Sourcing lampworked glass figurines from China

Duty and the ornament code

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7018 covers lampworked glass statuettes and other ornaments, excluding imitation jewellery, alongside beads and other glass smallware. Start the code check for finished display figurines with 7018 90 90 90. The other table rows describe separately imported decorative components, rather than alternative codes for the same finished figurine.

The supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duties or suspensions. The ornament line also carries import and export controls on cat and dog fur. Imports and exports of such fur and products made from it are banned. Check any added fur decoration and ask your customs broker to confirm the declaration requirement.

Give your broker photographs, the manufacturing method, materials, attachments and intended use to confirm the commodity code. For related bead products within the heading, see lampworked glass pendant beads. The illustrative order values are calculation inputs, not supplier quotations; see import duty and VAT for the method.

Specify the glass, joints and display base

Specify lampworked glass display figurines by overall dimensions, glass type, colour reference, transparency, pose and base shape. Identify delicate tails, ears, stems and wings on the drawing. Agree acceptable handmade variation and which bubbles, tool marks or asymmetry count as defects. Keep an approved sample for each design.

Ask the factory to describe its annealing process and how it checks residual stress. Agree how attached details are joined and supported during packing. Specify individual cavities that prevent movement without pressing against projecting parts. Assess the finished design for sharp points, breakage and tipping: general product safety rules require safe consumer products in Great Britain.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-design stock order of individually packed lampworked glass figurines under 7018 90 90 90, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,500, so it is £3,900. 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

Glass and joints: inspect under directed light for cracks, chips, sharp ends and weak attachment points; compare colour and shape with the approved sample.

Annealing: review the production record and arrange residual-stress checks suited to the glass and design; a clear-looking surface alone does not establish sound annealing.

Display stability: place each sampled design on a level surface and check for rocking, uneven bases and a tendency to tip.

Packing and identification: open packed samples after an agreed handling trial; check projecting parts, loose fragments, design labels, importer contact details and batch references. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A sample may look sound while production pieces have stressed joints, thin tails or uneven bases. Tight packing can snap a projecting detail, while loose packing lets pieces strike the box or each other. Coloured glass and handmade proportions may also drift from the approved sample.

Photograph defects by design and retain the packaging from damaged pieces. Agree whether the remedy concerns annealing, joint geometry or packing before accepting replacement stock. Inspect the replacement design in its actual shipping pack, rather than approving an unpacked photograph.

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.