Sourcing moulded gardening shoes from China
Moulded waterproof gardening shoes from China carry a flat 16% UK duty across the selected lines of heading 6401. Footwear composition labels are required, and consumer shoes supplied in Great Britain must be safe. Check closed uppers, fit and leaks before accepting production. Cambridge China Bridge sources moulded waterproof gardening shoes.
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UK duty on moulded waterproof gardening shoes
Heading 6401 covers waterproof footwear with rubber or plastic outer soles and uppers, where the uppers are neither fixed to the sole nor assembled by stitching, riveting, nailing, screwing, plugging or similar processes. Specify closed waterproof shells and distinguish low-cut shoes from ankle-covering styles. The metal-toecap row is for protective variants. See the wider wellington and rubber boots guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all selected lines carried 16% duty for goods from China. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. These tariff findings do not replace checks on the finished product's safety and labelling.
Send your customs broker photographs, upper and outer-sole materials, construction details, ankle coverage and any protective metal-toecap specification. Confirm the commodity code for the actual design before ordering; a gardening-shoe sales description alone does not establish its classification.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-cut moulded waterproof gardening shoes | 6401 99 00 90 | 16% | None |
| Ankle-covering gardening footwear with rubber uppers | 6401 92 10 00 | 16% | None |
| Ankle-covering gardening footwear with plastic uppers | 6401 92 90 00 | 16% | None |
| Moulded waterproof gardening footwear with protective metal toecaps | 6401 10 00 00 | 16% | None |
Specify the waterproof shell, fit and tread
Record the rubber or plastic compound, colour, shell construction, lining and removable insole. Agree internal length, forefoot width, instep clearance and heel retention against approved samples across the size range. Specify tread shape and how readily soil clears from the grooves. For low-cut shoes, agree the opening height and the water level used for leak checks; water entering over the opening is different from a leaking shell.
Ask Trading Standards to confirm the footwear composition labelling requirements for the upper, lining and sock, and outer-sole materials. Retailers are responsible for checking correct labelling. Only safe consumer products may be supplied in Great Britain. REACH restrictions can limit or prohibit substances; ask a laboratory to assess the actual compound, pigments and lining, including applicable phthalate and PAH restrictions. Agree testing and certification before production.
For footwear sold as safety footwear, confirm the applicable personal protective equipment requirements with the relevant authority, using the published boots guide as background. Request the type examination certificate, test report and declaration of conformity for the exact model. Keep protective metal-toecap variants distinct from ordinary gardening shoes when approving specifications and sales claims.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size order of low-cut moulded waterproof gardening shoes; not a quotation under 6401 99 00 90, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £1,480 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,480. Duty at 16% is £1,356.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,836.80, so it is £1,967.36. Import taxes total £3,324.16; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,356.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Waterproof shell: sample each size, test below the agreed opening level, and inspect mould seams, thin spots and the sole junction for leaks.
Fit and pairing: measure internal length and width, check left and right pairing, compare heel retention with approved samples, and inspect removable insoles for curling.
Flex and tread: flex the forefoot, inspect for cracks and sharp moulding flash, check lining adhesion, and compare tread depth and soil clearance with the approved sample.
Materials and labels: match production material reports to the actual compound and colours, check composition labels against the specification, and investigate unexplained changes in hardness or odour.
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What goes wrong
A moulded shoe can leak through a thin shell or mould seam even when its material is waterproof. Low openings let water enter from above, while loose heels and narrow insteps make otherwise correctly sized shoes uncomfortable. Packing pressure can distort the shell or curl the insole. Compare unpacked production pairs with retained samples before accepting the batch.
Material substitutions can change flexibility, cold-weather cracking and chemical test results. A matching colour does not prove a matching compound, and odour alone does not establish compliance. Retain approved samples and material records, investigate changes, and agree a quality inspection covering leaks, fit, labels and packing.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on moulded waterproof gardening shoes from China?
The selected heading 6401 lines carry 16% duty from China. The supplied tariff records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control.
Which code applies to low-cut waterproof gardening shoes?
6401 99 00 90 is the relevant candidate for ordinary low-cut styles meeting heading 6401's material and construction description. Ask your broker to confirm the finished design.
Do moulded gardening shoes need material labels?
Check the label against the actual production specification.
How do I check whether gardening shoes are waterproof?
Agree a water level below the shoe opening and test production samples from each size. Inspect mould seams and thin spots, then flex the forefoot and check for cracks.