Sourcing mounted bandpass filters from China

Duty on mounted bandpass optical filters

Heading 9002 covers mounted optical elements used as parts of or fittings for instruments or apparatus. Mounted bandpass optical filters fall within its filter line, 9002 20 00 00. The table shows product variants sharing that line. See the camera lenses and optical filters guide for the wider heading.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the filter line carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls for this line. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code using the product drawing, mounting arrangement and description of its use. Unmounted optical elements belong to a different heading. Describe the shipment as mounted optical filters rather than relying on a catalogue name.

Specify the passband and mounting arrangement

Specify centre wavelength, bandwidth and how bandwidth is measured, minimum transmission within the passband, and maximum leakage across the blocking range. Request a measured transmission curve with the test angle, polarisation and temperature recorded. Agree the instrument's measurement capability where very low leakage matters.

Specify substrate, coating, clear aperture, housing material, external dimensions, thread and retaining arrangement. Identify the light-entry face where orientation matters. Give the supplier the operating angle and beam geometry, then test the approved sample in your actual optical assembly.

For sales in Great Britain, conformity marking is required only where sector-specific regulations require it. If the filters are consumer products, they must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. State the intended application when arranging testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 50 mounted bandpass optical filters for a laboratory equipment business under 9002 20 00 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. 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

Spectral performance: measure production samples on a spectrophotometer against the agreed passband and blocking range, using the specified angle and test conditions.

Mount fit: check thread, housing dimensions, clear aperture and retention against the drawing; fit samples to the buyer's holder and check for clipping or movement.

Surfaces and coatings: inspect for scratches, chips, dust, haze and coating damage; compare the cleaning method and handling instructions with the approved sample.

Identification and packing: match each filter and its measurement record to the ordered specification; check orientation labels, protective packing and sealed storage before dispatch.

What goes wrong

A filter can fit mechanically yet miss the required spectral window. Testing at a different angle can hide a passband shift in the buyer's assembly. A curve covering only the passband can also leave unwanted transmission outside it unchecked. Agree the full measurement range and test the filter in its working position.

Mount stress, loose retaining rings and contaminated surfaces can spoil an otherwise acceptable filter. Keep the approved sample, drawing and spectral acceptance criteria together, and use them for production inspection and arrival checks. Quarantine batches with mismatched identification or unexplained curve changes.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.