Sourcing plastic unit-dose ampoules from China
Empty plastic unit-dose ampoules from China and the related packaging lines below carry 6% UK duty. Specify the intended contents before choosing the resin and tests; food use needs food-contact evidence, while medicinal packaging has a specific tax exemption. Cambridge China Bridge sources plastic unit-dose ampoules.
UK duty on empty plastic ampoules
Heading 3923 covers plastic articles for conveying or packing goods and plastic closures. This guide concerns empty unit-dose ampoules. The container line for a capacity not exceeding two litres is a classification candidate; the table also includes separately supplied closures and other packing articles, rather than interchangeable codes for the same ampoule.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the selected lines carry 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for these lines. Import VAT is normally 20%.
Confirm the exact construction and whether the shipment contains empty packaging or filled products using finding your commodity code. For the wider container family, see plastic packaging bottles.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty plastic ampoules and similar containers, capacity not exceeding two litres | 3923 30 10 00 | 6% | None |
| Separate plastic bottle caps supplied with ampoule packaging | 3923 50 10 00 | 6% | None |
| Other separate plastic closures | 3923 50 90 00 | 6% | None |
| Other plastic packing articles, subject to classification | 3923 90 00 00 | 6% | None |
Specify the resin, filling process and opening
State whether you are buying empty moulded ampoules for later filling or packaging formed during your filling process. Agree the resin grade, additives, colour, usable fill capacity, neck geometry, sealing method and strip layout. Supply a drawing and approved sample. Trial the exact material with the intended liquid, filling equipment and storage conditions.
Agree whether opening uses a twist-off or break-off tip, the acceptable opening force and the dispensing behaviour. Check for fragments, sharp edges, uncontrolled squirting and liquid left inside. If you request sterile supply, agree the treatment, protective packaging and supporting batch evidence before ordering.
For food use, obtain a declaration of compliance and migration evidence suited to the intended contents and conditions. Plastic packaging imported for the immediate packaging of licensed human medicinal products is exempt from Plastic Packaging Tax. Assess that specific use rather than assuming every ampoule qualifies. Ask the relevant environmental regulator whether packaging reporting obligations apply to your business, using our packaging EPR guide to prepare your questions.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 50,000 empty plastic unit-dose ampoules, illustrative only under 3923 30 10 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,200. Duty at 6% is £312. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,512, so it is £1,102.40. Import taxes total £1,414.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £312 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Material: compare the resin and additive records with the approved specification; check colour, odour, visible contamination and batch identification.
Body and seal: check wall consistency, pinholes, neck dimensions and deformation; test filled and sealed samples for leakage under agreed handling conditions.
Opening and dispensing: check tip separation, sharp edges, loose fragments, squeeze behaviour and residual liquid against approved samples.
Packing: check strip separation, counts, crushed tips and protective bags; match any requested cleanliness or sterile-supply evidence to the delivered batch.
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What goes wrong
A sample may open cleanly while production tips stretch or tear because the neck or resin has changed. Thin sections leak after handling, connected ampoules split when separated, or a container dispenses poorly with a viscous liquid. Approve filled trials and keep reference samples before releasing production.
A resin description alone does not establish compatibility with your formulation. Changes to additives, treatment or sealing can affect odour, brittleness and leakage. Empty-container inspection also cannot demonstrate the performance of the filled pack. Use testing and certification support to define the evidence needed for the intended use.
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 unit-dose ampoules from China?
The selected empty-container and closure lines carry 6% duty, with no trade remedy or suspension listed in the supplied tariff data. Confirm the exact commodity code before ordering.
Does this guide cover filled medicinal ampoules?
It covers empty plastic packaging. Ask your customs broker to classify a filled product separately using its contents, presentation and intended use.
What should I test before ordering plastic ampoules?
Trial the intended liquid and filling process. Check sealing, leakage, opening force, fragments, dispensing and residual liquid using the exact production resin.
Are medicinal ampoules exempt from Plastic Packaging Tax?
Plastic packaging imported for the immediate packaging of licensed human medicinal products is exempt. Check the intended use; the ampoule shape alone does not establish eligibility.