Sourcing toothpaste and oral care from China
Preparations for oral or dental hygiene from China, including toothpaste, mouthwash and denture products, pay 0% UK duty, and dental floss 4%, with no anti-dumping duty. Toothpaste and mouthwash are cosmetic products, so they need a UK Responsible Person, a safety assessment and notification, and fluoride and hydrogen peroxide are capped by law. Cambridge China Bridge sources oral care products.
Toothpaste, mouthwash, denture products and whitening strips pay 0% UK duty from China, dental floss 4%. Cosmetics rules, fluoride limits and a worked example.
0%, or 4% for floss
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, dentifrices and other preparations for oral or dental hygiene of heading 3306 carried 0% duty on goods from China, and yarn used to clean between the teeth 4%, with no anti-dumping measure.
Toothbrushes, including electric toothbrush heads, are in heading 9603 and electric toothbrushes in 8509; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentifrices, such as toothpaste | 3306 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Dental floss | 3306 20 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Other, such as mouthwash and denture products | 3306 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Cosmetics rules and limits
Toothpaste and mouthwash are cosmetic products under the retained Cosmetic Products Regulation, so they need a Responsible Person in the UK, a product information file with a safety assessment, notification before sale and English labels with ingredients; the beauty guide covers the process.
Annex III caps fluoride in oral products at 0.15% calculated as fluorine, and toothpaste with 0.1% to 0.15% fluorine must carry the warning about children of 6 years and younger using a pea-sized amount, unless labelled for adults only. Oral products may contain no more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide present or released; whitening products with more than 0.1% and up to 6% may be sold only to dental practitioners.
Worked duty example
For a made-up shipment of 100,000 tubes of fluoride toothpaste under 3306 10 00 00, add the £2,400 of freight and insurance to the £26,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £28,400. Duty on toothpaste is zero, leaving import VAT of £5,680, 20% of the customs value. For a VAT-registered buyer that is a cash-flow cost rather than a lasting one. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.
What goes wrong
Oral care products fail on formula, stability and claims. Fluoride content that differs from the label, or a fluoride source that reacts with the abrasive so less is available, is the main technical risk. Tubes separate, dry out or leak at the crimp, flavours fade, and whitening strips sold online with peroxide above the consumer limit are illegal and are withdrawn. Claims such as clinically proven whitening need evidence in the product information file.
Test fluoride content and available fluoride on samples, run stability and tube compatibility tests, check crimps and caps, check whitening products for peroxide content, and have the safety assessor review the label and claims before the artwork is printed.
Cambridge China Bridge sources toothpaste, mouthwash, denture care and floss, with the Responsible Person, safety assessment and fluoride testing arranged before the order. Find out how we source personal care products.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on toothpaste from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, toothpaste and other oral care preparations carried 0% duty from China, and dental floss 4%.
What is the fluoride limit in UK toothpaste?
0.15% calculated as fluorine, with a children's warning when fluorine is 0.1% to 0.15%.
Can I sell strong teeth whitening kits to consumers?
No. Products with more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide may be sold only to dental practitioners, and more than 6% is not allowed.
Is toothpaste a cosmetic product?
Yes. It needs a UK Responsible Person, a safety assessment and notification before sale.