Sourcing stainless steel pet bowls from China

UK duty on stainless steel pet bowls

Heading 7323 covers iron or steel table, kitchen and other household articles and their parts, alongside steel wool and scourers. Stainless steel pet bowls are candidates for 7323 93 00 90. The table shows bowl variants sharing that commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 20 November 2026, the supplied data records 0% duty for goods from China under this line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only if the material is waste. For discarded bowls or scrap from China, confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker before shipment.

Confirm the commodity code against the complete product's materials, construction and use. Give your broker photographs and a component breakdown where bowls include substantial bases or stands. For an alternative material, see ceramic pet bowls.

Specify the steel, rim and non-slip base

Specify the stainless steel grade, wall thickness, bowl weight, usable capacity, opening, depth and base dimensions. Distinguish usable capacity from capacity filled to the rim. Agree the internal finish, rolled rim construction and any exterior coating. Request material evidence matched to production stock and retain an approved sample.

Assess handling during filling and cleaning, including sharp rims and exposed edges. Specify the non-slip ring material, retention and removal for cleaning. Agree checks for corrosion, coating adhesion and any dishwasher claim using the intended cleaning conditions.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 900 stainless steel pet bowls; illustrative whole-pound FOB and freight values 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

Steel and shape: compare material records, weight, thickness and dimensions with the specification; check that sampled bowls sit flat and match the approved profile.

Rim and interior: inspect for burrs, rough rolled edges, cracks, polishing residue and crevices that retain food; fill sampled bowls and check for leaks.

Base and cleaning: test sliding on the intended floor surface; remove and refit detachable rings, check their retention and repeat agreed checks after cleaning.

Packing and arrival: check separators between nested bowls, rim protection and carton condition; inspect unpacked stock for scratches, dents and distorted bases. Agree the sampling brief through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A polished appearance can conceal a change in steel specification or reduced wall thickness. Thin bowls distort during packing, rolled rims hide rough edges, and tightly nested bowls scratch each other or become difficult to separate. Compare production samples with the approved sample and written measurements.

Non-slip rings can stretch, detach or trap dirty water underneath. Decorative finishes may peel after washing, while residue or corrosion appears around poorly finished rims. Verify cleaning and dishwasher claims on the complete production bowl, including the ring and coating, and repeat checks on arrival.

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.