Sourcing torches and head torches from China

A flat 4%

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, portable electric lamps designed to work by their own source of energy, such as dry batteries, accumulators or magnetos, and their parts carried 4% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.

Bicycle lights are in heading 8512 and mains-powered lamps in 9405; confirm the commodity code.

Batteries and WEEE

Torches supplied with batteries fall under the Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008, and all are electrical equipment with WEEE obligations. Rechargeable lithium models need cells tested for transport, with the test summary your forwarder asks for. For inspection lighting, see our rechargeable inspection lamp sourcing guide.

Brightness claims and eye safety

Lumen and beam distance claims are often inflated. Ask for test results to a named standard such as ANSI/PLATO FL1, and check them on samples. Very bright LED torches should be assessed for photobiological safety to BS EN 62471, and products for children must not be dazzling.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 rechargeable head torches under 8513 10 00 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,900. Duty at 4% is £516. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,416, so it is £2,683.20. Import taxes total £3,199.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £516 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Output claims: light output, beam distance, run time and impact resistance measured by the methods of ANSI/PLATO FL1 on production samples rather than the pre-production sample, with light output measured in an integrating sphere and run time to the point where output falls to the level the standard defines.

Seals and impact: water resistance tested to the IPX rating claimed under BS EN 60529, a drop test from the height claimed on the pack, and switch cycling on head torches, followed by a check that the torch still works and the lens and battery door are intact.

Batteries and charging: cell safety to BS EN 62133-2 and the UN 38.3 summary for lithium models, charging from flat with temperature monitored, and battery and WEEE marking checked under the Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 on every sampled carton.

What goes wrong

Torches fail in the batteries and the seals. Cheap cells lose capacity so run time falls far short of the box, charge circuits without protection overheat, and O-rings that are too thin let water in despite an IPX rating. LEDs driven too hard dim and change colour within weeks, and switches wear out first on head torches.

At inspection, run a sample to its rated time and check the brightness at the end, charge from flat and measure temperature, immerse or spray-test to the claimed rating, cycle the switch many times, and check headband stitching and battery door fit.

Inspection

At inspection, check switches, water resistance claims, charging, run time and headband elastic, and drop-test samples.

Cambridge China Bridge sources torches, head torches and lanterns, with batteries, output claims and shipping settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works. For camping lanterns, see our battery-powered camping lantern sourcing guide.

If the torches ship with batteries, the cells bring their own duty and producer obligations; see our batteries and button cells guide.