Sourcing replacement airpot pumps from China

Duty on replacement airpot pump assemblies

Heading 9617 covers complete vacuum flasks and other vacuum vessels, and their parts other than glass inners. This guide covers replacement manual pump assemblies for vacuum beverage airpots. The table shows different supply configurations within the same commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, commodity code 9617 00 00 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.

Confirm the commodity code using the assembly drawing, intended vessel and supplied components before shipment. For complete vessels, see the vacuum beverage airpot guide.

Specify the pump against the receiving airpot

Send the factory a working airpot and its original pump assembly. Specify the lid fixing, neck interface, gasket profile, bellows travel, actuator, dispensing tube connection and spout position. State whether the order includes the lid, tube, seals and locking parts. Approve a fitted sample for every airpot model you intend to support.

Identify the materials in the drink path, including the tube, spout and seals, and obtain migration test reports for the supplied food contact components. Confirm with the relevant authority the applicable limits on constituents transferring from these materials into drinks. Match the reports to the approved materials and intended hot-drink use.

For assemblies supplied as consumer products in Great Britain, normal and reasonably foreseeable use must be safe. Assess the fitted assembly for hot liquid escaping, accidental operation and loose components. Agree fitting, cleaning and operating instructions with the factory.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 500 replacement vacuum airpot pump assemblies under 9617 00 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: install sampled assemblies on the intended airpot, check the lid fastening and gasket seating, and confirm that the tube connects securely without fouling the vessel.

Dispensing: test at different fill levels, compare delivery per stroke with the approved sample, and check priming, actuator return, drips and liquid escaping around the lid.

Materials: compare the tube, spout and seals with the approved material list and supporting reports; inspect for moulding flash, cracks, contamination and loose pieces.

Cleaning and packing: dismantle and reassemble the agreed removable parts, check access to the drink path, and verify model labels and protection for projecting spouts. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A pump can look identical yet fail on the receiving airpot. A different gasket profile can prevent an airtight fit, an unsuitable tube length can leave drink behind, and a loose tube connection can interrupt dispensing. Weak bellows return or a poorly seating valve can cause inconsistent delivery.

Test production samples on the actual airpot after the agreed cleaning process. Compare operation with the approved sample and keep failed parts for investigation. Avoid accepting a compatibility claim based only on photographs or accepting food contact reports that describe different materials.

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.