Sourcing pedicure foot rasps from China

Duty on pedicure foot rasps

Heading 8214 includes manicure and pedicure sets and instruments, including nail files. This guide covers manual metal foot rasps within that product family. The table shows product variants sharing the same commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications. For the wider heading, see our manicure sets and nail clippers guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, code 8214 20 00 00 carries 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or import controls for this line.

Confirm the construction and intended use against the commodity code guide. Send your customs broker photographs and details of the working surface. Do not assume a powered tool or an abrasive foot file shares the metal rasp's classification.

Specify the rasp surface and cleaning method

Specify the plate material, thickness, working area, tooth pattern and surface curvature. For double-sided models, identify the coarse and fine faces on the approved sample. Agree handle material, grip texture, plate attachment, any removable parts and protective packing. Keep the purchase brief specific to cosmetic foot care.

Consumer foot rasps supplied in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Confirm the applicable product safety regime for Northern Ireland with the relevant market surveillance authority. Include handling and cleaning instructions in the sample review, alongside checks for exposed corners, burrs and plate detachment.

Agree whether the rasp is intended for dry or wet use and how it will be cleaned. Test samples through the cleaning process you intend to describe to customers. For salon ranges, verify any claimed resistance to repeated disinfection or autoclaving before approving the claim.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,500 handled metal foot rasps, illustrative order under 8214 20 00 00, invoiced at £6,426 free on board, with £630 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,056. Duty at 2% is £141.12. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,197.12, so it is £1,439.42. Import taxes total £1,580.54; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £141.12 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Working surface: compare tooth formation and coarse or fine faces with the approved sample. Check for flattened teeth, blocked openings, loose metal fragments and burrs around the plate perimeter.

Handle and fixing: check that the plate stays secure under agreed handling loads. Inspect handle joints, grip texture and removable-plate retention for movement, cracking or accidental release.

Cleaning and finish: clean sampled rasps using the agreed method, then check for trapped residue, rust, coating loss and loosening. Review results before accepting cleaning claims.

Packing and identification: check each variant against the packing list, confirm agreed product identification and instructions, and inspect protective packing for rubbing or exposed working surfaces. Use our inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

Poorly formed teeth give uneven scraping, while burrs and exposed plate corners can catch skin. Plates may loosen inside moulded handles, and removable heads may release during use. A sample with a comfortable grip can conceal a weaker fixing in the production batch.

Plated metal can rust after cleaning, residue can remain behind the plate, and coarse and fine faces can be swapped in packing. Keep an approved sample for comparison and investigate changes in material, tooth formation or fixing before accepting the batch.

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.