Sourcing medical oxygen concentrators from China
Medical oxygen concentrators from China fall within heading 9019, with 0% duty on the relevant respiratory apparatus line. Before sale in Great Britain, check medical device conformity, MHRA registration and the Chinese manufacturer's UK Responsible Person. Cambridge China Bridge sources medical oxygen concentrators.
Duty on medical oxygen concentrators
Heading 9019 covers oxygen therapy and other therapeutic respiration apparatus, alongside massage and mechano-therapy equipment. Medical oxygen concentrators belong in the oxygen therapy family. The relevant candidate line is 9019 20 90 00, other therapeutic respiration apparatus, including parts and accessories. The table shows different concentrator configurations sharing that line.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, the relevant line carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. That tariff position does not replace medical device requirements.
Confirm the commodity code using the exact model, intended medical use and supplied accessories. The wider respiratory equipment family is covered in our CPAP machines guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stationary medical oxygen concentrators | 9019 20 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify oxygen output and the medical device route
Specify stationary or portable construction, continuous flow or pulse delivery, oxygen concentration across the claimed output range, outlet pressure and warm-up behaviour. Agree test conditions, operating environment, noise measurement, alarms, filters and service access. For portable models, specify battery endurance against the delivery setting and breathing conditions used in the test.
Medical devices require conformity assessment appropriate to their class. Ask for the exact model's declaration, applicable certificates and test reports, and confirm which conformity marking is accepted in Great Britain when you import. Confirm with the MHRA the Chinese manufacturer's UK Responsible Person arrangements. The device must be registered with the MHRA before placement on the Great Britain market.
Confirm with the MHRA whether you need to notify the manufacturer or UK Responsible Person of your intention to import and how any importer details should be submitted. Obtain written confirmation before shipment. Use testing and certification to match the documents to the supplied model.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of stationary medical oxygen concentrators 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
Oxygen delivery: measure oxygen concentration and delivered flow against the agreed specification after warm-up and during sustained operation; test pulse triggering under the agreed breathing conditions.
Alarms and controls: check low oxygen, power failure and other claimed alarms against the manufacturer's test procedure; verify settings, indicators and restart behaviour.
Documents and identity: match model and serial identification, conformity documents, English instructions and approved artwork to the shipment; check supplied filters, tubing and accessories.
Arrival condition: inspect housings, outlets, packaging and battery compartments for damage, then repeat functional sampling. Record results using the agreed inspection procedure.
What goes wrong
An output setting alone does not establish oxygen delivery. Check for concentration falling as flow increases, missed pulse triggers, excessive warm-up time and alarms that fail the agreed test. A short demonstration can miss changes during sustained operation, so agree the test duration and sampling method before ordering.
Documents can describe a different model, while supplied units have changed compressors, sieve beds or control boards. Match the production configuration to the evidence and retain a record of approved changes. Specify replacement filters, maintenance instructions and service support before accepting the batch.
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 medical oxygen concentrators from China?
The supplied tariff record, read on 5 October 2026, shows 0% duty for 9019 20 90 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the code for your model.
Does a Chinese oxygen concentrator need MHRA registration?
Yes, before placement on the Great Britain market. Confirm with the MHRA the Chinese manufacturer's UK Responsible Person arrangements and who will handle registration responsibilities.
How do I check oxygen concentrator performance?
Measure concentration and delivered flow across the claimed range after warm-up and during sustained operation. For pulse delivery, also test triggering under agreed breathing conditions.
Are portable concentrator settings equivalent to continuous flow?
Do not assume equivalence. Specify the delivery mode and ask for measured oxygen delivery under the stated test conditions, rather than comparing setting labels alone.