Sourcing seismographs from China
Seismographs and relevant parts within heading 9015 carry 0% UK duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. Confirm applicable electromagnetic compatibility conformity requirements with the relevant authority before sale in Great Britain. Agree sensor response, timing and data access before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources seismographs.
Seismograph duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9015 covers geophysical instruments among other surveying and environmental instruments. Complete seismographs are candidates for 9015 80 20 00; separately supplied parts and accessories may fall under 9015 90 00 00. The table separates product configurations sharing the same tariff line.
The supplied tariff lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions listed. They attach a DCMS Export Licence control. Official guidance concerns exporting cultural objects from Great Britain; ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached control affects your transaction, particularly for historic instruments.
Give your broker the instrument's function, sensor arrangement, recording system and separately invoiced components to confirm the commodity code. For related instruments within the wider heading, see sourcing geophones.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable seismographs | 9015 80 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts and accessories for seismographs, subject to classification | 9015 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the sensor and recording system together
State whether the instrument is for earthquake monitoring, field surveys or recording local vibration. Specify the measured quantity, sensor response, usable frequency range, noise performance, recording range, sampling settings and timing source. Agree acceptance criteria for the complete sensor, cable and recorder combination.
Request sample recordings in the file format your analysis software accepts. Agree access to calibration coefficients, raw data, configuration files and software licences. Specify mounting orientation, environmental protection, power supply and transport restraint for sensitive sensor mechanisms.
Confirm with the relevant authority whether the Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations apply to the supplied instruments and what conformity and CE or UKCA marking requirements apply. For wireless versions, also confirm whether radio equipment rules apply. For apparatus covered by the electromagnetic compatibility rules, the manufacturer must supply relevant instructions in English. Agree the model-specific evidence before ordering through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of portable seismographs with matched sensors under 9015 80 20 00, invoiced at £38,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,000, so it is £8,000. 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
Sensor response: compare sampled instruments with a calibrated reference using an agreed excitation method; check sensitivity, polarity, orientation and background noise.
Recording: verify timing synchronisation, channel mapping and uninterrupted recording; export raw files and open them in the buyer's analysis software.
Identification: match serial numbers to calibration records and the supplied configuration; check relevant conformity marking and English instructions for apparatus within scope.
Arrival condition: inspect transport restraints, connectors, seals and mounting hardware; repeat the agreed functional checks after unpacking. Define the sampling and acceptance method in the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A recorder can produce plausible traces while the sensor polarity, channel assignment or calibration coefficient is wrong. Timing drift and dropped samples can also make recordings unsuitable for comparison across monitoring stations. Test the complete system and retain the reference recordings used for acceptance.
Transit damage, moisture and poorly secured connectors can change performance after the factory test. Proprietary export formats or missing software permissions can prevent access to usable data. Check an arrival recording against the agreed reference and demonstrate data export before accepting the shipment.
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 seismographs from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 0% duty for geophysical instruments under 9015 80 20 00 and parts under 9015 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures listed.
Do seismographs need CE or UKCA marking?
Confirm applicable electromagnetic compatibility conformity and CE or UKCA marking requirements for Great Britain with the relevant authority. For wireless versions, also confirm whether radio equipment rules apply; assess the actual configuration.
What calibration information should I request?
Request serial-number-specific sensitivity, sensor response, polarity and calibration coefficients, together with the test method and reference equipment used. Check the complete sensor and recorder combination.
How do I check that the recordings are usable?
Open sample raw files in your own analysis software. Verify units, channel mapping, timestamps and calibration coefficients, then repeat an agreed recording test after arrival.