Sourcing operating tables from China

Operating-table duty and tariff controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 October 2026, operating tables fall within heading 9402, covering medical, surgical, dental and veterinary furniture and its parts. The table variants below share commodity code 9402 90 00 00; they are product descriptions within the same tariff line. See our hospital beds guide for the wider medical-furniture heading.

The supplied tariff extract shows 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches an import prohibition concerning torture and repression goods and an import control on cat and dog fur. Imports containing cat or dog fur are banned. Ask your customs broker to confirm the torture-control requirement for the exact table and accessories. The extract also lists cultural-object licensing and torture-goods and fur controls on export.

Confirm the commodity code using the intended use, lifting mechanism, table construction and any separately shipped parts. Do not treat the shared code as proof that every accessory has the same classification.

Specify the table around the procedure

Specify the intended procedures, patient load rating in each working position, height adjustment, longitudinal and lateral tilt, sectional-top movements and accessory-rail dimensions. Agree whether imaging access is needed, which pads and supports are included, and how emergency lowering works. Ask for cleaning instructions, compatible disinfectants and a spare-parts list.

For medical use in Great Britain, confirm with MHRA the applicable UKCA or accepted CE marking route and registration requirements before supply. A manufacturer outside the UK must appoint a UK responsible person to register and act on its behalf. Ask for the declaration of conformity and supporting documents for the exact model, including electrical test evidence for powered tables. Arrange testing and certification checks before approving production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small batch of hydraulic operating tables, not a quotation under 9402 90 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £35,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £35,000, so it is £7,000. 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

Load and stability: test samples at the agreed rated load and working positions using the manufacturer's procedure; check for drifting height, slipping sections, base movement and hydraulic leaks.

Positioning and controls: operate lift, tilt and sectional movements; check brakes, accessory clamps, hand controls and emergency lowering against the agreed specification.

Pads and finish: check seams, exposed edges, welds and corrosion protection; trial the agreed disinfectants on sample upholstery and inspect for cracking or peeling.

Identity and documents: match model labels to the declaration, medical-device registration evidence and English instructions. At inspection, record supplied accessories and arrival damage before clinical handover.

What goes wrong

A table may hold its load level but drift when tilted, or an accessory clamp may slip when a support is loaded. Hydraulic leakage, loose sectional locks and damaged control cables can undermine positioning. Write acceptance checks for the working configurations, rather than checking movement only with an empty table.

A report for a different motor, controller or table model leaves the delivered configuration unverified. Missing pads, incompatible rails and upholstery that deteriorates under the buyer's disinfectant also create avoidable problems. Compare the delivered table with the approved sample, documents and packing list.

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.