Sourcing metal twist-off jar lids from China

UK duty on metal twist-off jar lids

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, heading 8309 covers base-metal stoppers, caps, lids and other packing accessories. Metal twist-off jar lids fall within the other base-metal closures line, 8309 90 90 90. The table shows product variants sharing that commodity line.

The supplied tariff data records 0% duty for goods from China on this line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is normally 20%; see import duty and VAT.

Confirm the shell material and closure construction against the commodity code guide. For the wider heading, see steel crown bottle caps.

Specify the jar finish, liner and processing conditions

Send the jar finish drawing and physical jars. Specify lid diameter, skirt depth, lug positions, shell material and thickness, internal lacquer, sealing compound, exterior print and whether a vacuum button is wanted. Agree application and removal torque against samples run on your own capping line.

State the food, whether it is oily or acidic, fill temperature, heat treatment and storage conditions. Food-contact closures and their liners are food contact materials; confirm with the relevant authority whether the plastics regulation 10/2011 applies to the liner. Ask for a declaration of compliance and migration evidence for the liner and internal lacquer matched to your actual food and processing conditions.

For Northern Ireland or EU sales, relevant products must comply with the EU bisphenol A rules. Those restrictions do not currently apply directly in Great Britain. Ask the supplier to identify the coating chemistry and arrange testing and certification for the destination market.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 100,000 metal twist-off jar lids; values are not a quotation under 8309 90 90 90, invoiced at £38,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,500, so it is £8,100. 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

Fit: compare dimensions and lug geometry with the approved drawing; apply sampled lids to your actual jars and check seating and removal torque.

Seal: run filled samples through your agreed process and check leakage, vacuum retention after cooling and vacuum-button behaviour where fitted.

Finish: check internal lacquer for scratches, exposed metal and poor adhesion; inspect liners for gaps, uneven placement and contamination.

Batch: compare print and colour with approved samples and match cartons to the supplier's batch records and material evidence. See quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A lid can look correct yet mismatch the jar finish. Distorted lugs, uneven liners or unsuitable capping settings can cause leakage and vacuum loss after pasteurisation. Trial the approved lid on the production jar and line before committing to a batch.

Scratched lacquer can expose tinplate to corrosion. A liner report for a different food or processing temperature does not establish suitability for your product. Compare delivered materials with the approved specification and investigate changes before using the lids.

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.