Sourcing metal hook-and-eye fasteners from China

UK duty on metal hook-and-eye fasteners

Heading 8308 covers base metal hooks, eyes and similar fittings used for clothing and other made-up articles, alongside other metal trims. This guide concerns metal hook-and-eye closures for garments. The table shows product variants sharing the hooks, eyes and eyelets commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, commodity code 8308 10 00 00 carried 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for this line.

Confirm the material, construction and intended use through finding your commodity code. For other fittings within the heading, see the buckles, eyelets and rivets guide.

Specify the hook, eye and garment attachment

Give the factory a drawing of the matched closure, including hook opening, eye clearance, wire or sheet thickness, overall dimensions and tolerances. Specify the base metal, plating and protective finish separately. State whether the parts are sewn on or mechanically attached, and supply the actual garment fabric or waistband construction for sample trials.

Agree the closing feel, resistance to opening under garment tension and attachment strength before production. Approve an assembled sample, not just loose parts. Include finish durability and laundering checks suited to the garment.

UK REACH regulates chemicals placed on the market in Great Britain. For parts in direct and prolonged skin contact, ask HSE to confirm the applicable nickel release restrictions. Ask for a report matching the actual base metal and finish, and check applicable lead restrictions for children's trims. Arrange testing and certification support around the intended use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business batch of matched garment hooks and eyes under 8308 10 00 00, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,000. Duty at 2% is £60. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,060, so it is £612. Import taxes total £672; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £60 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure the hook opening and eye clearance against the approved drawing, then close matched parts from different packs.

Attachment: fit the fasteners to the actual fabric and check pulling, distortion and damage around stitching or fixing points.

Finish: check for burrs, sharp edges, plating gaps, colour variation and rubbing marks against the approved sample.

Packing: check matched quantities, separated sizes and finishes, and batch identification. Use the agreed checks in your quality inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A hook can look correct but fail to engage because the opening or eye clearance differs from the sample. A soft hook can straighten under tension; a rough edge can snag fabric. Loose attachment can let the closure twist or pull away from the waistband.

Plating can rub through, and finish colours can vary between batches. A report for another finish does not establish the performance of your ordered finish. Keep the approved assembled sample and compare the delivery before using the fasteners in production.

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.