Sourcing tin powder from China

Tin powder duty and waste controls

Heading 8007 covers other articles of tin. Tin powder falls within the other-goods line, 8007 00 80 00. The table shows powder specifications sharing that code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. For other forms within this heading, see our tin anodes guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, the supplied snapshot lists 0% duty for this line from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. It attaches import and export waste controls. For material imported as waste under notification controls into England, shipment can begin only after the Environment Agency and other competent authorities have consented. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable control for material from China.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition and physical form, especially if the powder contains alloying metals or flux. Supply the broker with the analysis certificate and product description. See UK import duty and VAT for the tax calculation.

Specify tin purity and particle distribution

State tin purity, permitted impurities, particle-size distribution and its test method, particle shape, moisture and oxygen content. Agree sampling, acceptance criteria and batch certificates before production. Identify whether you need loose metal powder or a formulated paste, and provide a sample for a trial in your process.

For a new substance registration, HSE says a Great Britain-based business importing at or above 1 tonne per year must register the substance. Establish your UK REACH position before ordering and account for annual imports rather than just this shipment.

Arrange competent chemical classification and check the labelling and packaging before supply in Great Britain. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for use at work. Request information specific to the powder grade you are buying, alongside the composition certificate.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business order of tin powder in sealed drums under 8007 00 80 00, invoiced at £27,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £27,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £27,900, so it is £5,580. 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

Composition: match each batch certificate to drum labels and independently test a retained sample against the agreed tin and impurity specification.

Particles: check the size distribution and particle shape using the agreed method; compare the delivered grade with the approved sample.

Condition: check for moisture, hard agglomerates, foreign particles and inconsistent flow; trial a sample before releasing the batch to production.

Packing: check seals, liners, net weight and batch identification on arrival; record leaks or damaged drums before moving the goods.

What goes wrong

A purity certificate can meet the brief while the particle distribution does not. Oversized particles, excessive fines, oxidation or caking can change how the powder behaves in your process. Put particle testing and a process trial into the acceptance brief, rather than accepting the shipment on composition alone.

Mixed batches and certificates that cannot be traced to the delivered drums make failures difficult to investigate. Keep retained samples and arrival records. If the supplier describes the material as scrap or waste, resolve its status with your broker before dispatch. See quality inspection explained.

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.