Sourcing trigger spray bottles from China
The listed plastic bottle bodies and separate closures from China carry a flat 6% UK duty. Confirm classification for the goods as imported, especially assembled trigger sprayers. Consumer bottles sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Cambridge China Bridge sources trigger spray bottles.
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Duty on bottle bodies and separate closures
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 21 November 2026, heading 3923 covers plastic articles for conveying or packing goods and plastic closures. This guide concerns empty plastic packaging bottles intended for trigger heads. The bottle lines split at two litres. The closure rows cover separately supplied caps, stoppers and other closures; ask your broker to confirm the classification of assembled sprayers and spray mechanisms.
The listed bottle and closure lines carry 6% duty on goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is 20%. Suspensions elsewhere in this heading concern other products. The film-support spool line has a waste import control attached; if importing goods on that line from China, confirm the requirement with your customs broker.
Confirm your commodity code using the bottle capacity, construction, intended contents and how the goods are supplied. Give your broker photographs and an assembly drawing. For the related spray mechanism, see replacement trigger spray heads.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty plastic trigger spray bottle bodies, capacity not exceeding two litres | 3923 30 10 00 | 6% | None |
| Empty plastic trigger spray bottle bodies, capacity exceeding two litres | 3923 30 90 00 | 6% | None |
| Plastic bottle caps supplied separately for transport or storage | 3923 50 10 00 | 6% | None |
| Other plastic stoppers and closures supplied separately | 3923 50 90 00 | 6% | None |
Specify the bottle, neck and trigger together
State whether you want bottle bodies, bottles with transport caps, or complete trigger assemblies. Specify resin, recycled content, colour, empty weight, nominal and brimful capacity, neck thread, sealing face and label panel. Approve the actual bottle and trigger combination, including the gasket, dip tube length, nozzle settings and locking action.
Name the intended liquid and storage conditions. Agree compatibility checks for the bottle, seals and trigger internals using the intended formulation under controlled conditions. For food-contact use, ask for a declaration of compliance and migration evidence covering the intended contents and use. Check each imported plastic packaging component separately for Plastic Packaging Tax.
Include foreseeable leakage, accidental spraying and repeated handling in your assessment. Keep the approved assembly and agree the inspection scope before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative shipment of empty plastic trigger spray bottle bodies under 3923 30 10 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,200. Duty at 6% is £312. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,512, so it is £1,102.40. Import taxes total £1,414.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £312 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Bottle body: compare capacity, empty weight, neck dimensions, base stability and wall distribution with the approved sample; inspect mould seams and internal cleanliness.
Seal and fit: fit the approved head and transport cap, check thread engagement and gasket seating, then test leakage upright and on the side using an agreed safe method.
Spray action: check priming, trigger return, spray pattern, shut-off and dribbling after release; confirm the dip tube reaches the liquid without buckling.
Arrival condition: inspect crushed necks, distorted bottles, loose heads and carton contamination; compare batch identification and material documents with the purchase specification.
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What goes wrong
Matching neck diameter does not guarantee that the thread and sealing face match the trigger head. A tube that is too long can curl against the base; a short tube leaves liquid behind. Poor venting can interrupt the spray or pull the bottle inward. Test the complete assembly rather than approving the bottle and head separately.
A water trial can miss swelling seals, stress cracking or sticking valves with the intended liquid. Changes to resin, gasket material or trigger internals can invalidate an approved sample. Record those materials in the order and require approval before substitutions. Keep suspect arrival stock aside while you investigate leaks or inconsistent spraying.
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 trigger spray bottles from China?
The listed plastic bottle bodies and separate closures carry 6% duty, with no listed trade remedy or suspension. Confirm the classification of complete trigger sprayers before applying a bottle-body rate.
Will any trigger head fit my bottle?
Check the neck thread, sealing face, gasket and dip tube together. Approve a complete assembly and test leakage, priming, spray pattern and shut-off.
Do empty spray bottles need a Plastic Packaging Tax check?
Yes. Check whether each imported plastic packaging component is subject to Plastic Packaging Tax. Request component weights and material records from the supplier.
Is testing a spray bottle with water enough?
Water can check basic operation, but it does not establish compatibility with your intended liquid. Agree controlled checks for bottle cracking, seal swelling, valve sticking and spray performance.