Sourcing natural cork stoppers from China
Natural cork stoppers and other articles of natural cork from China pay 0% UK duty on all three lines of heading 4503, with no anti-dumping duty. Stoppers for wine, spirits and food jars are food contact materials, so they need a declaration of compliance, and buyers check taint, dimensions, moisture and the surface treatment.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 4503 covers articles of natural cork: corks and stoppers, cylindrical or other, and other articles. All three lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Agglomerated cork stoppers, sheets and tiles are heading 4504, covered in our cork products guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural cork stoppers, cylindrical | 4503 10 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Natural cork corks and stoppers, other | 4503 10 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Other articles of natural cork | 4503 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Food contact rules
Stoppers are food contact materials, so they fall under the retained framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004: they must not transfer constituents to the drink in quantities that could endanger health or change its taste or smell. Ask the supplier for a declaration of compliance covering the cork and any surface treatment such as paraffin or silicone, and for migration test reports. Our food contact materials guide explains the documents.
Specifying stoppers
Specify the grade, length and diameter with tolerances, moisture content, the surface treatment, any branding printed or burned on, taint testing for the compound that causes cork taint, and packing in sealed bags.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 100,000 natural cork wine stoppers under 4503 10 10 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,700. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,700, so it is £2,540. 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
Dimensions and moisture: measure samples and test moisture content.
Taint: ask for taint test results per lot and sensory-check soaked samples.
Appearance: check grade, holes and cracks, branding and bag sealing. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Cork orders fail on taint, grade and fit. Tainted lots spoil the drink, lower grades are mixed in, diameters are wrong for the bottle neck, and damp stoppers go mouldy.
Cambridge China Bridge sources closures and packaging for UK drinks and food producers with compliance documents agreed before production; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cork stoppers from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, natural cork stoppers under heading 4503 carried 0% from China.
Do cork stoppers need food contact documents?
Yes. They are food contact materials under the retained Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004; ask for a declaration of compliance.
What is cork taint?
An off-flavour caused by a compound in cork; ask for taint test results per lot.
Are agglomerated stoppers in heading 4503?
No. Agglomerated cork stoppers are heading 4504.