Sourcing optical lenses and fibres from China
Unmounted optical elements from China pay 2% UK duty for optical fibres, contact lenses and spectacle lenses, and 0% for polarising sheet, with no anti-dumping duty. Contact lenses, including zero-powered cosmetic lenses, may only be sold by or under the supervision of a registered optician or doctor, and corrective lenses are medical devices. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
Optical fibres, polarising sheet, contact lenses and spectacle lenses pay 0% or 2% UK duty from China. Opticians Act and medical device rules explained.
Duty at 0% or 2%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, image conductor cables and other optical fibres and bundles, contact lenses, spectacle lenses of glass or other materials, corrective or not, carried 2% duty on goods from China, and sheets and plates of polarising material carried 0%. None had an anti-dumping measure.
Mounted lenses and finished spectacles are in headings 9002 to 9004, and optical fibre cables with individually sheathed fibres are in 8544. Confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image conductor cables | 9001 10 10 00 | 2% | None |
| Other optical fibres and bundles | 9001 10 90 90 | 2% | None |
| Polarising sheets and plates | 9001 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Contact lenses | 9001 30 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Glass spectacle lenses, not corrective | 9001 40 20 00 | 2% | None |
| Glass corrective lenses, single focal | 9001 40 41 00 | 2% | None |
| Other spectacle lenses, not corrective | 9001 50 20 00 | 2% | None |
Contact lenses and the Opticians Act
Section 27 of the Opticians Act 1989 restricts the sale of contact lenses, including zero-powered cosmetic lenses, to sales by or under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner, optometrist or dispensing optician. Contact lenses are also medical devices under the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, needing UKCA or CE marking and MHRA registration. So coloured fashion lenses cannot be sold like cosmetics.
Spectacle lenses and fibres
Corrective spectacle lenses are medical devices too. Specify material, refractive index, coatings and tolerances, and ask for the device documentation. For optical fibres and polarising sheet sold as industrial components, specify attenuation, numerical aperture or polarisation efficiency and test certificates.
The sunglasses guide covers finished eyewear.
Inspection
At inspection, check power, centration and coatings against the order using a lensmeter, and check packaging sterility for contact lenses.
Cambridge China Bridge sources optical fibres, polarising film and lenses, with device status, sales restrictions and tolerances settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on contact lenses from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, contact lenses carried 2% duty from China, as did spectacle lenses and optical fibres; polarising sheet was 0%.
Can I sell coloured contact lenses online?
Only by or under the supervision of a registered optician or doctor; section 27 of the Opticians Act 1989 covers zero-powered lenses too.
Are spectacle lenses medical devices?
Corrective lenses are, and need UKCA or CE marking under the device rules.
Where are finished spectacles classified?
In heading 9004, not 9001.