Sourcing phlebotomy chairs from China
Phlebotomy chairs classified within heading 9402 carry 0% UK duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Where the chair is a medical device, confirm the applicable UKCA or accepted CE conformity route and medical device registration requirements with the medicines regulator before sale in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources phlebotomy chairs.
Zero duty under the supplied tariff lines
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 9402 covers medical furniture and dentists', barbers' or similar chairs and their parts. Both supplied commodity lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is shown. The table presents buying configurations sharing the candidate other-medical-furniture code, rather than separate tariff lines.
The tariff attaches import controls for torture goods and cat and dog fur. Restraint chairs fitted with shackles or other restraining devices appear in the import ban coverage; covered torture goods cannot be imported for an ordinary commercial order. Cat and dog fur products are also banned from import. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable tariff declarations for the Chinese shipment. The file also lists cultural-object and other export controls; confirm these separately if exporting.
Confirm the commodity code from the chair's construction, movements and intended use. Ask whether the design belongs under 9402 90 00 00 or the similar-chair line 9402 10 00 00 before using the illustrative calculation. Our medical and barber chairs guide covers the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-height phlebotomy chairs, subject to classification | 9402 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify arm supports, recline and cleaning
Specify adjustable arm supports that stay locked during blood collection, the seat and backrest dimensions, rated patient load, recline positions and the space needed around the chair. Decide whether height adjustment is manual, hydraulic or electric. Agree how staff return the chair from reclined to seated position, how patients enter and leave it, and which replacement cushions, controls and actuators the factory will supply.
Ask the manufacturer to document the intended use and confirm whether the exact model is a medical device. Where it is, confirm the applicable UKCA or accepted CE conformity route and registration requirements with the medicines regulator before placement on the Great Britain market. A manufacturer outside the UK must appoint a UK responsible person to register and act on its behalf. Match the documentation to the ordered model through testing and certification.
Specify the upholstery material, seam locations and the clinic's cleaning agents. Approve a sample after cleaning trials and repeated adjustment of the arm supports and backrest. For powered medical models, request the exact model's electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility reports, as described in the wider chair guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 50 hydraulic phlebotomy chairs, illustrative only under 9402 90 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £35,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £35,000, so it is £7,000. 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
Arm supports: check height, angle and sideways adjustment against the approved sample; apply the agreed load and check that clamps hold without slipping.
Recline and stability: cycle the backrest, leg support and lift; check locking, controlled movement, welds, base stability and any castor brakes under the rated load.
Upholstery: inspect seams, exposed edges and gaps where cleaning residue can collect; wipe sample covers with the agreed disinfectants and check for cracking or colour transfer.
Arrival and documents: match model labels, conformity documents and English instructions to the shipment; inspect transit damage and run each function during quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
An arm support can rotate under load even when its clamp feels tight. Recline locks can slip, hydraulic lifts can sink and upholstery can peel after cleaning. A sample may also have different controls or padding from the production shipment. Keep the approved sample and component list, agree functional acceptance checks, and repeat them on arrival before releasing chairs to clinics.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on phlebotomy chairs from China?
Both supplied heading 9402 lines carry 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Confirm the exact chair's commodity code.
Do phlebotomy chairs need UKCA or CE marking?
Where the chair is a medical device, confirm the applicable UKCA or accepted CE conformity route and registration requirements with the medicines regulator before placement on the Great Britain market. Confirm the exact model's status and paperwork before ordering.
What should I specify for a blood collection chair?
Specify locking adjustable arm supports, rated patient load, recline positions, seat dimensions, height adjustment, cleaning agents and replacement parts. Approve the arrangement with the clinic using a sample.
How do I check a hydraulic phlebotomy chair?
Load the chair to its agreed rating and check for sinking, leaks and instability. Cycle the lift and recline, check arm-support clamps and inspect the base welds and upholstery.