Sourcing real fur blankets from China

Real fur blankets: 2% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 9 October 2026, heading 4303 covers apparel, clothing accessories and other articles of furskin. Finished real fur blankets fall within the other-articles line, 4303 90 00 00. The blanket types in the table share this code; they are not separate tariff subdivisions. See the wider fur guide for skins and other fur articles.

The supplied tariff records 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches a restriction on entry into free circulation, CITES import control, cat and dog fur control and seal product control. Ask your customs broker to confirm the import and sale restrictions for cat and dog fur and any applicable exceptions for seal products. Confirm the free-circulation restriction and the documents applicable to your species with your customs broker.

Some species need CITES permits. Check the species and source before shipment, and confirm the commodity code using the finished construction and intended use. The tariff also lists CITES and cat and dog fur export controls; confirm these before re-exporting. A textile blanket with fur trim needs its own classification review.

Specify the skins, joins and backing

Specify the animal species by scientific name, farming or wild origin, country of skin origin and tanning method. Record finished dimensions, hair length and density, colour, skin-piece layout, seam construction, edge finish and backing material. Agree acceptable colour variation and shedding against an approved sample.

For seal products claimed to qualify under the indigenous-hunt exception, have your broker confirm eligibility and the accompanying attestation certificate. The certificate should be endorsed by the relevant certifying authorities in the country of origin. Do not accept a supplier's species description as sufficient clearance evidence.

Consumer blankets sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Agree suitable chemical, colour-transfer and shedding checks with a testing provider, together with cleaning instructions supported by sample trials.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 300 rabbit fur blankets under 4303 90 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,500. Duty at 2% is £190. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,690, so it is £1,938. Import taxes total £2,128; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £190 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Species: compare the fur with the approved sample and documents; arrange independent identification where substitution is a concern.

Skin and pile: check shedding, bald patches, brittle leather, odour and dye transfer onto the backing or a damp cloth.

Construction: measure the blanket laid flat, open accessible backing seams and check skin joins, stitching, edge finish and backing attachment.

Arrival and descriptions: inspect for dampness, mould and crushed pile; compare product descriptions, care instructions and batch identification with the approved artwork.

What goes wrong

Mixed skin grades can produce visible colour bands, uneven pile and stiff patches. Weak joins open when the blanket is handled, while poorly dressed skins shed or smell. A backing can hide damaged leather, so approve a sample that lets the inspector examine the underside.

Species substitution creates a different problem from poor workmanship: the replacement fur may have different import restrictions. Resolve uncertain species and paperwork before dispatch, and use the quality inspection guide to define checks against the approved sample.

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.