Sourcing tea-bag filter fabric from China
Nonwoven tea-bag filter fabric from China carries 4% UK duty across the relevant lines of heading 5603. The material must be safe and suitable for contact with tea under its intended brewing conditions. Specify fibre composition, wet strength and sealing performance. Cambridge China Bridge sources nonwoven tea-bag filter fabric.
UK duty on nonwoven tea-bag filter fabric
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the relevant nonwoven fabric lines carried 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Heading 5603 covers nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated. This guide concerns fabric supplied for conversion into tea bags.
The selected lines have narrowly defined suspensions for specified medical garments, insulating paper or elastomer laminates. These do not establish a suspension for ordinary tea-bag filter fabric. No import controls are attached to the selected lines in the supplied tariff record; food-contact requirements still matter.
Confirm the commodity code from the fibre form, weight per square metre and coating or covering. The table gives candidate lines rather than a classification for every filter fabric. Finished bags need separate classification. See the wider nonwoven fabric guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Man-made filament nonwoven, not coated or covered, up to 25 g/m² | 5603 11 90 90 | 4% | None |
| Man-made filament nonwoven, not coated or covered, over 25 to 70 g/m² | 5603 12 90 90 | 4% | None |
| Other nonwoven, not coated or covered, up to 25 g/m² | 5603 91 90 90 | 4% | None |
| Other nonwoven, not coated or covered, over 25 to 70 g/m² | 5603 92 90 90 | 4% | None |
Specify the fabric for brewing and bag conversion
Specify the fibre and polymer composition, including sealing fibres, binders and finishes. Agree weight per square metre and tolerance, roll width, length, core dimensions, winding direction and permitted joins. Give the factory your tea particle profile, bag-making process and intended brewing temperature and contact time.
Food-contact material must be safe and suitable for its intended use. Where the fabric falls within the plastic food-contact rules, a written declaration of compliance must be available at stages other than retail. Ask for supporting test reports covering the supplied composition and intended brewing conditions; agree the testing scope through testing and certification.
Approve converted sample bags using your tea and equipment. Agree checks for tea-dust retention, infusion flow, wet strength, fibre shedding and seal integrity after brewing. Keep supply and delivery records linked to roll batches, since food-contact materials must be traceable throughout the supply chain.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial order: 25 kg of uncoated man-made filament tea-bag filter fabric in rolls under 5603 11 90 90, invoiced at £200 free on board, with £70 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £270. Duty at 4% is £10.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £280.80, so it is £56.16. Import taxes total £66.96; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £10.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Material and documents: match roll batch identifiers, composition and food-contact documents to the delivered fabric; investigate any changed binder, finish or sealing fibre.
Weight and rolls: weigh cut samples across the width, measure roll dimensions, and check winding, joins and crushed cores against the order.
Brewing and seals: make sample bags, brew under the agreed conditions, and check seam opening, wet tearing, tea-dust escape and visible fibre shedding.
Cleanliness and storage: inspect for holes, specks, damp wrapping and unusual odour; record affected rolls before accepting the delivery. Use the quality inspection guide to structure the report.
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What goes wrong
Fabric can match the approved sample when dry yet tear or open at the seam after brewing. Uneven weight can change flow and tea-dust retention, while inconsistent sealing fibres can cause weak seams or sticking on the converting line. Test converted bags as well as flat fabric.
A report for another polymer blend or different contact conditions leaves the supplied material unverified. Hold affected stock while checking the document match and testing scope. Record material changes before approving a repeat order.
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 tea-bag filter fabric from China?
The relevant nonwoven fabric lines under heading 5603 carried 4% duty in the supplied tariff record. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty was recorded; ordinary tea-bag fabric is not covered by the listed narrow suspensions.
Does nonwoven tea-bag fabric need food-contact documents?
It needs evidence of suitability for its intended food-contact use. Where plastic food-contact rules apply, a written declaration of compliance must be available at stages other than retail.
How should I test a tea-bag fabric sample?
Convert it into bags using your equipment and tea. Brew under the intended conditions and check wet strength, seam integrity, infusion flow, tea-dust retention and fibre shedding.
Are finished empty tea bags classified as fabric?
Do not assume the fabric code applies. Finished nonwoven articles have their own classification; confirm the code for the supplied form before shipping.