Sourcing orthopaedic bone cements from China

Duty on orthopaedic bone cements

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, bone reconstruction cements under 3006 40 00 00 carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for this line.

Heading 3006 covers specified pharmaceutical goods. Bone reconstruction cements share their commodity line with dental cements and fillings; the supplied record contains only this relevant line, so the table does not add unrelated products. See the dental cement guide for the wider heading.

Confirm the formulation, intended use and presentation against the commodity code. Customs classification and medical device conformity are separate checks.

Specify the cement formulation and application

Specify the intended orthopaedic application, cement chemistry, viscosity, radiopaque constituent and whether an antibiotic is incorporated. For powder-and-liquid packs, agree component quantities, mixing method, working characteristics and compatibility with the intended delivery equipment. Ask for product-specific evidence supporting the manufacturer's performance claims.

For sale in Great Britain, confirm with the MHRA the applicable conformity route, whether UKCA or CE marking is accepted and whether the overseas manufacturer needs a UK Responsible Person. Check the device's class and supporting conformity documents. The device must be registered with the MHRA before placement on that market. Request sterilisation and packaging validation for sterile products.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 500 packs of orthopaedic bone cement under 3006 40 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £31,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £31,500, so it is £6,300. 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

Identity: match the formulation, viscosity variant and any antibiotic content to the approved specification and conformity documents.

Components: check powder containers and liquid ampoules for damage, leakage, missing parts and mismatched component quantities.

Sterile packaging: inspect seals and barriers for punctures, opening or moisture damage; compare packaging with the validated design.

Traceability: reconcile batch identifiers, expiry dates and release records, and check remaining shelf life against the purchase agreement.

What goes wrong

A similar-looking pack can contain a different viscosity variant or formulation. Mixing and setting claims can also refer to different test conditions. Require the supplied variant and its supporting records to match the agreed specification; a sample demonstration does not replace product-specific evidence.

Damaged ampoules, compromised sterile barriers and short remaining shelf life can make stock unsuitable for the intended supply. Hold affected packs for investigation and agree a documented disposition. Check the paperwork before production through testing and certification.

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.