Sourcing porcelain soup spoons from China
Porcelain soup spoons from China carry 12% ordinary UK duty, with a listed residual anti-dumping rate of 36.10% in addition. For sale in England, new spoons must meet lead and cadmium migration limits and have a written declaration through retail sale. Cambridge China Bridge sources porcelain soup spoons.
Duty on porcelain soup spoons
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6911 covers tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles of porcelain or china. Porcelain soup spoons fit the tableware and kitchenware “Other” line, 6911 10 00 90. The table shows spoon variants sharing that code, rather than separate tariff lines. See the wider porcelain hotel dinnerware guide.
The supplied tariff record lists 12% ordinary duty for goods from China and a residual anti-dumping rate of 36.10% for this line, with no suspension or countervailing duty recorded. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable anti-dumping treatment before ordering. The tariff also attaches import waste control, export waste control and a cultural-interest export licence control. Confirm their applicability with your broker; waste shipped under notification needs consent from the authorities of dispatch, destination and transit.
Confirm the porcelain body and intended use, then check the commodity code against the finished spoon. A white glaze alone does not establish that the body is porcelain. Ask the broker to check the tariff measures for the actual shipment and destination.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain white porcelain soup spoons | 6911 10 00 90 | 12% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the spoon, glaze and food-contact evidence
Specify the porcelain body, overall length, bowl width and depth, handle angle, rim profile, colour and decoration placement. Approve a sample alongside the bowls it will accompany. Check that the spoon rests securely, reaches the soup and feels comfortable at the mouth. Agree tolerances and reject criteria for chips, cracks, glaze pinholes and rough exposed surfaces.
For sale in England, new ceramic spoons must comply with lead and cadmium migration limits and be accompanied by a written declaration through the retail stage. Obtain the declaration and ask for laboratory reports identifying the finished spoon and its glaze or decoration. Arrange testing and certification support where the supplier's evidence needs checking. Confirm requirements for other selling destinations separately.
If you intend to advertise dishwasher or microwave suitability, agree tests using the finished decorated spoon. Check repeated washing, decoration wear and exposure to hot soup against the approved sample. Specify individual separation and cushioning so spoon bowls and handle tips cannot strike neighbouring pieces.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 decorated porcelain soup spoons; include anti-dumping duty separately 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
Shape: measure sampled spoons against the drawing and check handle angle, bowl depth and fit with the intended soup bowl.
Finish: examine rims, undersides and handle tips for chips, sharp edges, cracks, rough patches, pinholes and glaze crazing.
Documents: match the declaration and requested test reports to the supplied spoon, glaze, decoration and supplier details.
Packing: open cartons from different positions, check separators and cushioning, and record damaged pieces on arrival. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspection.
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What goes wrong
A sample can feel comfortable while production spoons have thicker rims, uneven handles or a different bowl depth. Glaze pooling can change the feel at the mouth, and poorly protected handle tips can chip in transit. Inspect production samples against the approved spoon and its matching bowl.
A report for an undecorated spoon may not describe the supplied decoration. Ask the laboratory to confirm whether the evidence covers the finished product before accepting it. Hold damaged or visibly cracked stock apart while you assess the delivery and agree corrective action.
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 soup spoons from China?
The supplied tariff record lists 12% ordinary duty under 6911 10 00 90, plus a residual anti-dumping rate of 36.10%. No suspension is recorded. Confirm the applicable anti-dumping treatment with your broker.
What food-contact paperwork do porcelain soup spoons need?
For sale in England, new ceramic spoons need a written declaration through retail sale and must meet lead and cadmium migration limits. Obtain the declaration and ask for reports covering the finished glaze and decoration.
Can I order spoons to match existing soup bowls?
Send the factory a bowl sample and specify spoon colour, bowl depth and handle angle. Approve them together, checking that the spoon rests securely and is comfortable to use.
How should porcelain soup spoons be packed?
Specify separators and cushioning around bowls and handle tips. Check packed samples for movement and inspect opened cartons on arrival for chipped rims, broken handles and cracks.