Sourcing stainless steel lunch boxes from China

UK duty on stainless steel lunch boxes

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 7323 covers iron or steel table, kitchen and household articles, alongside steel wool and scourers. Ordinary stainless steel lunch boxes fall within the other stainless steel articles line, 7323 93 00 90, subject to confirmation of the complete product. For the wider heading, see stainless steel gastronorm trays. For kettles, see our stainless steel stovetop kettle guide.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for this line on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. It attaches import and export waste controls. In England, waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For Chinese goods classified as waste, the exporter starts the notification process with the dispatch authority; notified shipments require consent from the authorities involved. Confirm any waste shipment with your customs broker.

Send your broker photographs, material details and the complete lid and insert specification to confirm the commodity code. Check separately supplied accessories separately. The import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.

Specify the steel, seal and food use

Specify the steel grade and thickness, usable capacity, external dimensions, compartment layout, rim finish and lid material. Identify the gasket material and whether it can be removed for cleaning. Agree how clips should close and whether the box is intended for dry food or for carrying liquids.

Food contact materials must be safe and suitable for their intended use. Ask for material identification and food contact test reports matching the finished box, lid and gasket. Agree the intended foods, contact duration, temperature and cleaning method with the laboratory through testing and certification. Treat dishwasher suitability and leak resistance as claims to verify on samples.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 stainless steel lunch boxes under 7323 93 00 90, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,400, so it is £1,680. 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

Body and rim: check material identification against the specification, measure dimensions and inspect for sharp edges, dents, polishing residue and unfinished seams.

Lid and gasket: check seating around the rim, clip operation and gasket removal; test leakage in the agreed carrying positions.

Compartments and cleaning: check insert fit, access to corners and trapped residues; repeat the agreed cleaning procedure and look for distortion or corrosion.

Documents and cartons: match test reports and care instructions to the supplied model, then check carton protection and arrival damage against the approved sample at inspection.

What goes wrong

A lid can fit the approved sample but leak on production boxes because the rim is distorted or the gasket does not seat evenly. Compartments may separate solid food while allowing sauces to cross underneath. Define whole-box leak resistance and compartment separation as different checks.

Loose clips, rough rolled edges, polishing residue and rust spots after washing are useful rejection checks. A report for a different lid or gasket does not establish the supplied assembly's performance. Keep an approved assembled sample and require review before the factory changes a material or component.

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.