Sourcing porcelain cruet sets from China
Porcelain cruet sets from China carry 12% UK duty, with a listed residual anti-dumping duty of 36.10% on the relevant tableware line. For sales in England, food-contact ceramics must meet lead and cadmium migration limits and new articles need a written declaration. Cambridge China Bridge sources porcelain cruet sets.
Duty on porcelain cruet sets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6911 covers porcelain or china tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles. Porcelain cruet sets fall within the other tableware and kitchenware line, 6911 10 00 90. The table shows different cruet styles sharing that line. See our porcelain hotel dinnerware guide for the wider heading.
The supplied China tariff record lists 12% ordinary duty and 36.10% residual anti-dumping duty for this line, with no suspension or countervailing duty listed. Ask your broker to confirm the anti-dumping treatment for the named manufacturer before accepting the landed-cost calculation. Confirm the commodity code using the material, contents of the set and any separate accessories.
The tariff also attaches import and export waste controls and a DCMS export licence measure. For imports from China that are waste subject to notification, the exporter must apply for consent in China. Ask your customs broker to confirm the attached controls for your shipment, including any later export. Keep new saleable cruet sets clearly described on the invoice and packing list.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porcelain salt and pepper shaker sets | 6911 10 00 90 | 12% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the vessels, closures and food contact
Specify porcelain body, glaze and decoration, usable capacity, filling opening, shaker-hole pattern, stopper material and fit, pouring lip, handle clearance and tray recesses. Approve a complete assembled set. State whether it is intended for salt, pepper, mustard, oil or vinegar, and agree cleaning instructions and any dishwasher claim.
For sales in England, ceramic food-contact articles must meet lead and cadmium migration limits. New articles not yet in contact with food must have a written declaration through the retail stage. Request migration evidence matching the actual glaze and decoration, and ask the laboratory to assess the intended use. Ceramic vessels and their ceramic lids must be tested separately under the prescribed conditions.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 porcelain salt and pepper sets; allow separately for anti-dumping duty under 6911 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 12% is £912. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,512, so it is £1,702.40. Import taxes total £2,614.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £912 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Surface: check inside glaze, spouts and rims for cracks, crazing, pinholes and chips; compare colour and decoration across the set.
Dispensing: fill oil and vinegar vessels, pour and check drips; try shakers with the intended condiments and check holes are clear.
Fit: check stoppers stay seated, lids lift without binding, bases sit flat and every vessel fits its tray.
Packing and records: inspect separators and cushioning on arrival; match styles and decoration to approved samples and food-contact documents. Use our quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A loose stopper leaks when a cruet is tilted, a blunt pouring lip leaves oil down the body, blocked shaker holes restrict flow and warped bases rock on the tray. Packing that lets vessels touch can chip spouts and handles. Check the complete packed set rather than approving the vessels separately.
A generic test report may describe a different glaze or decoration from the shipment. Compare the report photographs and sample description with production samples, and investigate changes before release. A passing visual inspection cannot establish migration performance.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on porcelain cruet sets from China?
The supplied tariff record lists 12% duty for 6911 10 00 90, plus 36.10% residual anti-dumping duty. Confirm the named manufacturer's treatment with your customs broker.
Do porcelain cruet sets need food-contact paperwork?
For sales in England, new ceramic articles not yet in contact with food need a written declaration through the retail stage. Obtain migration evidence matching the supplied glaze and decoration.
How do I check whether an oil cruet pours properly?
Fill the approved sample with the intended oil, pour at normal serving angles and check flow, drips and stopper retention. Repeat on production samples.
Can a salt and pepper sample approve the whole range?
Approve each vessel shape, closure and decoration. Oil and vinegar cruets need pouring and leak checks; mustard pots need lid-fit checks. Compare the assembled sets and their packing.