Sourcing pewter and tin articles from China
Articles of tin from China, including pewter tankards, tableware and gifts, tin plates and sheets over 0.2 mm thick, and tin anodes, pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Pewter that touches food or drink must be low in lead, so buy to BS EN 611-1 with composition certificates and food contact evidence.
Pewter tankards, tableware and gifts, tin sheet over 0.2 mm, tin anodes and other articles of tin from China pay 0% UK duty. BS EN 611-1, lead and food contact.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, other articles of tin, heading 8007, carried 0% on goods from China, both for plates, sheets and strip more than 0.2 mm thick and for other articles, with no anti-dumping measure.
Tin bars, rods, profiles and wire, including solder wire, are under heading 8003, and tinplate (tin-coated steel) under 7210, so confirm the commodity code. Plated base-metal ornaments are covered in our metal ornaments guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tin plates, sheets and strip, over 0.2 mm | 8007 00 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other articles of tin (pewter ware, anodes, tubes) | 8007 00 80 00 | 0% | None |
Pewter composition and food contact
Pewter and pewterware are specified to BS EN 611-1 and BS EN 611-2, which set a high tin content and a very low lead limit for pewter used with food and drink. Tankards, plates and flasks are food contact articles, so they must meet the Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2012 and the general safety of food contact materials, with a supplier declaration and migration evidence for lead and other metals.
Specifying pewter and tin
Specify the alloy and standard, lead limit, weight and wall thickness, finish (polished, satin, antique), glass bases or inserts, engraving areas, hallmark-style or maker's marks, gift boxes, and for anodes the purity and dimensions.
Worked duty example
For a made-up shipment of 1,500 pewter tankards under 8007 00 80 00, add the £900 of freight and insurance to the £27,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £27,900. Duty on pewter tankards is zero, leaving import VAT of £5,580, 20% of the customs value. For a VAT-registered buyer that is a cash-flow cost rather than a lasting one. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.
Inspection checklist
Composition: check the certificate for tin and lead content, and have a sample tested by XRF or a laboratory, since lead content decides food use.
Finish: check for porosity, pits, casting seams and dents, handle attachment and glass base sealing.
Packing: check each piece is wrapped and boxed, since pewter is soft and dents easily.
What goes wrong
Pewter orders fail on lead content and softness. Cheaper alloys with more lead are supplied for drinking vessels, castings are porous, handles detach, finishes vary between batches, and soft pieces arrive dented.
Test composition, inspect castings, and specify rigid gift boxes. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources pewter gifts, tankards and tin articles for UK gift brands and engravers, and has no minimum order of its own; the factory's minimum per design applies. See small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on pewter tankards from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, other articles of tin including pewter ware (8007 00 80 00) carried 0% from China.
Which standard covers pewter?
BS EN 611-1 for pewter and BS EN 611-2 for pewterware, including a low lead limit.
Do pewter drinking vessels need food contact evidence?
Yes. They are food contact articles and need a supplier declaration and migration evidence.
Is solder wire the same heading?
No. Tin bars, rods and wire, including solder wire, are under heading 8003.