Sourcing paper CD sleeves from China

Paper CD sleeve duty

Heading 4817 covers paper envelopes, correspondence cards and containers holding assorted paper stationery. For paper CD sleeves made as envelopes, the relevant supplied line is 4817 10 00 00. The table shows sleeve variants using this same line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See the wider envelope guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the supplied envelope line carries 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control is listed. Paper made from virgin fibre remains subject to timber due diligence when first placed on the Great Britain market.

Confirm the commodity code using a sample, photographs and the material breakdown, especially for sleeves with plastic windows, linings or a construction that differs from an envelope. Allow for 20% import VAT in the landed-cost calculation; see UK import duty and VAT.

Disc fit, paper and window construction

Specify the finished internal dimensions, opening width, paper grammage, fibre mix, flap style and seam position. Approve a sample using the discs you intend to pack. Describe the required interior finish and keep exposed glue away from the disc-contact area. For windowed sleeves, agree the film material, aperture position and adhesive coverage; for printed sleeves, approve artwork and check for ink transfer.

For virgin-fibre paper, obtain the pulp source, tree species and country of harvest for timber due diligence. Agree carton protection against moisture and crushing, together with pack quantities and batch identification.

Sleeves intended for consumer use in Great Britain must meet the general product safety requirement. Where reasonable, the producer must put its name and address and the product reference or applicable batch identifier on the product or packaging. Include this information in the approved packaging artwork.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 26,500 plain paper CD sleeves; illustrative order and values under 4817 10 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £140 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,640. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,640, so it is £528. 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

Fit: insert and remove the intended disc, close the flap and check that seams neither obstruct insertion nor leave the disc exposed.

Interior: inspect for grit, loose fibres, rough seams and exposed adhesive; check a clean test disc for marks after insertion and removal.

Windows and print: check window alignment and adhesion, flap function, print position and ink transfer against the approved sample.

Arrival: inspect cartons for dampness and crushing, count sampled packs and match batch identification to the shipment records.

What goes wrong

An acceptable outer size can hide a tight opening or misplaced seam that catches the disc. Loose fibres, grit or glue inside the sleeve can mark its surface. Window film can lift at the edges, while print can transfer onto neighbouring sleeves in a compressed stack.

Damp cartons can leave sleeves curled or stuck together. Record affected batches and compare them with the approved sample before packing discs. Define the checks before production using quality inspection explained.

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.