Sourcing Poster Paints from China

0% duty on sets and individual packs

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3213 covers artists', students' and signboard painters' colours in tubes, jars, bottles and similar packings. Poster-paint sets fall under 3213 10 00 00; other packs fall under 3213 90 00 00. Both carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension shown. The table gives packing examples sharing these codes.

Both codes carry waste import and export controls. For a China-to-England waste import subject to notification controls, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in China for consent. Ask your customs broker to confirm waste status and the applicable requirements before shipping any consignment described as waste.

Confirm the formulation, intended use and packing through finding your commodity code. The gouache guide provides related coverage within this heading. Zero duty does not remove import VAT; see UK import duty and VAT.

Specify colour, flow and intended use

State whether the paint is for brush painting, children's play or finger painting. Agree the colour range, opacity on the intended paper, flow from the bottle, mixing behaviour and dried finish. Retain approved wet samples and dried swatches. Specify fill quantity, bottle or jar material, closure, seal and carton arrangement. Test any washable claim on the surfaces and fabrics named on the label.

For paints designed or intended for play by children under 14, ask Trading Standards to confirm whether toy safety rules apply and which conformity assessment, declaration of conformity and CE or UKCA marking requirements apply in Great Britain. CE marking remains recognised. Testing against relevant toy standards can help demonstrate compliance; confirm the role and status of those standards with Trading Standards. Agree testing and certification against the actual formulation and intended use.

Confirm with HSE which hazard labelling and safety data sheet requirements apply to the formulation. Importers must ensure correct labelling and packaging before sale in Great Britain. Confirm with HSE the UK REACH registration position for the imported ingredients and planned annual quantities. Obtain ingredient information before accepting a supplier's non-toxic claim.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 small bottles of poster paint; order and monetary values are illustrative under 3213 90 00 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £540 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,540. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,540, so it is £508. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Colour and coverage: stir sampled bottles and paint the agreed paper beside the approved swatches; compare wet shade, dried shade, opacity and mixing behaviour.

Flow and storage: check pouring, brush loading, lumps, separation and whether settled material mixes back evenly; examine retained samples for mould or unexpected odour.

Fill and seals: measure sampled contents against the agreed fill, inspect closure fit and seals, and check arrival cartons for leakage, staining and damaged bottles.

Documents and labels: match supplied colours and formulation to the agreed reports; for toys, check the declaration and conformity marking. Compare batch identification with shipment records.

What goes wrong

A wet shade can look acceptable but dry too pale or leave patchy coverage. Excessive thinning, coarse particles and hard settling can make classroom use difficult. Poorly fitted closures leak into cartons, while contamination can leave mould or an unexpected smell. Compare arrival samples with the retained approval sample before releasing stock.

A report for a different colour or formulation does not establish the performance of the supplied paint. Treat changes to pigments, preservatives, intended use or washable claims as reasons to review the approval evidence. Agree how failed batches will be identified, held and resolved before placing the order.

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.