Sourcing mosquito coils from China
The mosquito-coil lines shown carry a uniform 6% UK duty on goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Before sale in Great Britain, confirm the product's biocide authorisation or valid transitional route and the relevant supplier listing. Cambridge China Bridge sources mosquito coils.
Mosquito coils: 6% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3808 covers insecticides and similar preparations or articles, including insecticidal mosquito coils. The selected lines all carry 6% duty on goods from China. Classification depends on the formulation and pack size. The table includes conditional alternatives for products matching subheading note 2; it is not a list of interchangeable codes.
The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. The suspension under 3808 91 90 90 is restricted to the specified supported indoxacarb material and excludes mixed preparations, so it does not provide a general mosquito-coil exemption. The tariff also attaches waste controls, fluorinated greenhouse gas controls to 3808 91 10 90, and a restriction concerning ozone-depleting substances to 3808 91 90 90. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements and declarations for the actual formulation.
For waste coils shipped from China into England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent. The selected lines also list waste export controls, and some list dangerous-chemical export controls; ask your broker to check these before any return shipment. Confirm the commodity code using the full formulation and packaging details. See the pesticides and disinfectants guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrethroid insecticidal coils outside the special chapter notes | 3808 91 10 90 | 6% | None |
| Other insecticidal coils outside the special chapter notes | 3808 91 90 90 | 6% | None |
| Coils meeting subheading note 2, packs with net content not exceeding 300 g | 3808 61 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Coils meeting subheading note 2, other pack sizes | 3808 69 00 00 | 6% | None |
Specify the formulation and how the coil burns
Mosquito coils intended to control insects through chemical action are biocidal products. For Great Britain, ask HSE to confirm the applicable active-substance approval or transitional arrangements, product authorisation route and supplier-listing requirements for the exact formulation. The active substance's status determines the market route. Match the supporting documents to the formulation you intend to buy.
Specify active ingredient identity and content, coil diameter and thickness, base material, fragrance, moisture tolerance, burn duration and pack contents. Agree how paired coils should separate, how the holder supports the coil, and how packs protect it against moisture and crushing. Keep an approved sample and agree batch assay and burn-test methods. Review the intended use, claims, warnings and safety data sheet against the applicable chemical requirements before approving artwork.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 3,000 retail packs of pyrethroid mosquito coils, illustrative order under 3808 91 10 90, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,600. Duty at 6% is £276. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,876, so it is £975.20. Import taxes total £1,251.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £276 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Formulation: check the batch assay against the agreed active ingredient identity, content and tolerance; match the batch reference to the supplied documents.
Coils: check for cracks, loose powder, dampness and deformation; separate paired coils and fit them to the supplied holder.
Burning: test ignition, continuous smouldering and burn duration under the agreed conditions; record unexpected flames or repeated extinction.
Packaging: check pack contents, moisture protection, batch references and the final label against the approved artwork. Use the quality inspection guide to set the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A shipment can arrive with a formulation that does not match the product's authorisation or transitional route, leaving it unsuitable for sale. Factory substitutions of the active ingredient, fragrance or base material also undermine the buyer's specification. Require written agreement before changes and check the production batch rather than relying only on the sample.
Coils can fracture when separated, crumble after transport or repeatedly go out after absorbing moisture. Test samples taken from packed cartons and repeat the agreed checks on arrival. Hold damaged or mismatched stock apart while you investigate the batch and packaging.
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 mosquito coils from China?
The selected mosquito-coil lines carry 6% duty on goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. The restricted suspension under the other-insecticides code is not a general coil exemption.
Can I sell mosquito coils with Chinese approval?
Chinese approval does not establish the GB market route. Confirm the exact product's authorisation or valid transitional route, active substance status and supplier listing where required before sale.
Which commodity code should I use for mosquito coils?
Check the active ingredients and pack size. Pyrethroid insecticidal coils may fit 3808 91 10 90, but special chapter notes can change the classification. Give your broker the complete formulation.
What should I check when mosquito coils arrive?
Check batch identity, active content, cracks, dampness, separation of paired coils, holder fit, continuous smouldering and packaging. Compare labels and pack contents with the approved artwork.