Sourcing medical ventilators from China
The relevant heading 9019 lines carry 0% UK duty on medical ventilators from China. Before sale in Great Britain, confirm conformity assessment, MHRA registration and the Chinese manufacturer's UK Responsible Person arrangements for the exact model. Cambridge China Bridge sources medical ventilators.
Medical ventilator codes and duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 9019 covers artificial respiration and other therapeutic respiration apparatus alongside massage and mechano-therapy equipment. Medical ventilators fall within the respiration branch. Distinguish apparatus capable of invasive ventilation from non-invasive mechanical ventilation apparatus. For related equipment, see our oscillating PEP device sourcing guide.
The relevant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. The table repeats the invasive ventilation code for hospital and transport purchasing categories; these are not separate tariff lines. Parts and accessories require their own classification check.
Confirm the commodity code using the manufacturer's intended use, ventilation capabilities and shipment contents. For the wider heading and related components, see ventilator breathing circuits. The medical-device requirements below concern placing products on the Great Britain market.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital ventilators capable of invasive ventilation | 9019 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Non-invasive mechanical ventilators | 9019 20 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Ventilator parts and accessories, subject to classification confirmation | 9019 20 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify ventilation performance and the exact model
Specify invasive or non-invasive capability, patient group and intended care setting. Agree ventilation modes, delivered volume and pressure tolerances, oxygen supply configuration, triggering, leak compensation and circuit compatibility. Define alarm behaviour for disconnection, obstruction, gas supply loss and power failure. Record firmware, sensors, battery configuration, cleaning instructions and the spare-parts list in the approved specification.
Manufacturers must comply with relevant product marking and conformity assessment requirements for medical devices. Obtain the exact model's declaration of conformity, applicable certificates and test reports, and check which marking route is accepted before ordering. For a manufacturer outside the UK, confirm UK Responsible Person and device registration requirements with the MHRA before placement on the Great Britain market.
Where the Great Britain importer is not the UK Responsible Person, confirm with the MHRA whether the importer needs to notify the manufacturer or UK Responsible Person of the intention to import, and who should supply importer details to the MHRA. Confirm the applicable process in writing before shipment. Use testing and certification support to review the model and document scope.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business batch of non-invasive medical ventilators under 9019 20 20 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
Identity: match model, serial markings, firmware, sensors, power supply and supplied circuits to the approved specification and document pack; compare English instructions and labels with the agreed artwork.
Ventilation: have a competent technician use a calibrated analyser and test lung to check delivered pressure and volume, triggering and leak compensation against the agreed acceptance criteria.
Alarms and power: simulate agreed fault conditions on the test bench, record alarm behaviour and check mains-to-battery changeover and the specified battery performance.
Connections and packing: inspect gas connections, circuit seating, filters, seals and accessories for damage or mismatch. Check packing and retain results through quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A certificate for a similar model can leave the ordered configuration unsupported. Compare manufacturer identity, model names, firmware, accessories and power supply throughout the evidence pack. Ask the supplier to flag sensor, valve, battery and firmware substitutions before production so the agreed performance evidence can be reviewed.
Acceptance failures can include delivered volume differing from the display, unreliable triggering, circuit leaks, missed disconnection alarms and inadequate battery performance. A visual inspection cannot establish ventilation performance. Agree bench methods and rejection criteria before ordering, and repeat the relevant checks on arrival.
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 ventilators from China?
The relevant heading 9019 lines carry 0% duty in the supplied record, read on 30 September 2026, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duties. Confirm the exact machine's code.
Does a Chinese ventilator manufacturer need a UK Responsible Person?
For placement on the Great Britain market, confirm with the MHRA the UK Responsible Person appointment and device registration requirements applicable to a manufacturer outside the UK before proceeding.
What documents should I request before ordering ventilators?
Request the exact model's declaration of conformity, applicable certificates, test reports, English instructions and registration details. Check the accepted marking route and match the evidence to the supplied configuration.
How should I inspect medical ventilators on arrival?
Match identity and configuration, then have a competent technician bench-check ventilation delivery, triggering, leaks, alarms and battery operation. Inspect connections, accessories and packing against the agreed criteria.