Sourcing porcelain mortar sets from China
Porcelain kitchen mortars and pestles from China carry 12% UK duty under the kitchen grinding-tool line, with no anti-dumping duty on that line. Confirm classification and food-contact compliance; new ceramic articles sold in England need a written declaration through retail. Cambridge China Bridge sources porcelain kitchen mortars and pestles.
Duty on porcelain kitchen grinding tools
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6911 covers porcelain or china tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles. For kitchen mortars and pestles used to grind ingredients, consider 6911 10 00 10, which expressly includes kitchen grinding tools. The table shows product variants sharing this candidate code, rather than separate tariff lines.
The supplied lines all carry 12% duty for goods from China. The grinding-tool line has no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The other tableware and kitchenware line, 6911 10 00 90, lists residual anti-dumping duty of 36.10 %. The official measure excludes ceramic kitchen grinding tools. Confirm the actual product with your broker and our commodity code guide.
The tariff attaches waste import and export controls and a cultural-goods export licence measure; confirm applicability with your broker. Waste controls apply only to goods classed as waste. For notified waste from China to England, the exporter applies in China and shipment requires the relevant authorities' consent. For the wooden alternative, see our wooden mortars and pestles guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain porcelain kitchen mortar and pestle sets | 6911 10 00 10 | 12% | None |
Specify the grinding surfaces and pestle fit
Specify porcelain body, bowl depth and internal profile, rim and spout shape, base stability, pestle length and head shape, and which surfaces are glazed. Agree the texture of the grinding area against an approved sample. Trial the set with the ingredients your customer will use, checking grip, grinding action and cleaning.
For sale in England, ceramic articles must meet lead and cadmium migration limits, and new articles need a written declaration through the retail stage. Ask for migration reports covering the actual mortar and pestle materials and finishes, with test conditions and laboratory details. Match the declaration and reports to the ordered products; agree any dishwasher claim through testing.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 porcelain kitchen mortar and pestle sets; illustrative order and values under 6911 10 00 10, 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
Body and finish: inspect rims, spouts, handles and pestle heads for cracks, chips, glaze crazing and sharp edges.
Grinding action: compare surface texture with the approved sample; trial grinding and check for visible ceramic particles or glaze loss.
Fit and stability: check pestle reach and clearance, grip comfort, bowl dimensions and rocking on a flat worktop.
Evidence and packing: match reports and declarations to the product; check separate cushioning prevents the pestle striking the bowl during transit.
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What goes wrong
A smooth grinding surface can let spices slide instead of crushing them. An uneven base rocks, an unsuitable pestle head misses the bowl profile, and rough finishing can leave sharp rims or loose particles. Reject samples showing these faults and keep the approved set for comparison.
A report for a different glaze or decoration leaves the ordered finish unverified. Loose pestles can chip bowls inside intact cartons. Inspect before dispatch and open arrival samples before releasing stock. Agree checks through our quality inspection guide.
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 kitchen mortars and pestles from China?
The supplied tariff data lists 12% under 6911 10 00 10, with no anti-dumping duty or suspension on that line. Confirm that the product qualifies as a kitchen grinding tool.
Do porcelain mortars and pestles attract ceramic tableware anti-dumping duty?
The official measure excludes ceramic kitchen tools used for grinding. The supplied grinding-tool line has no anti-dumping duty; the other kitchenware line lists residual duty of 36.10 %. Confirm classification.
What food-contact documents should I request?
Request the written declaration and matching lead and cadmium migration evidence. In England, new ceramic food-contact articles need the declaration through retail. Check that the documents cover the mortar and pestle finishes.
How should porcelain mortar sets be packed?
Cushion the mortar and pestle separately so they cannot strike each other. Protect rims, spouts and handles, then inspect samples after a transport-packing trial.