Sourcing Snap Hair Clips from China

Snap hair clip duty and material controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9615 covers combs, hair slides and similar articles, hairpins, grips, non-electric curlers and parts. Its supplied commodity lines carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspensions. The table shows snap clip variants within the same metal hair-slide category.

The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls across the heading: products containing that fur are banned from import and export. It also attaches CITES import and export controls to 9615 19 00 00. If decorations use listed species, check the applicable permit requirements with your customs broker before shipment from China.

Do not select the code from the decorative surface alone. Give your broker the metal base, covering material, decoration and intended use to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading context, see French barrette hair clips.

Specify the snap action and stamped body

Specify the body material, thickness, length, width, curvature and tip shape. Agree how much pressure opens and closes the clip, how securely it holds the intended hair section, and the repeated opening check. Approve a physical sample with the intended coating and decorations.

Consumer hair accessories fall under general product safety rules in Great Britain. Children's designs should avoid detachable small parts and sharp edges; for accessories designed for play, confirm with Trading Standards whether toy requirements apply. Specify the paint or plating, adhesive and decoration fixing, and request UK REACH screening for restricted substances in coatings and plastic parts.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 50,000 plain metal snap hair clips, illustrative order under 9615 19 00 00, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 2% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,568, so it is £1,713.60. Import taxes total £1,881.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Snap action: repeatedly open and close sampled clips, compare resistance with the approved sample, and check that the body holds its shape and remains closed on the intended hair section.

Edges and finish: check the stamped perimeter, central opening and tip for burrs or sharp points. Try the clip on a hair swatch and inspect paint or plating for cracking, flaking and rust.

Decorations: pull-check bows, stones and covers using the agreed method. Examine the fixing underneath and check for exposed adhesive, loose pieces and sharp attachment points.

Packing: check the colour assortment and quantity per card, the UK address and necessary warnings. Compare arrival samples with the approved sample and retain the findings using the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A clip can look correct while its snap action is weak or too stiff. Changes to metal thickness or curvature can affect closure and grip. Burrs catch hair, and coatings can crack where the body flexes. Compare finished production samples with the approved sample after repeated opening, rather than approving appearance alone.

Glued decorations can loosen during flexing, and damp packing can leave rust marks on the clip or card. Agree decoration retention and finish checks before ordering, then repeat them on arrival. Ask the factory to identify any animal-derived decoration; cat or dog fur cannot be imported.

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.