Sourcing prepared alpaca wig hair from China

UK duty and animal-hair controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 6703 covers worked human hair and wool, other animal hair or textile materials prepared for making wigs or similar articles. Prepared alpaca wig hair carries 0% duty from China. The supplied snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions. The table shows product variants sharing the same commodity line.

The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls and cat-and-dog-fur import and export controls. Cat and dog fur, and products containing it, are banned from import and export. For hair from China, confirm the species and applicable CITES documents with your broker before shipment. Official guidance requires permits for species listed in Annex A, B or C; do not assume that a supplier's description settles the species.

Official treated-hair guidance permits imports from any country. Unwashed or untreated animal hair can fall under animal by-product controls, so ask APHA to confirm the treatment and shipment documents if processing is unclear. Confirm the commodity code using the preparation records and intended wig-making use; a finished wig is a different product.

Specify alpaca fibre for the intended wig

Specify alpaca hair and disclose any other fibres, the source of the hair, washing and treatment history, natural or dyed colour, bleaching, usable strand length and length distribution. Agree net fibre weight, bundle presentation and whether the material is loose, aligned or curled. Ask for processing records rather than accepting 'prepared' as a complete specification.

Approve a physical reference sample and make a sample wig section using your intended knotting or attachment method. Check handling, shedding, colour transfer and appearance after the agreed wash. Request shipment paperwork identifying the supplier, recipient, species, origin, quantity and treatment method, and have your broker review it. If selling the hair to consumers, you are responsible for its safety.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of prepared alpaca hair for wig making under 6703 00 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,300. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,300, so it is £660. 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

Identity and records: compare the declared fibre composition, supplier records and batch identification with the order; arrange laboratory identification if substitution is suspected.

Length and weight: measure usable strand lengths and weigh the hair without packaging; open bundles to check for concealed short fibres.

Colour and handling: compare with the retained sample, comb for shedding and tangling, and wash-test for dye transfer, matting or texture changes.

Packing and cleanliness: check for dampness, odour, debris and compression damage; keep colour batches separate during quality inspection.

What goes wrong

An attractive surface sample can conceal short fibres, a different fibre blend or uneven dyeing deeper inside the bundles. Heavy coatings can change the feel and hide shedding until washing. Inspect opened production bundles and compare their behaviour with the sample wig section.

A supplier may use 'washed' or 'prepared' without describing the process, leaving the importer unable to establish which animal-hair import conditions apply. Resolve species and treatment questions before dispatch. Keep suspect or damp stock separate while investigating, and agree replacement criteria for colour mismatch, unusable lengths and excessive shedding.

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.