Sourcing livestock weighing scales from China

Duty and classification for livestock scales

Heading 8423 covers weighing machinery and its parts. Livestock platform scales are classified by maximum capacity and whether they use electronic means to gauge weight. Electronic scales exceeding 30 kg but not exceeding 5,000 kg fall within 8423 82 20 00; separately imported parts need their own classification.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all relevant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls.

Confirm the complete equipment, capacity and separately supplied components with your broker using finding your commodity code. For the wider product family, see industrial platform scales.

Specify the animal, platform and weighing use

State the livestock species, largest expected animal, platform dimensions, maximum capacity and displayed division. Decide whether you need a complete crate scale or load bars fitted beneath an existing handling crate. Include the crate weight when specifying capacity, and agree mounting points, cable routing, non-slip flooring and access for cleaning.

Specify how the indicator handles animal movement, when it locks a reading and how the operator clears or stores it. Ask for demonstrations with moving animals as well as static test weights. Agree display visibility, battery operation, spare connectors and replacement load bars.

For non-automatic scales used in weight-based livestock sales, settle conformity assessment and metrology marking before ordering. Great Britain accepts CE or UKCA marking under the applicable route; the supplementary metrology marking remains required. Ask for the declaration and certificate covering the actual indicator and load-cell configuration.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative batch of electronic livestock platform scales for a farm-equipment dealer under 8423 82 20 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,200, so it is £6,440. 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

Readings: check zero return, tare, repeatability and corner loading with certified test weights. Repeat the checks with the supplied crate installed, then assess reading stability during animal movement.

Structure: check welds, platform grip, gate operation and gaps that could catch hooves. Confirm that the crate and platform do not touch surrounding rails or bypass the load bars.

Environment: inspect cable protection, connector seals and drainage. Test the agreed cleaning method and claimed ingress protection, then check for moisture in the indicator and unstable readings.

Documents: match the indicator, load cells and data plate to the ordered configuration. For trade-use scales, check conformity documents and markings. Use quality inspection to record defects before dispatch and repeat functional checks on arrival.

What goes wrong

A scale may read correctly with static weights but give inconsistent results when an animal shifts its stance. Poor movement filtering can freeze a reading too soon. A crate touching a fence, trapped cable or badly seated load bar can divert load and distort the result.

Water entering connectors, damaged cables and corrosion can cause drift or intermittent readings. A calibration report alone does not establish trade-use conformity. Agree the exact assembled configuration and acceptance checks before production, rather than relying on a demonstration of the indicator alone.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.