Sourcing Silver Leaf from China

Silver-leaf duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7106 covers silver, including silver plated with gold or platinum, in unwrought, semi-manufactured or powder form. Silver leaf supplied as semi-manufactured silver uses 7106 92 00 00. The table shows buying formats sharing that commodity line.

The supplied tariff extract records 0% duty for goods from China on this line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Confirm the composition and presentation through finding your commodity code. For other semi-manufactured forms, see silver sheet and strip.

Specify silver content and leaf format

State the silver content, sheet dimensions, thickness or metal weight per sheet, acceptable holes and tears, and sheet count per book. Specify loose leaf between interleaving papers or transfer leaf on a carrier. Approve a sample using your intended adhesive and surface, then retain it for comparison with production.

Official hallmarking guidance lists raw material, including sheet and foil, as exempt from compulsory hallmarking. Silver leaf supplied as raw foil falls within that exemption.

Keep decorative and food-use specifications separate. Food additives need authorisation before being placed on the Great Britain market. For food decoration, check the official register's permitted uses and conditions rather than accepting an 'edible' label alone. Ask for batch composition and contaminant reports through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 5,000 silver-leaf sheets under 7106 92 00 00, invoiced at £800 free on board, with £300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £1,100. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £1,100, so it is £220. 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

Material: check batch identification and independently test silver content against the agreed specification; appearance alone cannot establish composition.

Sheets: check dimensions, count, coverage, holes, tears and folded edges against the approved sample.

Transfer: trial the carrier on your intended surface and adhesive; check release, coverage and unwanted paper residue.

Packing: check interleaving, sealed protective wrapping and rigid supports; inspect arrival samples for sticking, moisture damage and tarnish. Use a written inspection brief.

What goes wrong

Silver-coloured imitation leaf can be confused with genuine silver. Other failure points include short sheet counts, holes that leave visible gaps, sheets sticking to interleaving paper and transfer carriers that release unevenly. Agree how damaged sheets will be counted and record defects before repacking.

Do not treat a successful decorative application as evidence of suitability for food. Keep food-use stock and supporting documents identifiable, and resolve the intended use before approving production.

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.