Respirators and breathing apparatus from China

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, other breathing appliances and gas masks, heading 9020, carried 0% on goods from China for gas masks and for other breathing appliances, parts and accessories, with no anti-dumping measure. The heading excludes protective masks that have neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters.

Disposable filtering facepieces, such as FFP2 dust masks, are therefore classified outside heading 9020, usually as textile articles; see our medical and PPE guide and confirm the commodity code.

Category III PPE and standards

Under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment, as it applies in Great Britain, respiratory protective equipment is category III, so it needs type examination and ongoing production control (module C2 or D), UKCA or CE marking with the relevant body's number, a declaration of conformity and user instructions in English. Assessment may be carried out by a UK approved body or an EU-recognised notified body, depending on the conformity route.

Common standards include BS EN 140 for half masks, BS EN 136 for full-face masks, BS EN 14387 for gas filters, BS EN 143 for particle filters, BS EN 12941 and BS EN 12942 for powered respirators, and BS EN 137 for self-contained open-circuit breathing apparatus.

Specifying respirators

Specify the mask type and sizes, the standard and class, filter type and class (such as A2B2E2K2P3), thread connection, face seal material, visor material and coating for full-face masks, battery life and airflow for powered units, cylinder and duration for breathing apparatus, and filter shelf life.

Worked duty example

Take a hypothetical order of 2,000 full-face respirator masks with filters, entered under 9020 00 90 99: £44,000 free on board plus £1,600 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £45,600. Full-face respirators carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £45,600, £9,120, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.

Inspection checklist

Certificates: check the approved body type-examination certificate, production control certificate and declaration of conformity match the exact model, filter and size.

Function: check inhalation and exhalation valves, head harness, filter threads and seals, and run a leak or negative-pressure check on samples.

Marking and packing: check the UKCA mark with approved body number, filter class and expiry date on each filter, and sealed filter packaging.

What goes wrong

Respirator orders fail on certification and fit. Certificates are for a different model or have expired, filters are marked with a class they were not tested to, valves stick, face seals leak on small or large faces, and filters arrive near the end of their shelf life.

Verify every certificate with the approved body, test samples, and check filter dates. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources respirators and breathing apparatus for UK safety distributors, checking the maker's certification and test records first. See factory verification.