Sourcing petrol brush cutters from China

UK duty on petrol brush cutters

Heading 8467 covers tools for working in the hand with pneumatic, hydraulic or self-contained motors. Petrol brush cutters belong within the non-electric motor family. The parts rows are for separately classified components and optional attachments, not alternative codes for a complete brush cutter.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, complete petrol brush cutters under 8467 89 00 00 and the listed parts lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. This does not replace product compliance checks.

Confirm the complete machine and each separately supplied component using finding your commodity code. The specialised hedge-trimmer attachment line has a narrowly defined specification. See the hedge trimmer guide for related products within the wider heading.

Specify the engine, shaft and cutting system

Define the vegetation, working conditions and intended operator. Specify engine identity, fuel and lubrication instructions, shaft construction, gearbox, handle layout, harness, dry weight and compatible cutting heads. Agree the blade mounting interface, guard for each head and spare parts list. Trial the production configuration under load rather than comparing engine size alone.

For Great Britain, obtain the machinery declaration of conformity, English instructions, marking and technical evidence for the exact model. Check the engine's type approval and displayed markings. Outdoor-noise rules require conformity marking, a guaranteed sound power indication and an accompanying declaration.

For equipment subject to noise marking only, the updated measurement methods apply from 13 April 2026 before placing it on the Great Britain market or putting it into service. Ask the supplier to identify the method behind its noise evidence.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of petrol brush cutters under 8467 89 00 00, invoiced at £2,025 free on board, with £468 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,493. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,493, so it is £498.60. 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 engine markings, machine model, cutting heads and supplied documents to the approved sample.

Cutting system: check blade seating, fasteners, guard compatibility, shaft coupling and gearbox play against the agreed specification.

Operation: have a competent operator check cold starting, warm restarting, throttle return, stop control, idling and cutting under load; record leaks and abnormal vibration.

Support: check harness fittings, English instructions, noise marking and the fit of replacement heads, filters and starter components.

What goes wrong

A sample can cut acceptably while production uses a different engine, gearbox or guard. Record those components in the purchase specification and compare arrival stock with the approved configuration. Watch for difficult warm restarting, leaking fuel connections, loose shaft couplings and unavailable matching spares.

Exclude chain-flail heads from the order. HSE says UK suppliers should cease supplying cutting attachments made from linked metal parts, including chains. A factory offering such a head as an upgrade is a reason to review the attachment specification before buying.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.