Sourcing rabbit wig hair from China

Duty and animal-hair controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 6703 covers worked human hair and animal hair or other textile materials prepared for making wigs or similar articles. Prepared rabbit wig hair falls within commodity code 6703 00 00 00, carrying 0% duty from China. The supplied extract records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.

The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls and cat-and-dog-fur import and export controls. Cat and dog fur, including products made from it, cannot be imported. CITES permits depend on the species. Ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for the declared rabbit species and any blended animal hair before shipping from China.

Confirm the commodity code against the material, processing and intended use. This guide concerns loose prepared rabbit hair for wig making. For the wider material family, see prepared wool and wig fibre.

Specify rabbit fibre and its preparation

Specify the rabbit species, whether Angora rabbit hair is intended, and any blend composition. Agree fibre length distribution, acceptable short fibre, guard-hair content, colour reference, net weight and presentation. State whether the material is loose, aligned or bundled, and approve a sample using your intended wig-making process.

Ask for batch records describing washing, bleaching, dyeing and other treatment. APHA permits treated wool, hair and fur imports from any country. Before ordering, ask APHA to confirm whether the documented treatment qualifies and what accompanying documentation your consignment needs. For unwashed or untreated animal hair, ask APHA to confirm whether animal by-product controls apply.

Request a traceability document identifying the supplier, recipient, species, origin, quantity and treatment. For consumer sales, businesses importing or selling the product are responsible for its safety. Assess the intended use, including contact with skin, rather than relying on a supplier's description of softness.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 kg of prepared rabbit wig hair, illustrative only under 6703 00 00 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £61,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £61,200, so it is £12,240. 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 batch records with the declared rabbit species and blend; arrange laboratory identification if substitution is suspected.

Length and weight: measure the fibre distribution and weigh material without packaging; open bundles to check for concealed short fibre.

Condition: check for dampness, mould, persistent odour, debris and excessive dust, and compare guard-hair content with the approved sample.

Making performance: trial the intended knotting or attachment method, comb for shedding and test colour transfer and matting after the agreed wash process. Record results through your inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A sample can feel soft while the delivered batch contains excessive short fibre or coarse guard hairs. These differences can cause shedding, uneven coverage and poor attachment. Dye transfer, matting after washing and damp packing can also make a batch unsuitable for the intended wig.

A description such as washed rabbit hair does not establish the actual treatment history. Obtain batch-specific processing records before dispatch and resolve species or treatment uncertainty with APHA and your customs broker. Keep the approved sample for comparison when the shipment arrives.

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.