Sourcing tampons from China

Zero duty on tampons

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 18 October 2026, the tampon-relevant lines of heading 9619 carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls on these lines.

Heading 9619 covers sanitary pads, tampons, nappies, liners and similar articles. For tampons, classification depends on the material and construction: do not assume that every product uses the line for other materials. Confirm the commodity code using the finished product specification. See the wider hygiene products guide for the rest of the heading.

For tampons designed and marketed solely for menstrual flow or lochia, confirm with HMRC whether zero-rating applies, including to import VAT. Confirm that the product and its marketing meet that description. The import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.

Specify the tampon, cord and applicator

Specify the absorbent fibre composition, finished dimensions, absorbency categories and agreed test methods. Define the withdrawal cord material and attachment, surface covering, and whether the tampon comes with an applicator. For applicators, approve the material, tip finish and insertion mechanism against physical samples.

Agree individual wrapping, retail pack contents, batch identification and storage instructions. Ask for absorbency, microbiological and irritation test reports tied to the actual materials and finished product. Tampons must be safe under general product safety law. Using tampons can cause toxic shock syndrome; include this risk when reviewing proposed consumer safety information.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative bulk order of individually wrapped, retail-packed tampons under 9619 00 75 00, invoiced at £26,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £29,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Tampons designed and marketed solely for menstrual flow are zero-rated for VAT under HMRC's VAT Notice 701/18, so if yours qualify no import VAT is due and nothing is paid at the border. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Absorbent body: compare dimensions, fibre composition and absorbency results with the approved specification; check for loose fibres and foreign matter.

Cord and applicator: test cord attachment against the agreed specification; check applicator tips for rough edges and verify smooth operation.

Hygiene and wrapping: review finished-product microbiological results, check individual seals and inspect arrival cartons for moisture or damage.

Packs and information: check pack counts, absorbency descriptions, importer details, batch identification and approved instructions. Use a quality inspection to record deviations.

What goes wrong

Material substitutions can change absorbency and fibre shedding. Weak cord attachments, rough applicator tips and wrappers damaged during packing are reasons to hold the affected batch for investigation. Check production samples against the approved sample and retain samples linked to each batch.

A pack can match the artwork yet contain the wrong absorbency variant or omit the approved safety information. Review the packed product as well as the test reports. Once the product is on the market, the importer remains responsible for its safety.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.