Sourcing respirator cartridges from China
Respirator filter cartridges from China classified under 9020 00 90 99 carry 0% UK duty, with no trade remedies shown in the tariff snapshot. Before sale in Great Britain, check the respiratory protective equipment conformity documents cover the exact cartridge and intended mask. Cambridge China Bridge sources respirator filter cartridges.
UK duty on respirator filter cartridges
Heading 9020 covers breathing appliances, gas masks and their parts. Replaceable respirator filter cartridges fall within the parts description, subject to confirmation of the exact product's classification. Masks with neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters are excluded. See the wider respirators and breathing apparatus guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, the relevant parts line, 9020 00 90 99, carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for this line. It contains only one line relevant to filter cartridges.
Give your customs broker the cartridge's intended use, compatible respirator models, connection details and product literature. Confirm the commodity code before shipment rather than copying a supplier's code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Respirator filter cartridges, as breathing-apparatus parts | 9020 00 90 99 | 0% | None |
Specify protection and mask compatibility
Specify whether the cartridge filters particles, gases and vapours, or both. List the intended contaminants, filter type and class, compatible mask models, connection design and sealing arrangement. Agree the unopened shelf life, storage conditions and remaining shelf life required on arrival. Ask for the manufacturer's replacement instructions rather than assuming an expiry date determines service life after opening.
Before sale in Great Britain, confirm the applicable PPE category and conformity requirements with the relevant authority, including type examination and ongoing production control, CE or UKCA marking with the relevant body's number, the declaration of conformity and English instructions. Match the documents to the exact cartridge and its intended respirator combination. For eye protection, see our guide to sourcing chemical splash goggles.
The importer must indicate its name, registered trade name or trademark and postal address on the PPE. Plan importer identification alongside the manufacturer's artwork, and check the applicable placement provisions before approving labels.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 respirator filter cartridges, illustrative order under 9020 00 90 99, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. 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
Documents: check the cartridge model, filter class and compatible respirator against the type-examination certificate, production-control evidence and declaration of conformity. Verify certificates with the issuing body.
Connection: compare the thread or bayonet, locking features and seals with the approved sample. Check assembly on the intended mask and look for cracked housings or damaged sealing surfaces.
Marking: check the conformity marking, relevant body's number, filter class, batch identification and expiry against the approved artwork. Confirm English instructions accompany the goods.
Packaging: check individual seals, damaged packs and remaining shelf life on arrival. Record affected batches before releasing stock. Use the quality inspection guide to plan checks before shipment and on receipt.
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What goes wrong
A cartridge can look compatible while having a different connection or seal. Other failures include documents covering another model, unsupported filter-class claims, damaged sealed packs and stock arriving close to expiry. Appearance and successful attachment do not establish filtration performance.
Keep an approved cartridge and mask combination as the inspection reference. Agree that changes to the filter media, housing, seal or connection need your review before production. Arrange testing and certification for the exact product rather than accepting a report for a similar cartridge.
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 respirator filter cartridges from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot shows 0% for 9020 00 90 99, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures listed. Confirm that your cartridges belong in this line.
Can I sell CE-marked respirator cartridges in Great Britain?
Confirm with the relevant authority whether the CE conformity route is available for the exact cartridge and intended respirator. Check the relevant body's assessment, production control, declaration and English instructions cover that combination.
Will replacement cartridges fit any respirator?
Do not assume interchangeability. Specify the compatible mask models, connection and seals, and check that the conformity documents cover the intended combination.
What should I check when cartridges arrive?
Check model and class markings, batch and expiry, intact individual packaging, housing damage and connection fit against the approved sample. Keep suspect batches separate while investigating.