Sourcing pipette tips from China
Plastic pipette tips entered under heading 3926 carry 6% UK duty from China. Confirm classification for your intended use and obtain UK REACH substance information. Specify pipette compatibility and evidence for sterile or contamination-free claims before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources pipette tips.
UK duty on plastic pipette tips
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 3926 covers other articles of plastics. The residual code 3926 90 97 90 carries 6% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded in the supplied facts. The table shows product variants under the same candidate code, rather than separate tariff lines.
The code has named-product suspensions, including relief under authorised use; the supplied descriptions do not establish relief for pipette tips. The UK Trade Tariff also attaches veterinary control, an import prohibition concerning torture and repression goods, and a related export restriction. Ask your customs broker to confirm their application and documentary requirements for the actual goods from China.
Do not assume every instrument-specific tip belongs in this residual heading. Chapter exclusions can affect instrument parts. Confirm the construction and intended use through the commodity code guide; the wider plastics guide explains heading boundaries.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unfiltered plastic pipette tips, subject to classification confirmation | 3926 90 97 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the tip and its intended use
Name the pipette manufacturer and model, working volume, tip length, cone geometry and rack format. Specify resin grade, filter material and position, low-retention treatment, and whether tips arrive loose, racked or as refills. Approve samples on the actual pipettes, using your laboratory's liquids and dispensing method. For laboratory waste containers, see our sharps container sourcing guide.
Separate general laboratory use from diagnostic-use claims. Official guidance treats accessories to in vitro diagnostic devices as diagnostic devices in their own right, and requires registration of those devices with the medicines regulator. Ask for a documented assessment before buying tips marketed for that purpose.
For UK REACH, confirm with HSE whether the tips' composition triggers substance-information obligations and what information must be supplied. Ask for material declarations covering resin, additives and filters. For sterile, nuclease-free or low-retention claims, agree the test method and batch evidence through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50,000 unfiltered plastic pipette tips; FOB and freight values are illustrative, not a quote. under 3926 90 97 90, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,600. Duty at 6% is £636. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,236, so it is £2,247.20. Import taxes total £2,883.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £636 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: check seating, sealing and ejection on the named pipettes; compare uptake and delivery against the approved sample.
Moulding: inspect the outlet and cone for flash, blockage, distortion and cracks; check liquid remaining after dispensing.
Filter: check presence, position and retention; test the agreed liquid barrier performance rather than accepting appearance alone.
Packing: check rack alignment, seals, batch labels and carton contents; match claim reports to the delivered batch. Use the quality inspection guide to plan checks.
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What goes wrong
A tip sold as universally compatible may seal on the sample pipette but leak or eject poorly on the buyer's model. Outlet flash, inconsistent filters or changed resin can alter dispensing. Keep approved samples and make acceptance depend on fit and liquid handling, rather than colour or catalogue descriptions.
Sterile packaging can arrive damaged, while a generic test report may describe a different tip or batch. Quarantine affected stock and resolve the evidence gap before releasing it to the laboratory. Record the tip, rack and batch together so complaints can be traced.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on pipette tips from China?
For tips confirmed under 3926 90 97 90, the supplied tariff facts show 6% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. Named-product suspensions do not establish relief for tips.
Will universal pipette tips fit my pipettes?
Test samples on every pipette model you intend to use. Check sealing, uptake, dispensing and ejection, then retain approved samples for comparison with deliveries.
What evidence should I request for sterile pipette tips?
Request the agreed sterilisation evidence linked to the delivered batch, packaging-integrity checks and supporting claim reports. A catalogue description alone is insufficient for purchasing acceptance.
Can I use the same specification for diagnostic pipette tips?
Document the intended use separately. Official guidance treats diagnostic-device accessories as diagnostic devices in their own right; obtain a regulatory assessment before ordering for that purpose.