Sourcing raw horsehair from China
Raw horsehair from China carries 0% UK duty under the supplied residual animal-products line, with no recorded trade remedy or suspension. Untreated hair must come from an establishment approved to export to Great Britain; confirm the origin, destination and paperwork with APHA before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources raw horsehair.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
Zero duty, with animal-product controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 12 November 2026, heading 0511 covers animal products not elsewhere specified or included and certain dead animals unfit for human consumption. For raw horsehair, the supplied residual line 0511 99 85 90 carries 0% duty on goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, or tariff suspension, is recorded.
The tariff attaches veterinary, CITES, organic-product and waste import controls to this residual line. It also records CITES and waste export controls. Confirm veterinary paperwork with your broker for the actual species, treatment and destination. For listed species, confirm import and export permits. The importer should ask the broker to confirm whether the organic-product and waste requirements apply to the proposed horsehair consignment.
The table shows buying variants under the same residual code, rather than separate tariff lines. Confirm the material and processing through our commodity-code guide. For yarn and related textile material, see our horsehair and coarse hair yarn guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw horse tail hair, natural white | 0511 99 85 90 | 0% | None |
Specify mane or tail hair and its treatment
Specify horse species and origin, mane or tail hair, natural colour, usable length distribution, thickness, stiffness and intended manufacturing use. State whether the order is loose hair or tied bundles. Agree acceptable short hairs, broken fibres, foreign material, moisture, grease and odour against a retained sample.
Describe washing, bleaching, dyeing and any other treatment separately. Ask for processing records rather than accepting 'raw', 'clean' or 'sterilised' as a complete specification. For long tail hair, inspect the whole bundle: attractive exposed ends can conceal shorter fibres inside.
Untreated hair must be produced in an establishment approved to export to Great Britain. Check the processor through factory verification, then ask APHA to confirm the Chinese-origin consignment's route, receiving plant and supporting documents before ordering. Use IPAFFS to notify the authorities before the goods arrive in Great Britain.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 bales of raw black horse tail hair, subject to import-route confirmation under 0511 99 85 90, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,400, so it is £480. 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 species, mane or tail description, natural colour and batch references with the order and retained sample; investigate synthetic fibres or undeclared animal hair.
Grading: open sampled bundles and compare usable lengths, broken ends, thickness and stiffness throughout the bundle with the agreed specification.
Condition: check across bales for damp, mould, grease, dust, attached tissue, insects and unusual odour; inspect wrapping and bale interiors on arrival.
Records: reconcile processor details, treatment records, packing marks and consignment documents before dispatch. Plan sampling through our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A tail-hair order can contain mane hair, short fibres or undeclared substitutes. Colour sorting can differ between the sample and shipment, while damp packing can leave hair matted or mouldy. Agree acceptance criteria for the intended process and examine material from inside the bales before accepting the lot.
Zero duty does not establish an import route. Resolve treatment descriptions and veterinary documents before shipment. If the material is classed as waste, confirm the route with the broker and relevant environmental authority. Waste shipped under notification controls cannot move until the competent authorities of destination, dispatch and transit have consented.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on raw horsehair from China?
The supplied tariff reading gives 0% duty under 0511 99 85 90, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. Import controls still need checking.
Can I import raw horsehair from China into Great Britain?
Do not assume zero duty grants admission. Untreated hair requires an approved exporting establishment. Ask APHA to confirm the Chinese-origin consignment's route, destination and documents before ordering.
Is washed horsehair the same as untreated horsehair?
Record exactly what the processor has done. Ask for washing and treatment records, then have APHA confirm the applicable import conditions. A supplier's description of 'raw' is insufficient.
What should I check when raw horsehair arrives?
Check species and batch identity, usable length distribution, colour, thickness, stiffness, broken fibres, foreign material, moisture, grease and odour. Open bundles and bale interiors rather than judging exposed ends.