Sourcing laundry mesh wash bags from China
Laundry mesh wash bags from China carry 6% to 12% UK duty under the relevant heading 6307 lines, depending on construction. Textile labels must show fibre content, and consumer bags supplied in Great Britain must be safe. Approve mesh, seams and zip retention after washing. Cambridge China Bridge sources laundry mesh wash bags.
UK duty depends on the fabric construction
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the relevant heading 6307 lines carried 6% to 12% duty for goods from China. This heading covers other made-up textile articles. Knitted or crocheted wash bags are a candidate for 6307 90 10 00 at 12%; other woven mesh bags are a candidate for 6307 90 98 99 at 6%. The nonwoven row is an alternative construction, not a description of ordinary knitted mesh.
The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Suspensions recorded against the nonwoven and other non-knitted lines are restricted to specified textile face masks, not laundry bags. CITES import controls appear on the selected lines. The nonwoven and other non-knitted lines also carry a torture-goods import prohibition; prohibited torture goods cannot be imported. Ask your customs broker to confirm applicability to the actual bag. The nonwoven line additionally records a supplementary import unit, which the broker should confirm.
If materials include a species listed in the relevant CITES annexes, permit requirements need checking before importing from China; official guidance requires a permit for species listed in Annex A, B or C. Give the broker the fibre composition, fabric construction, sample and intended use to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading, see textile machinery dust covers.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knitted or crocheted laundry wash bags | 6307 90 10 00 | 12% | None |
| Other made-up laundry wash bags, including woven mesh | 6307 90 98 99 | 6% | None |
| Hand-made laundry wash bags, neither knitted nor crocheted | 6307 90 98 91 | 6% | None |
| Nonwoven wash bags, an alternative construction to confirm | 6307 90 98 20 | 6% | None |
Specify mesh, seams and a zip that stays closed
Specify the fibre blend, knitted or woven construction, mesh opening, fabric weight, finished dimensions and usable opening. Identify the intended garments and loading method. Agree seam construction, edge binding, zip material, slider retention and a cover or pocket for the zip pull. Confirm whether shaped bags need padding or internal supports.
Approve samples using the intended wash cycle, detergent and garments. Record shrinkage, snagging, colour transfer, seam opening and whether the zip moves during washing. Agree care wording and pack contents. Textile labels must show fibre content. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe; assess loose zip parts and sharp edges as part of the bag review.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 6,000 woven mesh laundry wash bags, illustrative only under 6307 90 98 99, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 6% is £588. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,388, so it is £2,077.60. Import taxes total £2,665.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £588 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Mesh and dimensions: compare bulk bags with the retained sample, measure the usable opening and check for holes, uneven mesh and exposed cut edges.
Seams and zips: check missed stitches, seam ends and binding; repeatedly open and close the zip, then check slider retention and pull-cover fit.
Wash performance: wash representative bags with the intended load and check closure, snagging, shrinkage, colour transfer and drying.
Labels and packing: check fibre wording against the agreed material, care wording against the sample trial, and bag sizes and pack counts across cartons. Record results through the inspection process.
What goes wrong
A sample can look acceptable while bulk mesh is lighter, seams have fewer securing stitches or a replacement zip opens during washing. An uncovered pull can snag garments, while coarse mesh can let hooks catch outside the bag. Keep the approved sample and agree which material or component changes require fresh approval.
A bag can retain its outline yet lose usable space after washing, or trap detergent in dense binding. Test the complete bag rather than loose fabric alone. Treat anti-snagging or garment-protection wording as claims to demonstrate through trials with the intended garments.
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 laundry wash bags from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot shows 12% for knitted or crocheted bags and 6% for the relevant other constructions. Confirm the finished bag's code; the recorded face-mask suspensions do not cover laundry bags.
Are all mesh laundry bags knitted?
Do not assume so. Ask for the fabric construction and a sample. Knitted and woven mesh can look similar in photographs but lead to different candidate tariff lines.
What should I test before ordering laundry mesh bags?
Wash complete samples with the intended garments and detergent. Check whether the zip stays closed, seams hold, hooks snag, colours transfer and the usable dimensions change.
Do laundry wash bags need fibre labels?
Official textile guidance says the label must show fibre content. Check the factory's composition against the approved artwork and keep care wording consistent with your wash trials.