Sourcing prepared goat 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. The supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions. The table shows buying variants sharing the same commodity code.

The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls and cat and dog fur import and export controls. Cat and dog fur, and products made from it, are banned from import and export. For hair from China, identify the species and ask your customs broker whether CITES documents apply. GOV.UK says species listed in Annex A, B or C require a permit; ask the broker to confirm the applicable documents for the identified species.

Confirm the commodity code against the material, processing and supplied form. Finished wigs belong to a different heading. For the wider heading, see the prepared yak hair guide.

Goat species, treatment and usable hair length

Specify goat species, collection origin, natural or blended fibre, usable length distribution, texture, colour reference and net weight per pack. State whether the hair is bleached, dyed or coated, and request the washing and processing history. Approve loose hair from the proposed production batch and trial it in your knotting or ventilation process.

Official guidance permits treated wool and hair from any country and says no health certificate is required for that treated category. Ask your broker to confirm that the documented treatment qualifies and to check the shipment paperwork before dispatch. For unwashed or untreated animal hair, consult the Animal and Plant Health Agency to confirm whether animal by-product controls apply, particularly if the material is close to raw.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of prepared goat hair for a wig-making workshop under 6703 00 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,200, so it is £840. 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: compare the species and processing records with the order; arrange laboratory identification if an undeclared fibre blend is suspected.

Length and weight: weigh unpacked hair and separate strands to check the usable length distribution, hidden short fibres and excessive coarse strands.

Colour and handling: compare against the retained sample, then wash and comb samples to check colour transfer, tangling, shedding and changes in texture.

Packing and batch: check for dampness, musty odour, contamination and tangled compression; match pack references to the processing records. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A soft display sample can conceal short fibres, coarse strands or a coating that washes away. Production hair may differ in colour, handling or usable length, leaving the workshop with more sorting waste. Retain an approved sample and compare washed production samples before accepting the batch.

Descriptions such as washed or prepared do not explain the treatment used. Missing species or processing records leave the importer unable to resolve the attached controls confidently. Request those records before shipment, and keep suspect or damp packs separate while the supplier investigates.

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.