Sourcing ready-made reading glasses from China
Ready-made reading glasses from China carry 2% UK duty across the relevant lens-material lines. The protective-eyewear suspension does not cover ordinary readers. They are generally class I medical devices; confirm the applicable conformity documentation and registration requirements with MHRA before sale in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources ready-made reading glasses.
Reading glasses: 2% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 October 2026, heading 9004 covers finished spectacles, goggles and similar eyewear. Ready-made reading glasses with plastic lenses fall under 9004 90 10 00; those with other lens materials fall under 9004 90 90 00. Both carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. The table separates product variants sharing these codes.
Both lines show a 0.00 % suspension restricted to protective spectacles and goggles, so ordinary reading glasses remain at 2%. The tariff also attaches CITES import and export controls. If frame materials contain CITES-listed specimens, importing into Great Britain requires a permit application and contact with the Chinese management authority for the corresponding export permit. Confirm the material and applicable documents with your customs broker before shipment.
Confirm the commodity code from the finished product and lens material. Separate frames or lenses need separate classification checks. For the wider heading, see sunglasses and safety glasses.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready-made reading glasses with plastic lenses | 9004 90 10 00 | 2% | None |
| Ready-made reading glasses with glass lenses | 9004 90 90 00 | 2% | None |
Specify lens power and the medical-device file
Specify the power assortment, matching power in both lenses, optical-centre spacing, lens material, frame dimensions, hinge construction, coatings and packaging. Agree tolerances and a reference sample before production. Ask for optical test reports covering each power and the exact frame-and-lens combination, rather than a report for a different model.
Ready-made reading spectacles are generally class I medical devices. For Great Britain, check the declaration of conformity, the applicable UKCA or CE route and MHRA registration. Ask MHRA to confirm whether the Chinese manufacturer needs to appoint a UK Responsible Person and what importer notification and importer-detail submission steps apply.
HMRC describes ordinary ready readers as equal-power magnifiers up to 4 dioptres. Its guidance says they must meet the requisite British Standards and cannot be supplied to children under 16 or to partially sighted people. Ask a competent optical testing laboratory to identify the applicable standards for your product; do not treat a generic factory certificate as sufficient.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 950 pairs of plastic-lensed ready-made reading glasses; illustrative order, not a quotation under 9004 90 10 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,400. Duty at 2% is £68. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,468, so it is £693.60. Import taxes total £761.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £68 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Optics: measure lens power, unwanted prism and optical-centre spacing against the agreed specification; check matching power and visible distortion.
Frames: check alignment, hinge movement, loose screws, sharp edges and secure lens retention against the approved sample.
Labelling: match the power markings, model identity, conformity mark and English information to the device documentation and approved artwork.
Arrival: check scratched lenses, crushed cases, mixed powers and carton counts before releasing stock. Use quality inspection to agree sampling and defect records.
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What goes wrong
A frame can look correct while the lenses have mismatched powers, unwanted prism or misplaced optical centres. Mixed-power packing makes shelf labels unreliable. Loose hinges, lenses moving in the frame and coatings damaged in transit also cause returns. Keep results traceable to the model, power and production batch.
A conformity mark alone does not establish that the paperwork covers the supplied model. Check the declaration, registration and manufacturer identity before shipment, then compare arrival samples with the approved specification. Agree intended users and retail information before approving packaging.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on ready-made reading glasses from China?
The relevant plastic and other-lens lines carry 2% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. The suspension applies to protective spectacles and goggles, not ordinary readers.
Are ready-made reading glasses medical devices?
Generally, yes: they are class I ophthalmic medical devices. Check the conformity documentation, accepted marking route, UK Responsible Person and MHRA registration before placing them on the Great Britain market.
Can ordinary shops sell ready-made reading glasses?
HMRC describes retail ready readers as equal-power magnifiers up to 4 dioptres. Its guidance requires the requisite British Standards and excludes supply to children under 16 or partially sighted people.
What should I test on reading-glasses samples?
Check lens power, unwanted prism, optical-centre spacing, distortion, frame alignment, hinges and lens retention. Match power markings and packaging to the tested samples and agreed specification.