Sourcing reusable cloth nappies from China

Zero duty on reusable cloth nappies

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 9619 covers nappies, nappy liners and similar articles alongside sanitary products. The relevant lines for reusable nappies all carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls.

The table shows alternative material and construction categories, rather than interchangeable codes. Identify the finished product's materials and whether its textile construction is knitted, crocheted or otherwise made. Confirm the commodity code using the sample and material breakdown. See the wider nappies and sanitary pads guide for the broader heading.

Specify the nappy system and washing performance

State whether you want flat nappies, fitted nappies, pocket nappies or nappies with sewn-in absorbent layers. Specify the skin-contact fabric, absorbent insert composition, waterproof layer, leg elastic, fastening type and size adjustment. List exactly which inserts and covers are included in each pack. Approve the complete assembly rather than judging the outer shell alone.

Agree washing and drying instructions, preparation before use, and acceptance criteria for shrinkage, absorbency, leakage, colour transfer and fastening strength after repeated laundering. Test samples using the proposed care instructions. General product safety rules require safe consumer products in Great Britain, and textile labels must show fibre content. Match the proposed label to verified material information.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative stock order of woven reusable baby nappies in assorted sizes under 9619 00 50 90, 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. This assumes the goods are standard-rated for VAT. Women's sanitary products designed solely for menstrual flow are zero-rated under HMRC's VAT Notice 701/18, and incontinence products can be zero-rated under the disability relief, so check the rate for your product.

Inspection checklist

Materials and labels: compare fabrics, insert construction, fibre labels and care instructions with the approved specification; check pack contents and size markings.

Fit and fastenings: measure the nappy before and after washing; check leg elastic recovery, adjustment positions, secure press studs and smooth edges.

Absorbency and leakage: test the assembled nappy with its supplied inserts before and after laundering; check absorption, surface wetness and leakage around seams and leg openings.

Arrival condition: check for dampness, mould, loose threads, missing inserts and damaged waterproof layers. Use an agreed inspection checklist and retain samples from each batch.

What goes wrong

A sample can fit and absorb well before washing yet shrink, lose elasticity or develop waterproof-layer separation afterwards. Inserts can bunch inside pockets, stitching can leave leakage paths, and press studs can pull through fabric. Check the complete nappy after laundering against the approved sample.

Material substitutions can change drying behaviour, absorbency and colour transfer without an obvious change in appearance. Keep the material specification, approved sample and pack contents together, and require approval before the factory changes fabrics, coatings, inserts or fastenings.

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.