Sourcing real fur mittens from China
Real fur mittens from China under heading 4303 carry 2% UK duty throughout the heading. Species checks come first: confirm cat and dog fur restrictions with the relevant authority or your customs broker, seal products have narrow exceptions, and CITES-listed fur needs permits. Specify the fur, lining and fit before approving samples. Cambridge China Bridge sources real fur mittens.
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2% duty on furskin mittens
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 9 October 2026, heading 4303 covers apparel, clothing accessories and other furskin articles. Furskin mittens fall within the apparel and accessories family. The table shows product variants sharing 4303 10 90 00, rather than separate species codes. Every line carries 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded.
The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls, cat and dog fur import and export controls, and seal product import controls. Confirm the restrictions on importing or selling cat and dog fur with the relevant authority or your customs broker before ordering. Seal products are generally prohibited from sale, with narrow exceptions; qualifying indigenous-hunt products need recognised certification. For CITES-listed fur, arrange the UK permit and the corresponding Chinese documentation before shipment.
Controlled wild-caught fur can require approved-source certification under trapping controls; animals born and bred in captivity are outside that trapping control. The tariff also attaches a restriction on entry into free circulation: confirm the applicable declaration and documents with your customs broker. Give the broker species, skin origin and construction details when confirming the commodity code. For wider heading context, see real fur earmuffs.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbit furskin mittens | 4303 10 90 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the fur, thumb shape and lining
Name the fur species and its scientific name, the country where the skins originated, and whether the animals were farmed or wild-caught. Specify tanning, fur direction, hair density, colour matching and acceptable shedding. Identify which parts are furskin, leather or textile, including the palm, thumb, cuff and lining.
Approve a sample with agreed hand dimensions, thumb position, cuff opening and lining attachment. Check that the wearer can bend the thumb and that the lining stays in place when removing the mitten. For products covered by textile labelling rules, fibre content must be labelled; ask the relevant authority to confirm any animal-origin wording needed for textiles containing fur. Agree care instructions and accurate species descriptions before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 300 pairs of rabbit furskin mittens under 4303 10 90 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 and paperwork: match the declared species and skin origin to the order and shipment documents; use independent species identification where uncertain.
Pair matching: compare colour, fur direction, density and dimensions across each pair against the approved sample.
Seams and fit: inspect the thumb junction, palm seams and cuff attachment; flex the mitten and check for exposed skin, weak stitching or lining movement.
Finish and labels: check shedding, odour, dye transfer, lining condition and agreed labels. Record arrival defects using the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Species substitution can turn a quality dispute into an import-control problem. A factory address in China does not establish where the skins originated. Ask for skin-source records and reconcile them with the named species before approving the shipment.
Mittens also fail through mismatched fur, brittle skin at the thumb seam, excessive shedding and loose linings that pull out with the hand. Approve construction samples, agree checks with the inspector and compare the delivered batch with the retained 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on real fur mittens from China?
Furskin mittens under 4303 10 90 00 carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Do real fur mittens need CITES permits?
It depends on the species. For listed fur, check the UK permit and corresponding Chinese import or export documentation. Give the broker the scientific name and skin origin before arranging shipment.
Can I import cat, dog or seal fur mittens?
Confirm the restrictions on importing or selling cat and dog fur with the relevant authority or your customs broker. Seal products have narrow exceptions; qualifying indigenous-hunt imports need an attestation certificate. Do not treat seal fur as ordinary commercial stock.
What should I check on a real fur mitten sample?
Check species, matching within each pair, thumb movement, cuff fit, seam strength, shedding, dye transfer and lining attachment. Confirm the fur and textile label wording against the actual construction.