Sourcing silicone placemats from China

Duty and the attached declaration control

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 October 2026, heading 3924 covers plastic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and hygienic or toilet articles. This guide concerns silicone placemats proposed for 3924 10 00 90. The table lists placemat styles sharing this proposed code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. For another placemat material, see the fabric placemat guide.

The supplied facts show 6% duty for goods from China under this line, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension listed. The UK Trade Tariff attaches a restriction on entry into free circulation referring to a plastics declaration of compliance. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether that requirement applies to the exact silicone construction.

Give your broker the composition, coatings, reinforcement and intended use to confirm the commodity code. If the goods contain polyamide or melamine food-contact components, ask the broker and relevant authority whether the Chinese kitchenware control applies and whether each consignment needs a declaration and laboratory report, advance notification and designated border entry. Fees apply where these import controls apply. Ask the broker to confirm the requirements before shipment.

Specify the silicone, surface and table use

Specify the silicone formulation, colourants, curing process, dimensions, thickness, edge profile and surface texture. Identify any reinforcement, coating or printed decoration. State whether the mat only supports plates or is intended for food placed directly on its surface. Approve a physical sample and require approval before changes to the material, pigment or printing.

Consumer placemats fall within the scope of general product safety rules in Great Britain; confirm the applicable safety requirements with the relevant authority. For intended food contact, confirm the applicable material safety and suitability requirements with the relevant food safety authority. Ask a laboratory to assess the finished mat against the intended foods, contact duration and cleaning method. Reports should identify the actual formulation, colour and decoration.

Food-contact descriptions must not mislead customers about the material or its properties. Agree evidence supporting heat-resistance, dishwasher and non-slip claims, including the intended table surfaces. Check that cleaning instructions match the assessed use. Discuss the finished-product assessment through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 rectangular silicone placemats, subject to classification; not a quotation under 3924 10 00 90, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 6% is £456. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,056, so it is £1,611.20. Import taxes total £2,067.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £456 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shape and flatness: measure dimensions and thickness against the approved sample; unpack folded or rolled mats and check for persistent curl, creases and raised edges.

Surface and printing: inspect for tackiness, residue, persistent odour, thin patches and moulding flash; rub and wash printed areas using the agreed method to check colour transfer and peeling.

Table trial: check sliding with the intended plates on the agreed table surfaces, both dry and after wiping; inspect for staining or surface marks after the agreed use trial.

Cleaning and packing: repeat the agreed cleaning cycle, inspect grooves for trapped residue and compare shape and finish afterwards; match colours, product references and care instructions to the order. Plan arrival checks with the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Watch for persistent curl after rolled packing, thin edges that tear, oily residue and printing that transfers during wiping. Deep textures can retain food residue. A mat that grips a dry sample table may slide on the buyer's actual surface, so agree the test surface before approving production.

A generic food-grade report may cover a different formulation, colour or unprinted sample. Keep the approved sample, specification and reports linked to the order. If odour, tackiness, colour transfer or unexpected table marking appears on arrival, separate the affected stock and investigate before sale.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.