Signal glass and lamp lenses from China
Signalling glassware and optical elements of glass not optically worked from China, including moulded lenses for traffic, railway and marine signals, coloured signal glass and lamp covers, pay 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 7014, with no anti-dumping duty. Buyers check colour, light transmission, dimensions and resistance to impact and thermal shock.
Glass signal lenses, lamp covers and unworked optical glass elements from China pay 0% UK duty. Colour, transmission and impact checks explained.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 7014 covers signalling glassware and optical elements of glass (other than those of heading 7015), not optically worked. Both lines, optical elements of glass not optically worked (7014 00 00 10) and other (7014 00 00 90), carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure, no registration and no suspension.
Optically worked lenses are heading 9001 (see our optical lenses and fibres guide), and complete signal heads are covered in our traffic signals guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optical elements of glass, not optically worked | 7014 00 00 10 | 0% | None |
| Other signalling glassware (such as signal lenses and lamp covers) | 7014 00 00 90 | 0% | None |
Use in signals and lamps
Signal lenses and lamp covers are parts of equipment that is approved or specified as a whole, so the buyer's product specification or the network operator's standard sets the colour, transmission and light distribution the glass must achieve. Ask for test reports on the finished lamp or signal head, not only on the glass.
Specifying signal glass
Specify glass type (soda-lime or borosilicate), colour and chromaticity, light transmission, lens optics and pattern, dimensions and tolerance, thermal shock and impact resistance, edge finish, and packing that prevents chipping.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 10,000 moulded glass signal lenses under 7014 00 00 90. At £15,000 free on board and £800 to ship and insure, the customs value is £15,800. With 0% duty on signal lenses, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £15,800, or £3,160. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Optics: check colour and transmission against the approved sample under the same light source.
Dimensions: check diameter, thickness and fit to the housing.
Defects: check for bubbles, stones, cracks, chips and mould marks.
What goes wrong
Signal glass orders fail on colour and breakage. Colour drifts between melts so signals do not match, lenses crack under thermal shock, dimensions do not fit the housing, and edges chip in transit.
Test samples before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources signal glass and lamp lenses for UK signal, lighting and marine equipment makers, checking the glassworks first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on glass signal lenses from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, signalling glassware under 7014 00 00 90 carried 0% from China.
Are optically worked lenses in heading 7014?
No. Optically worked lenses are heading 9001.
Who sets the colour of signal glass?
The specification of the finished signal or lamp, such as the network operator's standard.
What fails most often?
Colour differences between melts, thermal cracking and poor fit to the housing.