Sourcing stainless catering spatulas from China
UK duty is 8% for ordinary stainless steel catering spatulas and 4% for precious-metal-plated individual articles. Confirm the applicable food-contact migration requirements with the relevant food safety authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources stainless steel catering spatulas.
Duty on individual spatulas and assorted sets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8215 covers spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers and similar kitchen or tableware. Ordinary individual stainless steel catering spatulas and the stainless steel assorted-set lines shown carry 8% duty on goods from China. Individual precious-metal-plated articles carry 4%. The supplied tariff snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing duties and no suspensions.
The assorted-set codes shown carry ivory and CITES import controls. Elephant-ivory items need registration or an exemption certificate before dealing; CITES-listed materials may need permits. For goods from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable documents and any declarations concerning absent controlled materials. The snapshot also lists CITES export controls, which warrant a separate check before onward export.
The table includes conditional set and plated variants, rather than alternative codes for an ordinary steel spatula. Confirm the commodity code using the head material, plating and exact contents of any set. See the catering skimmer guide for related utensils within the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual stainless steel catering spatulas, without precious-metal plating | 8215 99 10 00 | 8% | None |
| Assorted stainless steel utensil sets including spatulas, without precious-metal plating | 8215 20 10 00 | 8% | None |
| Assorted stainless steel sets including spatulas and a precious-metal-plated article | 8215 10 30 00 | 8% | None |
| Individual catering spatulas plated with precious metal | 8215 91 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the spatula head, neck and handle
Describe whether the spatula lifts food from a griddle, turns delicate food or spreads mixtures. Specify head length and width, steel thickness, flexibility, leading-edge profile, slot shape, neck angle and handle construction. Agree a sample that slides under the intended food without excessive flexing. Distinguish a lifting edge from a sharpened cutting blade when briefing your customs broker.
Specify the steel grade and finish separately for the head and handle. Agree whether joints are welded or riveted and how exposed seams are finished. Confirm the applicable limits on transfer of constituents into food with the relevant food safety authority. Ask for metal migration reports representing the intended food contact, with separate evidence for coatings and any plastic parts that contact food.
Food-contact labelling, advertising and presentation must not mislead consumers. Support dishwasher and heat-resistance claims with tests on the finished design. Use testing and certification support to settle the test brief against the intended use before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 400 stainless steel catering spatulas (illustrative order, not a quote) under 8215 99 10 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,400. Duty at 8% is £272. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,672, so it is £734.40. Import taxes total £1,006.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £272 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Material: compare the head and handle material certificates with the order and arrange sample chemical analysis where needed. A magnet alone does not establish the promised steel grade.
Head and edge: measure thickness, width and neck angle against the drawing. Check flatness, slot edges and burrs using a safe handling method; try the spatula on the intended cooking surface.
Handle and joint: check rivet movement, weld finish and seams that can trap food. Apply the agreed lifting and twisting checks, then inspect for looseness or permanent bending.
Documents and packing: match food-contact reports to the supplied design and materials. Check scratches, mixed sizes and carton contents on arrival. Set out these checks in the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A thinner head may feel acceptable unloaded but bend when lifting food. A poorly formed leading edge catches rather than sliding underneath, while burrs around slots snag cleaning cloths. Reject deviations from the approved thickness and profile rather than relying on the appearance of a polished sample.
Grade substitution can emerge as rust spotting after washing. Loose rivets and unfinished seams make cleaning harder, and a report for an uncoated steel head does not establish the performance of a coated version. Keep the approved sample, material specification and test reports tied to the production design.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on stainless steel catering spatulas from China?
Ordinary individual stainless steel spatulas and the stainless steel assorted-set lines shown carry 8%. Individual precious-metal-plated articles carry 4%. The supplied snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
What food-contact evidence should I request for catering spatulas?
Ask for metal migration reports matching the head material and intended food contact. Include coatings and food-contact plastic parts in the test brief, and check that reports identify the supplied design.
How do I check a catering spatula is strong enough?
Agree head thickness, neck geometry and lifting checks against an approved sample. Test finished pieces for bending and handle movement, and repeat checks after the agreed washing trial.
Does a carton of identical spatulas count as an assorted set?
Do not choose an assorted-set code solely because several spatulas share a carton. Give your customs broker the exact item list, materials and plating details before confirming classification.