Sourcing metal Braille sign plates from China
Metal Braille sign plates from China carry 0% UK duty under 8310 00 00 00, with no trade remedy recorded. Consumer signs must be safe to use. Approve the Braille transcription and a physical sample, then check dot geometry, edges and fixings. Cambridge China Bridge sources metal Braille sign plates.
Duty and classification for metal Braille plates
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 8310 covers sign-plates, nameplates, address-plates and similar plates, numbers, letters and other symbols of base metal, excluding those of heading 9405. Metal Braille sign plates classified under 8310 00 00 00 carry 0% duty for goods from China.
The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for this line. Signs with a permanently fixed light source are classified separately, as explained in the published guide to the wider heading.
The table repeats the same commodity line for different Braille plate designs; these are product variants, not separate tariff lines. Send the material specification, photographs and construction details to your customs broker and confirm the commodity code. See the wider metal nameplates and sign plates guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel Braille door sign plates | 8310 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the Braille artwork and dot construction
Specify metal, thickness, plate dimensions, finish, corner shape and fixing method. State whether dots are embossed into the metal or formed using inserted beads, and agree dot height, diameter, spacing and retention checks against the approved drawing. Define the visible wording, raised lettering, symbols and exact Braille transcription for each location.
Have a competent Braille reader check the transcription and a physical sample before production. Agree the language and whether the transcription uses contractions. Include the mounting surface, cleaning products and indoor or outdoor exposure in the specification; test the sample with the intended fixings and cleaning method.
Department for Transport's Inclusive Mobility guidance covers pedestrian and transport infrastructure. For those projects, it recommends slightly rounded embossed characters and a sans serif typeface. Businesses importing or selling consumer signs are responsible for their safety. Check the plate edges, corners and exposed fixings as well as the tactile surface.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 aluminium Braille room sign plates; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 8310 00 00 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,600, so it is £1,520. 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
Braille accuracy: compare every design with the approved transcription and room schedule; check missing, extra or misplaced dots, reversed patterns and the orientation of directional symbols.
Tactile construction: measure dot geometry against the drawing, feel for sharp or flattened dots and test inserted beads for movement or loss using the agreed method.
Finish and fixing: check burrs, corners, scratches, coating damage and hole positions; fit sampled plates to the intended surface and test adhesive backing where supplied.
Arrival and packing: check labels against installation locations, inspect for bent plates and crushed dots, and keep protective packing between tactile faces. Define these checks in your inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A plate can look correct while its Braille says something different. Automatic conversion, unapproved contractions, reversed artwork or a changed room schedule can produce unusable signs. Low or flattened dots reduce tactile clarity; inserted beads can loosen, and rough edges can catch fingers.
Keep an approved transcription and physical sample for each design. Compare production plates with both, protect the raised surface during transport, and test the fixing on the actual wall or door finish. Recheck any artwork revision before manufacture, including changes to the visible text.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on metal Braille sign plates from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% under 8310 00 00 00 for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control recorded.
Can the factory convert my wording into Braille?
Ask for the proposed transcription, then have a competent Braille reader approve it and check a physical sample. Agree the language and use of contractions before production.
How do I check raised Braille dots?
Compare dot height, diameter and spacing with the approved drawing. Check for missing or flattened dots, sharp surfaces and loose inserted beads, then have the sample read by touch.
Should I choose adhesive or screw fixing?
Choose against the actual mounting surface, exposure and cleaning method. Test adhesive on that surface, or check screw-hole positions and exposed fixings on a fitted sample.