: check starting, speed stability, heating and overload behaviour against the agreed test protocol, before shipment and again on arrival.
Shaft and chuck: check straightness, secure retention, visible wobble and impeller clearance throughout the agreed operating range.
Stand and packing: check clamp grip, base stability and vessel clearance; inspect the shaft and stand for transport damage and compare accessories with the packing list.
Documents and identity: match the model and nameplate to the declaration, marking and English instructions. Record the tested configuration through your quality inspection.
What goes wrong
A stirrer can run smoothly without a load yet lose speed or trip when the liquid thickens. A bent shaft, slipping chuck or weak stand clamp can make the delivered set unusable even when the motor works. Agree acceptance criteria for the assembled set, rather than inspecting the drive head alone.
Substituted impellers or wetted materials can undermine the agreed process, while paperwork for another model leaves the delivered machine's conformity unresolved. Record component substitutions, test the actual set and resolve document mismatches before shipment.
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 laboratory overhead stirrers from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% for complete stirring machines under 8479 82 00 00, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing measure. Confirm classification for your configuration.
Is a CE certificate enough to buy an overhead stirrer?
Ask for the declaration of conformity, English instructions and matching model identification, and verify that the technical file exists. A generic certificate does not establish conformity for the delivered configuration.
How do I check whether an overhead stirrer has enough torque?
Agree a loaded test with your liquid or an agreed substitute, vessel and impeller. Check starting and sustained speed as viscosity changes, rather than relying on a maximum mixing-volume claim.
What should be included with an overhead stirrer?
List the drive head, chuck, shaft, impellers, stand, clamps, cable, plug and instructions in the order. Specify wetted materials and check the complete set against that list.