Sourcing plasters, bandages and dressings from China
Adhesive plasters, gauze, wadding and other dressings from China pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. A dressing intended to treat or protect a wound is a medical device under the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, so conformity assessment, a UK responsible person and MHRA registration come first, and sterile products need validated sterilisation. Cambridge China Bridge sources wound care.
Adhesive plasters, gauze and wound dressings pay 0% UK duty from China. Most are medical devices, so class, UK Responsible Person and registration apply.
Zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, adhesive dressings and other articles with an adhesive layer, wadding and articles of wadding, gauze and articles of gauze, and other dressings impregnated or coated or put up for retail or medical use carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
First-aid kits combine several products, so confirm the commodity code for the kit as presented.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adhesive dressings and articles with an adhesive layer | 3005 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Wadding and articles of wadding | 3005 90 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Gauze and articles of gauze | 3005 90 31 00 | 0% | None |
| Other dressings | 3005 90 99 00 | 0% | None |
Dressings are medical devices
Regulation 2 of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 defines a medical device by its intended purpose, including the treatment or alleviation of an injury. Plasters and wound dressings are sold for exactly that, so they are medical devices: the conformity assessment for their class, a UK responsible person where the manufacturer is outside the UK, and registration with the MHRA come before they are placed on the market.
Sterile products need their sterilisation validated, which brings in a UK approved body for that aspect, so plan the timescale; the medical and PPE guide covers the route with a Chinese manufacturer.
Materials and skin contact
Adhesives and pads touch skin and wounds, so ask for biocompatibility evidence and state latex content on the label for users with allergies. Specify adhesion, breathability, waterproofing claims and pad absorbency, and test them on samples at inspection.
Shelf life and batch coding matter for any medical product; agree the expiry date format and lot numbering on every box.
Kits and packaging
First-aid kits for workplaces and vehicles are often sold against contents lists that customers expect; agree the contents and the box with the buyer. Cambridge China Bridge sources plasters, dressings and first-aid kits, with the device class, registration route, labelling and batch control settled before production. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on plasters from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, adhesive dressings, gauze, wadding and other dressings carried 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Are plasters medical devices?
Yes. They are intended to treat or protect a wound, so under regulation 2 of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 they are medical devices.
What is needed to sell Chinese-made dressings in GB?
The conformity assessment for the device class, a UK responsible person if the manufacturer is outside the UK, and MHRA registration; sterile products need validated sterilisation.
What should be on the box of a dressing?
Lot number, expiry date, latex content where relevant, and the required device labelling.