Sourcing medical CT scanners from China
Medical CT scanners from China carry 0% UK duty, as do the listed tubes and accessories. Before sale in Great Britain, the device needs an accepted conformity marking; confirm MHRA registration and UK Responsible Person requirements for its overseas manufacturer with MHRA. Cambridge China Bridge sources medical CT scanners.
Duty on medical CT scanners and spares
Heading 9022 covers apparatus using X-rays or other ionising radiation, together with specified tubes, equipment, parts and accessories. Complete medical CT scanners fall under computed tomography apparatus, code 9022 12 00 00. This guide concerns medical scanners; see industrial computed tomography scanners for industrial purchasing within the wider heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all listed lines carry 0% duty on goods from China. The supplied tariff data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these selected lines. Medical-device and radiation obligations still apply.
Describe the complete scanner and separately shipped tubes or accessories accurately when confirming the commodity code. The residual accessories row is conditional on classification, rather than an alternative code for a complete scanner. Ask your customs broker to classify separately supplied examination tables and other equipment from their actual design and function.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computed tomography apparatus, including medical CT scanners | 9022 12 00 00 | 0% | None |
| X-ray tubes, including separately imported CT replacement tubes | 9022 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts and accessories of X-ray apparatus | 9022 90 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Other apparatus and accessories; check applicability to the CT supply | 9022 90 80 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the scanner, software and installation
Define the intended clinical examinations, detector configuration, acquired and reconstructed slice capability, gantry opening, patient table capacity and travel, and tube and detector models. Agree image quality and dose performance tests with the clinical team using a suitable test phantom. Specify reconstruction software, English interfaces and manuals, image export, hospital system compatibility and licence ownership.
For sale in Great Britain, confirm MHRA registration, the Chinese manufacturer's UK Responsible Person and the applicable CE or UKCA conformity route. Match the declaration and certificates to the exact scanner model and supplied software. Where the importer is not the UK Responsible Person, confirm with MHRA whether the manufacturer or representative must be notified of the intention to import and who should supply importer details to MHRA.
Agree room access, floor loading, power, cooling, shielding, installation responsibilities, operator training and local servicing before ordering. The employer using X-ray equipment should confirm HSE registration, radiation risk assessment and radiation protection adviser requirements with HSE. Medical-exposure rules place equipment-testing duties on the employer. Arrange specialist review and testing before clinical use; testing and certification can support document checks.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: four replacement X-ray tubes for a medical CT service business under 9022 30 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 scanner, tube and detector serial numbers, software versions, conformity documents and packing list to the agreed configuration.
Transport: photograph crates and shock indicators on arrival; inspect gantry restraints, detector protection, table rails, connectors and moisture damage before installation.
Performance: compare phantom images, uniformity, artefacts, table positioning and dose information with the agreed acceptance criteria; have specialists check shielding, interlocks and warnings.
Support: confirm software licences, English manuals, image export, service access, spare-part identification and the engineer responsible for commissioning.
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What goes wrong
A quotation may describe reconstructed slices without explaining the detector configuration. Certificates can name a different model, while reconstruction options or hospital connectivity are missing from the delivered licence. Record the hardware configuration and demonstrate the purchased software functions before shipment.
Transport damage, calibration problems and tube wear can produce image artefacts or interrupt commissioning. Missing room services or local engineering support can leave a delivered scanner unusable. Agree responsibility for arrival inspection, installation, specialist testing, fault correction and replacement parts in the purchase contract.
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 medical CT scanners from China?
The supplied UK Trade Tariff data shows 0% for computed tomography apparatus, code 9022 12 00 00, and the selected tubes and accessories, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Does a Chinese medical CT scanner need MHRA registration?
Confirm with MHRA the registration requirements before the scanner is placed on the Great Britain market and whether its overseas manufacturer must appoint a UK Responsible Person. Check the registration and conformity documents for the supplied model.
Is a CE mark enough to order a medical CT scanner?
Check the applicable conformity route, supporting documents, MHRA registration and UK Responsible Person. Also agree the scanner configuration, licensed software, installation and servicing.
What should I check when a CT scanner arrives?
Check transport damage, serial numbers and configuration first. Arrange specialist image-quality, dose and radiation-safety checks, and confirm software licences and service support before clinical use.