Sourcing PVB interlayer film from China
Polyvinyl butyral interlayer film from China carries UK duty from 0% to 6%, including conditional suspensions for specified colour-band grades. Confirm the film's construction and formulation before claiming relief, and check UK REACH duties for its constituents. Cambridge China Bridge sources polyvinyl butyral interlayer film.
PVB film duty and colour-band suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 3920 covers non-cellular plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip that are not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined with other materials. This guide concerns polyvinyl butyral film supplied for glass lamination, rather than finished laminated glass. Clear and uniformly tinted film examples share the residual code shown in the table.
The supplied PVB lines have a 6% standard duty for China. Code 3920 91 00 91 has a suspension to 2%; 3920 91 00 95 has a suspension to 0% for the specified co-extruded trilayer colour-band film with 29% to 31% of the named plasticiser. Their footnotes exclude mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these products. Code 3920 91 00 99 has no suspension. These lines show no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or attached import controls.
Confirm the commodity code using the polymer, layer construction, colour-band description and plasticiser formulation. Ask your broker to check suspension eligibility against the actual film before shipment. For the wider material context, see polyvinyl butyral resin.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear polyvinyl butyral interlayer film, other | 3920 91 00 99 | 6% | None |
| Polyvinyl butyral interlayer film with a graduated coloured band | 3920 91 00 91 | 6% | None |
| Co-extruded trilayer interlayer film with specified colour band and plasticiser | 3920 91 00 95 | 6% | None |
Specify the interlayer and lamination process
Specify the film grade, intended glazing application, thickness and tolerance, roll width and length, colour, colour-band position, surface texture and layer construction. Agree moisture content, adhesion targets, storage conditions and remaining shelf life. Ask the supplier to identify its plasticiser formulation and provide batch analysis records.
Trial the proposed film with your glass, coatings and lamination process. Agree acceptance checks for haze, bubbles, edge adhesion and colour consistency. For acoustic film, request evidence for the proposed glass assembly rather than relying on the film name alone.
UK REACH applies to substances in articles as well as substances and mixtures. Check the film's constituents against the UK REACH Candidate List. If an article contains a listed substance above 0.1% by weight, its business recipient must receive sufficient safe-use information, including the substance name.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 rolls of clear polyvinyl butyral interlayer film under 3920 91 00 99, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 6% is £1,170. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,670, so it is £4,134. Import taxes total £5,304; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,170 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure thickness across the roll width and compare width, length and colour-band position with the approved specification.
Surface and optics: unwind sample lengths and check for contamination, gels, creases, uneven tint and damaged edges. Compare laminated samples with the approved reference.
Moisture and packing: check sealed moisture-protective wrapping, roll cores and transit damage. Compare measured moisture with the agreed range before lamination.
Batch and process: match roll labels to analysis records and retain samples. Check adhesion and bubbles in a lamination trial using the intended process. Define these checks in your inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
Damaged wrapping can expose film to moisture, while poor winding causes creases or blocking. Contamination, uneven thickness and inconsistent tint can become visible after lamination. A sample approved with different glass or processing conditions may not predict production results.
A graduated colour band does not by itself establish eligibility for the suspension on the specified co-extruded grade. Keep the construction and formulation evidence separate from sales descriptions, and hold batches with damaged wrapping or failed trials until the cause is understood.
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 PVB interlayer film from China?
The supplied lines have a 6% standard duty. The graduated colour-band line has a suspension to 2%, and the specified co-extruded trilayer colour-band film to 0%. Other PVB film remains at 6%.
Does clear PVB interlayer film qualify for zero duty?
The supplied residual line, 3920 91 00 99, carries 6% and has no suspension. Do not apply the specified colour-band film suspension to ordinary clear film.
What should I check when PVB film arrives?
Check wrapping, moisture, dimensions, roll labels and visible defects. Run a lamination trial with your intended glass and process before releasing the batch.
Does PVB interlayer film need UK REACH checks?
Yes. UK REACH covers substances in articles. For articles containing a Candidate List substance above 0.1% by weight, business recipients must receive safe-use information, including its name.