Sourcing mammography machines from China
Mammography machines and X-ray parts from China carry 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Before sale in Great Britain, check medical-device conformity marking, MHRA registration and the manufacturer's UK Responsible Person. Cambridge China Bridge sources mammography machines.
Duty on mammography machines and spares
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9022 covers X-ray apparatus, tubes and related parts and accessories. Mammography machines fall within medical X-ray apparatus under 9022 14 00 00. The selected lines all carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls shown in the supplied tariff facts.
Classify separately shipped tubes and spares from their own descriptions. Use the residual other line only if your customs broker confirms it applies. Confirm the commodity code, and see the wider X-ray equipment guide. The import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical X-ray apparatus, including mammography machines | 9022 14 00 00 | 0% | None |
| X-ray tubes for mammography machines | 9022 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts and accessories of X-ray apparatus | 9022 90 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Other heading 9022 apparatus or accessories, subject to classification | 9022 90 80 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the mammography system and installation
Specify full-field digital mammography, any tomosynthesis function, detector area, compression paddles, automatic exposure control, acquisition workstation and reporting displays. List included biopsy attachments, image export functions, software licences and hospital-system interfaces. Ask the clinical team and medical physics service to agree image-quality and dose acceptance criteria before ordering.
For Great Britain, check accepted UKCA or CE marking, conformity documents for the exact model, MHRA registration and the Chinese manufacturer's UK Responsible Person. If you are not that responsible person, confirm with the MHRA the applicable importer-notification process, including who should provide your importer details. Ask for testing and certification support when checking the model's documents.
Agree room layout, shielding review, installation, training, replacement tubes and detectors, and UK servicing. Confirm with HSE the employer's applicable registration and radiation risk assessment requirements, and consult a radiation protection adviser when planning the work. For new equipment intended for the NHS Breast Screening Programme in England, manufacturers and suppliers apply for evaluation before installation agreements.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one mammography machine under 9022 14 00 00, invoiced at £64,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £68,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £68,000, so it is £13,600. 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
Identity: match the machine, tube and detector serial numbers, software version, conformity documents and supplied accessories to the order; check English instructions and the agreed marking.
Compression: check paddle condition, force indication, controlled movement, emergency release and patient-contact surfaces against the agreed specification.
Imaging: have the medical physics service check phantom images, detector artefacts, automatic exposure control and dose records; demonstrate image export and workstation compatibility.
Arrival and commissioning: inspect shock damage and detector packing, then review shielding, interlocks and warning signals. NHS breast screening guidance requires acceptance and commissioning tests before clinical use.
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What goes wrong
A supplier's certificate may cover another model or omit the supplied software and attachments. Registration gaps prevent lawful placement on the Great Britain market. Ask for the exact configuration's documents before shipment and make installation, testing and corrective work part of the purchase agreement.
Practical problems include damaged detectors, image artefacts, inconsistent compression, missing software licences and image transfers that fail on the buyer's systems. Check these during the agreed acceptance process. Confirm who can diagnose faults in the UK and supply compatible tubes, detectors and paddles.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on mammography machines from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 0% duty under 9022 14 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Separately classified X-ray tubes and parts also carry 0%.
Does a Chinese mammography machine need MHRA registration?
Yes, before placement on the Great Britain market. Confirm with the MHRA the overseas manufacturer's obligations concerning a UK Responsible Person. Check the exact model's registration and accepted UKCA or CE conformity route.
Can I use a mammography machine as soon as it arrives?
Plan installation and acceptance testing before patient use. NHS breast screening guidance requires acceptance and commissioning tests before clinical use; agree the work with your medical physics service.
What should I check before ordering a mammography machine?
Agree detector and compression specifications, imaging functions, software licences, image export, model-specific conformity documents, installation tests and UK service support.