Sourcing sports spectacle frames from China

0% duty on sports spectacle frames

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9003 covers frames and mountings for spectacles, goggles or the like, and their parts. This guide concerns sports spectacle frames supplied without lenses. Finished spectacles with lenses fall under heading 9004. See the wider spectacle frames guide, and confirm the material and shipment contents through finding your commodity code.

All supplied lines carry 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions recorded. The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to the non-plastic frame lines and both parts lines. Listed biological materials can require permits; ask your customs broker to confirm the documents for the actual materials and route from China. UK Border Force checks and endorses CITES documents.

The titanium-alloy parts line also carries a supplementary-unit import control. Confirm the reporting requirement with your customs broker before declaring those parts. The plastic frame line has no attached controls in the supplied tariff record. The order figures accompanying this guide are illustrative, rather than a supplier quotation.

Specify wraparound fit and corrective-lens use

State the intended sport and whether the frame will hold corrective lenses. Specify frame material, eye size, bridge width, temple length, wraparound curvature and lens-groove profile. Agree nose-pad grip, temple-tip material, strap attachment and replacement parts. Have your lens laboratory approve the sample with the intended lens shape and thickness before production.

Confirm with the MHRA whether frames intended for corrective lenses are class I medical devices and which requirements apply to the manufacturer's declaration of conformity, CE or UKCA marking, MHRA registration and the overseas manufacturer's UK responsible person. Confirm with HSE which UK REACH nickel-release restrictions apply to metal parts in prolonged skin contact. Ask for testing and certification to assess any impact-protection claims separately from ordinary frame testing.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,500 plastic sports spectacle frames, without lenses (illustrative) under 9003 11 00 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. 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

Fit and retention: check dimensions against the approved drawing and frame markings. Trial-fit the intended lenses, check groove engagement and inspect for movement or frame distortion.

Grip and attachments: check nose pads, temple tips and any strap fittings against the approved sample. Check for slipping when damp, loose fittings and pressure points.

Durability and finish: check hinges, screw security, sharp edges and coating defects. Review frame reports to BS EN ISO 12870 for perspiration resistance, bridge deformation and endurance.

Materials and documents: match skin-contact materials to nickel-release reports and verify claimed titanium composition. Match model and colour codes to the approved sample, device paperwork and packed goods.

What goes wrong

A wraparound sample can look correct yet be unsuitable for the buyer's lens shape or thickness. A changed groove profile can leave lenses loose or make assembly distort the frame. Damp nose pads slip, strap clips pull free and projecting hinges interfere with helmets. Trial the approved frame with the intended lenses and headgear.

Bulk frames can differ from the sample through substituted grip materials, loose screws, uneven plating or warped temples. Keep the approved drawing, material list and sample with the inspection brief. Recheck fit after any tooling or material change, and agree compatible spare pads, temples and strap fittings before ordering.

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.