Sourcing manual resuscitators from China
Manual resuscitators from China provisionally fall under 9019 20 90 00, carrying 0% UK duty with no listed trade remedies. Before sale in Great Britain, medical device conformity and MHRA registration must be settled; confirm the Chinese manufacturer's UK Responsible Person arrangements with the MHRA. Cambridge China Bridge sources manual resuscitators.
Duty and the respiration apparatus code
Heading 9019 includes artificial respiration and other therapeutic respiration apparatus alongside massage and mechano-therapy equipment. Manual resuscitators fit the description of other respiration apparatus under 9019 20 90 00, subject to confirmation for the actual product. The table shows product variants sharing that code, rather than separate tariff lines. See the CPAP machines guide for related respiration equipment.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, the supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China under this code. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. Medical device market requirements still apply separately from customs duty.
Confirm the commodity code using the intended use, complete kit contents and whether components arrive separately. Describe the product as a manually operated resuscitation bag with its valves and accessories, rather than simply as a ventilator.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult manual resuscitators | 9019 20 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the bag, valves and patient size
Specify adult, paediatric or infant use; bag material and capacity; mask sizes; oxygen inlet and reservoir; patient valve; pressure-relief arrangement; and any pressure-monitoring connection. Agree a component list and drawings so that the approved sample and production kit have the same connections and accessories.
Decide whether the product is single-use or reusable, and whether it is supplied sterile. Request model-specific performance reports covering delivered volume, leakage, valve operation and pressure relief against the agreed specification. For reusable products, request evidence supporting the manufacturer's cleaning and reprocessing instructions.
For sale in Great Britain, confirm the Chinese manufacturer's UK Responsible Person arrangements with the MHRA, and the device must be registered with the MHRA before placement on the market. Manufacturers must comply with relevant medical device marking and conformity assessment requirements. Ask for the classification rationale, declaration of conformity and applicable certificates for the exact model. Check which CE or UKCA route is accepted when ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of adult manual resuscitator sets under 9019 20 90 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. 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
Assembly: check the bag, patient valve, mask, oxygen tubing and reservoir against the approved component list. Look for loose joints, moulding defects and distorted mask cushions.
Function: have a competent tester check bag refill, leaks, valve direction and pressure-relief operation using suitable test equipment and the manufacturer's method. Compare results with the agreed acceptance criteria.
Packaging: check sealed packs, transport damage, lot identification and any stated expiry. For sterile products, check the barrier and obtain the sterilisation validation and packaging evidence.
Documents: match model names across the product, declaration, certificates and registration evidence. Check English instructions and approved artwork at quality inspection, then repeat the arrival checks before releasing stock.
What goes wrong
A bag that feels acceptable by hand can still leak at a joint or have a sticking patient valve. A substituted mask or reservoir can change the assembled kit. Keep an approved reference sample and require written agreement before changes to materials, valves or accessories.
Paperwork can describe a different model or manufacturer from the goods supplied. Confirm with the MHRA how a Great Britain importer should notify the manufacturer or UK Responsible Person of its intention to import and how the importer's details should be submitted. Obtain written confirmation before shipment and use testing and certification support to review model-specific evidence.
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 manual resuscitators from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty under 9019 20 90 00, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm that code for the actual resuscitator or kit.
Does a Chinese resuscitator manufacturer need a UK Responsible Person?
Yes, for placement on the Great Britain market. Confirm the manufacturer's UK Responsible Person arrangements with the MHRA, and the device must be registered with the MHRA before placement on that market.
What should I test on a manual resuscitator?
Check bag refill, delivered volume, joint leakage, patient valve operation and pressure relief against the agreed specification, using suitable equipment and the manufacturer's test method.
Can I buy reusable resuscitators instead of single-use ones?
Specify the intended version before ordering. For reusable models, request evidence supporting the cleaning and reprocessing instructions, and agree how repeated processing affects the bag, valves and mask.