Sourcing sunscreen from China
Sunscreen from China carries 0% UK duty under the relevant skin-care line of heading 3304. Before sale in Great Britain, ask OPSS to confirm the applicable requirements for a UK Responsible Person, a safety assessment and cosmetic notification. Specify the formula and evidence behind protection claims before approving production. Cambridge China Bridge sources sunscreen.
UK duty on sunscreen from China
Heading 3304 covers beauty, make-up and skin-care preparations, including sunscreen and suntan preparations, other than medicaments. The table shows sunscreen formats against the same skin-care commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, the listed sunscreen line carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. Import VAT is 20%. The line also attaches CITES import and export controls and an export control of mercury.
Check animal-derived and botanical ingredients for CITES coverage. Where a formula contains a controlled specimen or derivative, permits may be required for movement from China into Great Britain; confirm the ingredient and documentation with your customs broker before shipment. Export controls also need checking if you later export the goods. Confirm the commodity code, and see the beauty and personal care guide for the wider category.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunscreen creams | 3304 99 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the sunscreen formula and protection claims
Agree the product format, intended user, application instructions, protection claims and any water-resistance claim. Obtain the full quantitative formula for the safety assessor under confidentiality. Have the UV filters and their concentrations reviewed for GB acceptability before approving artwork. Restrictions and prohibitions on UV filters must be followed.
Request protection-test reports tied to the actual formulation, rather than another product in the factory's range. Ask OPSS to confirm the requirements for substantiating the proposed claims. Agree how formula changes will be approved and documented, alongside fill quantity, texture, fragrance, white residue, pack materials and dispensing performance.
Before sale in Great Britain, ask OPSS to confirm the applicable requirements for the UK Responsible Person, product information file, qualified safety assessment and cosmetic notification. Specify stability and compatibility testing using the sunscreen in its intended container.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 200 cartons of sunscreen under 3304 99 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,600, so it is £1,320. 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
Formula records: check that the production formula and batch documents match the formulation covered by the safety assessment and protection reports.
Labels: check ingredients, protection claims, warnings, use instructions, Responsible Person details, batch identification and durability information against the approved artwork.
Contents: check fill quantity, colour, fragrance, texture, separation and visible particles against retained samples and the agreed specification.
Packaging: check tube seals, caps, pumps and stick mechanisms for leakage and operation; open packed cartons and compare batch codes with the shipment records.
What goes wrong
A factory offers a protection report for a similar formula, then changes the filter blend, fragrance or base during production. Keep the tested formulation identifiable and require approval before substitutions. A report for another formula does not establish the performance of the sunscreen you are buying.
Fresh samples can look acceptable while the filled product later separates, leaks or becomes difficult to dispense. Review stability and pack-compatibility results before release. Resolve formula disclosure with your safety assessor, and ask OPSS to confirm the safety-assessment requirements before a GB launch, even when the shipment has cleared customs.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on sunscreen from China?
The supplied tariff data gives 0% duty under 3304 99 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. Import VAT is 20%. Confirm the classification for your formulation.
Can I sell Chinese sunscreen under my own brand?
Before sale in Great Britain, ask OPSS to confirm the applicable cosmetics requirements, including those concerning a UK Responsible Person, a product information file, a qualified safety assessment and notification.
What evidence should I ask for sunscreen claims?
Ask for protection and water-resistance reports matching the actual formula and claims. Agree the test scope before production and require approval for formulation changes.
Does sunscreen need a CITES permit?
The tariff line attaches CITES controls. Check whether any ingredient is a listed species or derivative. If it is, confirm the applicable permits with your customs broker before shipment.