Sourcing tooth whitening strips from China
Tooth whitening strips within the other oral preparations line carry 0% UK duty from China. Before consumer sale, confirm applicable limits on hydrogen peroxide present or released, Responsible Person arrangements and notification requirements with the relevant cosmetics authority. A qualified cosmetic safety assessment is required. Cambridge China Bridge sources tooth whitening strips.
Duty on tooth whitening strips
Heading 3306 covers oral or dental hygiene preparations and retail dental floss. For whitening strips within this heading, the relevant candidate is 3306 90 00 00, covering other preparations. The table shows strip variants sharing that line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. The tooth whitening gels guide covers the related product family.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the other preparations line carried 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. The tariff also attaches an export control of mercury. Official guidance says mercury-added-product controls apply where mercury or a mercury compound has been intentionally added. Ask your customs broker to confirm the attached measure's relevance to your formulation and shipment.
Confirm the classification using the full formula, strip construction, intended use and retail pack before declaring the goods. Use finding your commodity code rather than relying solely on the supplier's description.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gel-coated tooth whitening strips | 3306 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the formula, strip and sachet
Specify the whitening ingredients and their concentrations, hydrogen peroxide present or released, upper and lower strip shapes, backing material, coating weight, flavour, adhesion and removal. Agree the strip count per retail box, individual sachet construction and storage conditions. Retain an approved sample with the written specification.
Confirm the permitted hydrogen peroxide concentration present or released and any sales-channel restrictions with the relevant cosmetics authority before approving the formula. Decide the sales channel before approving the formula. A peroxide-free description does not replace the cosmetic safety assessment.
For sale in Great Britain, arrange a qualified safety assessment before the product is made available, and confirm Responsible Person, product information file and notification requirements with the relevant cosmetics authority. Obtain the full quantitative formula for the assessor and evidence supporting whitening claims. Agree testing and certification before printing the packaging.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 6 cartons of boxed tooth whitening strips, illustrative only under 3306 90 00 00, invoiced at £5,680 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,080. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,080, so it is £1,616. 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: compare batch test results with the approved formulation and check hydrogen peroxide present or released against the intended sales channel. Match the laboratory sample to the production batch.
Fit and coating: check strip dimensions, coating uniformity, backing release and adhesion against the approved sample. Look for folded strips, bare patches, excessive gel transfer and difficult removal.
Sachets and stability: inspect seals for leakage and trapped coating. Check for dried gel, discolouration and changes after storage in the final sachet. Review stability and microbiological results with the safety assessor.
Pack and documents: reconcile strip counts, batch identification and durability marking. Check ingredient information, warnings, instructions and the Responsible Person's details against the approved artwork and product information file.
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What goes wrong
A supplier may offer a formulation intended for another market whose peroxide content exceeds the consumer limit. Packaging that says peroxide-free also needs checking against the actual formula. Missing formula disclosure or unsupported whitening claims can prevent the safety documentation from being completed.
Check specifically for uneven coating, strips that slide or tear, and sachets that let the coating dry out. Keep the approved sample and require approval for changes to the coating, backing or sachet. Investigate differences between the arrival sample and the retained production sample before releasing stock.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on tooth whitening strips from China?
Within 3306 90 00 00, duty is 0% for goods from China in the supplied tariff record. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is listed. Confirm that the finished strips belong in this line.
Can I sell peroxide whitening strips directly to consumers?
Confirm whether the intended consumer sale is permitted with the relevant cosmetics authority, using the hydrogen peroxide concentration present or released and the intended sales channel. Arrange the qualified cosmetic safety assessment before making the product available.
Do peroxide-free whitening strips still need a safety assessment?
Yes, when supplied as cosmetic products in Great Britain. The finished formulation needs a qualified safety assessment; a peroxide-free claim does not replace it.
What should I check when whitening strips arrive?
Check sachet seals, strip counts, coating uniformity, backing release, adhesion and batch identification. Compare the goods with the approved sample and reconcile the batch test results.