Sourcing plastic cutlery trays from China
Plastic cutlery trays from China carry 6% UK duty on the relevant supplied lines, with no trade remedy or suspension. Consumer products must be safe; polyamide or melamine kitchenware can also require import declarations and laboratory reports. Specify drawer fit and resin before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources plastic cutlery trays.
Duty and material-dependent controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3924 covers plastic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and hygienic or toilet articles. The supplied kitchenware and other household lines carry 6% duty from China, with no trade remedy or suspension. The ironing-board anti-dumping measure is outside this tray guide. Confirm whether the tray is kitchenware or a general household organiser using the commodity code guide.
For polyamide or melamine kitchenware from China, official guidance requires a declaration and laboratory report for each consignment addressing primary aromatic amines and formaldehyde. Pre-notify the competent authority at least two working days before arrival and arrange entry through a designated Border Control Post. Confirm applicability to the tray's intended food contact with your customs broker.
The supplied tariff record also attaches a declaration-of-compliance restriction to other plastic kitchenware. Ask your customs broker to confirm its application to a cutlery-only drawer tray before shipment. Give them the resin composition, intended use and product photographs. Related storage products are covered in the plastic food storage containers guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed plastic cutlery trays, other kitchenware | 3924 10 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Polyamide or melamine kitchenware trays consigned from China | 3924 10 00 11 | 6% | None |
| General household drawer organisers, subject to classification | 3924 90 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify drawer fit and tray construction
Specify the resin, colour, external dimensions, compartment layout, usable compartment length and tray height. Measure the drawer's internal space and closing clearance. For expandable trays, agree the closed and extended dimensions, sliding resistance and how the side sections stay in position. Include removable liners, feet and inserts in the approved sample.
State whether the tray stores clean cutlery only or is also intended for direct food contact. Ask for supporting documents matched to that use, resin and colour. Consumer products imported or sold in the UK must be safe and meet relevant labelling requirements. Agree cleaning instructions and substantiate any dishwasher claim through sample trials.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 plastic cutlery trays under 3924 10 00 90, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 6% is £456. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,056, so it is £1,611.20. Import taxes total £2,067.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £456 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure the outer profile and compartment space against the drawing, then close a representative drawer with the loaded tray.
Moulding: check flatness, sharp flash, cracks, thin corners and rough divider edges; compare colour and surface finish with the approved sample.
Function: slide expandable sections repeatedly, load compartments with cutlery and check for binding, collapse or detached feet.
Packing: unpack nested trays and check for scuffing, trapped pieces and distorted rims. Compare supplied documents with the actual resin, colour and model.
What goes wrong
A tray can match its advertised width yet prevent the drawer closing because the rim or utensils sit too high. Warped bases rock, short compartments do not hold dinner knives, and expandable sides creep inward when loaded. Trial the approved sample in the intended drawer with the buyer's cutlery.
Material substitutions and unmatched paperwork create problems alongside poor moulding. Keep the approved resin and construction in the purchase specification, and inspect packed goods before release. Use the quality inspection guide to plan checks.
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 plastic cutlery trays from China?
The relevant supplied kitchenware and household-article lines carry 6% duty from China, with no trade remedy or suspension. Confirm the code from the material and intended use.
Do cutlery trays need food-contact paperwork?
Confirm intended food contact first. The supplied tariff attaches declaration controls to kitchenware lines; ask your broker whether they apply to your tray and which documents are needed.
What paperwork is needed for melamine trays from China?
Where the tray falls within the controlled kitchenware category, official guidance requires a consignment declaration and laboratory report, advance notification and a designated Border Control Post.
How do I check an expandable cutlery tray?
Trial it in the intended drawer, loaded with your cutlery. Check closing clearance, sliding resistance, side-section stability, flatness and whether nested packing distorts the rim.