Sourcing nursing bras from China

UK duty on nursing bras

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6212 covers brassières and other corsetry, whether knitted or crocheted. Standalone nursing bras fall within 6212 10 90 00; bras in retail sets containing a pair of briefs have the separate line 6212 10 10 00.

Both relevant lines carry 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for either line. The table shows nursing-bra styles sharing these codes, rather than separate tariff lines for each design.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual garment and retail packaging before shipment. For the wider heading, see our sports bras guide.

Specify feeding access and changing fit

Specify drop-down cups or pull-aside access, wired or wireless construction, cup lining, removable pads, internal support sling, strap adjustment and back fastening. Define the band-and-cup size chart, measurement tolerances and fabric stretch and recovery. Approve feeding access on fitted samples, including opening and refastening the clips with a hand occupied.

Fibre composition labelling is required. Confirm with Trading Standards whether the bra label may state the whole product's composition or the composition of the outside and inside fabric of the cups and back, together or separately. Agree the label format and component fabric records before approving artwork.

Businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety. For nursing bras, assess clip breakage, loose components, sharp edges and seam abrasion during feeding and washing. Agree checks on production materials and fastenings through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,000 wireless nursing bras; illustrative quantity, FOB value and freight under 6212 10 90 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 6% is £408. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,208, so it is £1,441.60. Import taxes total £1,849.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £408 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Feeding access: open and refasten cups on production samples, check that clips stay closed under agreed loads, and inspect clip attachment stitching and support slings.

Fit: measure relaxed and extended band length, cup depth and strap adjustment across the ordered sizes. Check that opening the cup does not twist the sling or pull the band upwards.

Washing: check shrinkage, elastic recovery, clip operation, pad movement and colour transfer after the agreed wash procedure. Inspect wire channels where fitted.

Labels and finish: compare fibre labels with fabric records, check size labels against carton contents, and inspect skin-facing seams and hardware. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A nursing bra can fit when closed yet give poor feeding access because the cup opening is restricted or the sling crosses the opening. Clips may become difficult to refasten, open under tension or loosen at their stitched attachments. Approve the complete feeding movement on fitted samples.

After washing, elastic may lose recovery, removable pads may fold and linings may shrink differently from outer fabrics. A factory substitution of clips or fabric can change the approved fit and function. Record the approved components and compare production samples with the retained sample before release.

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.