Sourcing stainless steamer baskets from China

UK duty on stainless steel steamer baskets

Heading 7323 covers iron and steel table, kitchen and household articles and their parts, alongside steel wool and scourers. For standalone stainless steel steamer baskets, the relevant candidate line is 7323 93 00 90, subject to confirmation of the complete product. The table shows basket designs within that line, rather than separate commodity codes.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 16 December 2026, the supplied data records 0% duty for goods from China on this line, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension recorded. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste. For discarded baskets or scrap from China, the importer should confirm the applicable requirement with their customs broker before shipment.

Confirm the commodity code using photographs, materials, construction and intended use, especially where the basket is supplied with cookware or an appliance. For the wider heading, see stainless steel saucepans.

Specify pot fit, folding petals and lifting points

Specify the steel grade for the basket, feet, hinges, rivets and lifting handle separately. Agree open and folded dimensions, usable depth, perforation or mesh size, foot height and the intended pot fit. Check lid clearance and clearance above the agreed water level. For folding designs, approve petal overlap and movement; for rigid inserts, approve rim seating and handle clearance.

Confirm with the Food Standards Agency the applicable food-contact requirements concerning substances transferring into food and their effects on health, food composition and sensory properties. Request evidence matching the finished basket and intended steaming conditions, including food-contact joints and any added materials. Agree the assessment scope through testing and certification.

Food-contact articles must be traceable throughout the supply chain. Keep supplier, batch and business-customer records linked to the basket and its supporting evidence. Approve cleaning, drying and lifting instructions, and verify any dishwasher or compatibility claims against the actual design.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 900 stainless steel folding petal steamer baskets; 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

Material and finish: compare components with the approved specification; inspect perforations, mesh ends and rolled rims for burrs, loose wire, rust, polishing residue and sharp edges.

Fit and movement: place the basket in the agreed pots; check lid clearance, stable feet, petal movement and access to the lifting point without catching the rim.

Loaded lifting: lift the basket with the agreed food load using the intended method; inspect handle retention, rivets, welds and distortion, and check that folding petals remain supported.

Packing and arrival: inspect nesting protection, bent feet, crushed mesh and displaced handles; unpack delivered stock and repeat fit and function checks. Set the brief through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A basket can match the advertised diameter yet prevent the pot lid from closing. Feet that are too short leave food in the water, while a lifting ring hidden beneath food is difficult to reach. Folding petals may jam, snag food or close during lifting if their overlap and support are poorly controlled.

Thin mesh can deform during nesting, and exposed wire ends or punched burrs can remain beneath a polished finish. Mixed component materials can produce uneven corrosion around joints. Retain an approved sample, link reports to the ordered construction and require review before changes to materials, joints or surface treatment.

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.