Sourcing magnetic fridge calendars from China

Duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 4910 covers calendars of any kind, printed, including calendar blocks. The supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension recorded. The table shows product variants sharing that line. Printed calendars are standard-rated for VAT, so import VAT is 20%.

The tariff snapshot attaches a DCMS Export Licence control. Official cultural-goods guidance states that there are no licensing requirements for importing objects of cultural interest into Great Britain. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the listed export control relates to your shipment from China.

Provide the broker with photographs, the calendar artwork and the complete material construction, including the magnetic backing. Confirm the commodity code before ordering rather than assuming every magnetic promotional item belongs here. See the wider printed calendars guide and the import duty and VAT guide.

Specify the printed face and magnetic backing

Specify the finished dimensions, calendar year, date layout, intended UK holiday region, print colours and surface finish. State whether the printed face is paper bonded to magnetic sheet or printed directly onto the backing. Approve a finished sample made with the proposed materials, rather than relying only on an artwork proof.

Agree backing thickness, flexibility, edge finish, adhesive bond and flat packing. Describe the intended fridge surface and agree a holding test on that surface with the finished calendar. Check whether the face should tolerate wiping, and assess samples for scuffing and marks left on the fridge.

Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Assess peeling layers, sharp edges and detachable magnetic pieces. OPSS warns that swallowing small high-powered magnets can cause serious injury or death; if the design includes these magnets, obtain a product-specific safety assessment through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20,000 printed magnetic fridge calendars; FOB and freight values are illustrative. under 4910 00 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,800, so it is £1,360. 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

Dates and artwork: compare the final printed calendar with the approved date file, including weekdays, bank holidays, contact details and logo placement.

Magnetic hold: test finished samples on the agreed fridge surface; check sliding, lifting corners and loss of contact caused by curl.

Face and bond: compare colour with the approved sample, check legibility and trimming, and examine edges for peeling, exposed adhesive or loose magnetic pieces.

Packing and identification: inspect arrival cartons for dampness and crushing, check calendars remain flat, and match quantities and agreed batch markings to the order. Agree these checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A printed sheet can look correct while the finished calendar slides down a fridge or curls away from it. A different backing, uneven adhesive or a heavier printed face can change performance. Compare the production construction with the approved finished sample and repeat the agreed holding test.

Reused date templates produce wrong weekdays or holidays, while rubbed printing and peeling corners make promotional stock unusable. Require approval of the final date proof and finished sample before the production run, then check packed goods before dispatch and again on arrival.

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.