Sourcing lighter windshields from China

Duty on replacement lighter windshields

Heading 9613 covers cigarette and other lighters and their parts, excluding flints and wicks. Replacement windshields supplied as lighter parts fall within the parts description at 9613 90 00 00, subject to classification confirmation. The table shows product variants sharing that tariff line.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, the parts line carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or import control for that line.

Give your customs broker the drawing, material specification, photographs and intended lighter model to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading and related components, see lighter burner nozzles.

Specify the windshield around the lighter

Define the intended lighter model, metal grade, sheet thickness, formed profile and fixing method. Mark the ventilation-hole pattern, burner or wick clearance, lid clearance and exposed edges on the drawing. Agree dimensional tolerances and a retained sample rather than accepting a photograph as proof of compatibility.

Specify plating or bare-metal finish, acceptable surface marks and protective packing. Request fitting samples for the actual lighter body. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Include assembled-lighter checks in your inspection brief so the replacement does not obstruct ignition or alter flame behaviour.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of replacement lighter windshields for a repair-parts stockist under 9613 90 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £590 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,090. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,090, so it is £618. 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

Fit: assemble sampled windshields on the intended lighter; check retention, alignment, lid closure and clearance around the ignition mechanism.

Airflow: compare hole size, position and open area with the approved drawing; have a competent tester check ignition and flame behaviour on assembled samples.

Edges and finish: inspect punched holes, seams and tabs for burrs; check plating coverage, corrosion, peeling and distortion.

Packing and identification: check model references and batch identification against the order; inspect for crushed profiles and rubbing damage. Use our quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A similar-looking windshield may fit loosely, foul the lid or obstruct the spark wheel. Changed hole patterns can alter airflow, while thinner material can distort during fitting. Treat material, tooling and hole-pattern changes as changes requiring fresh samples.

Burrs inside ventilation holes can escape a visual check of the outer face. Plating may peel around bends, and loose packing can flatten the profile. Agree checks on internal edges, fitted performance and arrival condition before approving production.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.