Sourcing oil paints and leather finishes from China
Paints and varnishes outside the polymer-based headings, oil paints and enamels, distempers and water pigments for finishing leather, pay 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 3210. The tariff asks for a declaration that they contain no ozone-depleting substances, decorative paints must meet the VOC limits, and hazardous products need GB CLP labels.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
0% duty and the border controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 3210 covers other paints and varnishes, including enamels, lacquers and distempers, and prepared water pigments of a kind used for finishing leather. Both lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Both lines carry an ozone-depleting substances control: goods clear on a declaration that they neither contain ozone-depleting substances nor rely on them, otherwise an import licence is needed under the retained ozone regulation. The tariff also attaches a waste import control; new material clears on a declaration that it is not waste under the retained waste shipments regulation.
Paints based on synthetic polymers are headings 3208 and 3209, covered in our solvent-based paints guide and water-based paints guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil paints and varnishes, including enamels and lacquers | 3210 00 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other paints, varnishes, distempers and prepared water pigments for finishing leather | 3210 00 90 00 | 0% | None |
VOC limits and labels
Decorative paints, varnishes and vehicle refinishing products placed on the market must meet the VOC content limits in the Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations 2012, and be labelled with the product subcategory and VOC content. Ask the supplier for the VOC content by the test method and the product category.
Hazardous paints also need GB CLP classification, labels and a GB-format safety data sheet. Settle label artwork before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 litres of water-based leather finishing pigment under 3210 00 90 00, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,500, so it is £3,300. 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
Colour and finish: draw down samples against the approved standard and check gloss and coverage.
Documents: check the ODS declaration, the VOC content and the safety data sheet.
Packing: check lids, leak tests, labels and batch codes. See our quality inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Paint orders fail on colour, VOC and labels. Batches drift in shade, VOC content exceeds the limit for the category, labels miss GB requirements, and tins leak in transit.
Cambridge China Bridge sources coatings and finishes for UK manufacturers and retailers with documents agreed before production. See testing and certification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on oil paints from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, oil paints and varnishes under 3210 00 10 00 carried 0% from China.
Why does paint need an ozone declaration?
Heading 3210 carries an ozone-depleting substances control; declare that the goods contain none, or hold an import licence.
Do imported paints have VOC limits?
Decorative paints and varnishes must meet the VOC limits in the 2012 regulations and show VOC content on the label.
Where are acrylic and alkyd paints classified?
Paints based on synthetic polymers are headings 3208 and 3209.