Sourcing stainless-steel chopsticks from China

Duty, plating and assorted sets

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8215 covers spoons, forks and similar kitchen or tableware. For stainless-steel chopsticks, the relevant article lines carry 8% duty without precious-metal plating and 4% with it. Assorted stainless-steel cutlery sets shown here carry 8%. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure or suspension.

The tariff attaches ivory import and CITES controls to the assorted-set lines. For an item containing a listed ivory species intended for sale, registration or an exemption is required. Importing a CITES specimen into Great Britain requires a permit. For China shipments containing animal-derived decoration, confirm eligibility and paperwork with your customs broker before ordering; specify plain steel if decoration is unnecessary.

Confirm plating, materials and the contents of each retail pack against the commodity code guide. A pack of chopstick pairs should not automatically be treated as assorted cutlery. The table gives candidate lines for different presentations. See the wider cutlery guide for the rest of this heading.

Specify steel, hollow construction and tip grip

Specify the steel grade, length, weight, cross-section, taper and tip profile. State whether the chopsticks are solid or hollow, how hollow ends are closed, and whether grip comes from grooves or a textured finish. Supply drawings and an approved sample showing the grip area, polish and logo position.

Agree the intended cleaning method and assess samples after washing. Ask for food contact migration testing for metals such as nickel and chromium under conditions representing intended use. Include coatings and decorative parts in the assessment; a report for bare steel does not describe a coated finished product. See the food contact materials guide.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative bulk order of plain stainless-steel chopstick pairs for a restaurant supplier 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 certificates and sample chemical analysis with the agreed steel grade; check weight against the approved sample.

Construction: check straightness, matched lengths, smooth tips, secure end closures and seams; look for trapped washing water in hollow samples.

Finish and grip: check grooves, burrs, polish, coating adhesion and logo consistency; try picking up food with washed samples.

Packing and evidence: check matched pairs, pack contents and protection against rubbing scratches. Match food contact reports to the supplied material and finish. Arrange these checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Grade substitution can leave chopsticks looking acceptable when new but spotting or pitting after washing. A magnet is not a reliable grade check. Hollow construction can also hide weak closures or seams that retain water. Compare production samples with the approved weight and construction, then wash and inspect them.

Over-polished tips can be difficult to grip, while rough grooves or unfinished seams can scratch fingers or lips. Coatings may rub against neighbouring pieces in transit. Check these features on packed production samples rather than relying on a polished display sample.

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.