Sourcing lifejackets from China
Lifejackets from China carry a flat 6% UK import duty under 6307 20 00 00. For lifejackets within personal protective equipment rules, the importer must check the manufacturer's conformity assessment before placing them on the Great Britain market. Cambridge China Bridge sources lifejackets.
UK duty on lifejackets
Heading 6307 covers other made-up articles, including dress patterns. Its lifejacket and lifebelt line is 6307 20 00 00. The table shows purchasing variants within that same commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, lifejackets from China carried 6% duty. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, tariff suspension or attached import control for this line. Measures attached to other lines in the heading should not be applied to lifejackets automatically.
Confirm the construction and intended use through finding your commodity code. For the wider product family, see medical devices and protective equipment.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foam-filled lifejackets | 6307 20 00 00 | 6% | None |
Specify flotation, fit and inflation
State the intended activity, wearer size range, clothing worn underneath and required buoyancy performance. Specify foam-filled or inflatable construction, manual or automatic activation, harness requirements, crotch straps, fastening arrangement and accessories. Ask for replacement inflators and servicing instructions alongside the sample.
For products within personal protective equipment rules, conformity assessment must follow the product's risk categorisation. Great Britain recognises CE or UKCA marking through the applicable conformity route. Importers must check the manufacturer's assessment, technical documentation, marking and accompanying declaration before placing the product on the market.
Those rules exclude equipment for exclusive use on seagoing vessels subject to relevant international treaties. Tell the supplier the vessel application before accepting a recreational product's documentation. Arrange testing and certification checks against the intended use.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A mixed-size trial order of lifejackets, illustrative only under 6307 20 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,800. Duty at 6% is £228. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,028, so it is £805.60. Import taxes total £1,033.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £228 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Construction: compare shell fabric, foam or bladder, seams, straps and buckles with the approved sample. Check for trapped straps, open stitching, sharp fittings and damaged inflation components.
Inflation: have competent personnel check activation, oral inflation and air retention against the manufacturer's procedure. Match cylinders, inflators and replacement parts to the approved design.
Fit: check adjustment, fastening and crotch-strap routing across the ordered sizes. Confirm that accessories and the wearer's clothing do not obstruct operation.
Documents and labels: match the model supplied to its conformity evidence and declaration. For products within protective equipment rules, check importer identification and clear English instructions and safety information.
What goes wrong
Watch for substituted inflators, loose cylinder connections, bladder leaks, missed stitching and straps that are difficult to route correctly. A sample that looks like the catalogue photograph does not establish flotation performance. Agree inspection and specialist performance checks before approving bulk production.
Another purchasing failure is accepting documents for a different model or construction. Compare the certificate, declaration, component list and delivered product together. Arrival inspection should identify deviations; it cannot replace the required conformity assessment.
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 lifejackets from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 6% under 6307 20 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control.
Do lifejackets need CE or UKCA marking?
Lifejackets within protective equipment rules need the applicable conformity marking. Great Britain accepts CE or UKCA through the relevant assessment route; a printed logo alone is insufficient.
Can I use the same lifejacket for every boat?
Do not assume so. Specify the activity and vessel application. For equipment intended exclusively for seagoing vessels subject to relevant international treaties, confirm the applicable regulatory route with the relevant authority.
What should I check on inflatable lifejackets?
Check the inflator and cylinder match the approved design, inspect straps and bladder condition, and arrange activation and air-retention checks using the manufacturer's procedure.