Sourcing glass aspheric lenses from China
Unmounted, optically worked glass aspheric lenses for industrial use carry 0% UK duty from China under 9001 90 00 90. Confirm that the goods are optical elements supplied without mounts; conformity marking depends on applicable sector rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources unmounted glass aspheric lenses.
UK duty on unmounted glass aspheric lenses
Heading 9001 covers unmounted optical elements, excluding glass elements that have not been optically worked. This guide concerns glass aspheric lenses for industrial and laboratory assemblies, rather than spectacle or contact lenses. The table shows product variants within the same tariff line. See the wider optical lenses and fibres guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, code 9001 90 00 90 carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for this line.
Confirm the material, optical processing, intended use and whether the lens is supplied mounted before choosing the commodity code. Mounted lenses fall outside this unmounted-element classification. Do not choose a spectacle-lens code merely because the surface is aspheric.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unmounted optically worked glass aspheric lenses, uncoated | 9001 90 00 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the aspheric surface and test method
Supply a controlled drawing with the glass grade, refractive-index data, aspheric prescription, coefficient convention and surface orientation. Specify clear aperture, diameter, centre thickness, edge geometry, focal length at the operating wavelength, centration and allowable surface-form error. State which dimensions locate the lens in your assembly.
For coatings, define the wavelength band, incidence angle, transmission or reflectance acceptance and cleaning method. Agree how surface form and optical performance will be measured, including the fixture and report format. Test an approved sample in the intended assembly before releasing production.
Conformity marking is necessary only where sector-specific regulations require it. Assess the intended application before requesting CE or UKCA paperwork. If you sell these lenses as consumer products in the UK, you must not sell products you know, or should have known, are unsafe.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of unmounted glass aspheric lenses for a small optical assembly business under 9001 90 00 90, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £15,800, so it is £3,160. 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
Glass and identity: match the glass certificate, drawing revision and batch identification to the order; check that coated and uncoated parts have not been mixed.
Surface form: compare measured aspheric profiles or wavefront results with the agreed acceptance criteria; check centration and the orientation of the aspheric face.
Dimensions and coating: measure diameter, centre thickness and edge geometry; inspect scratches, pits and coating defects, and compare spectral results with the specified wavelength band.
Packing and arrival: check individual separation, clean contact materials and freedom from chips or rubbing marks. Record defects before assembly using the agreed inspection checklist.
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What goes wrong
A lens can fit its holder yet fail optically. Different coefficient conventions, substituted glass, incorrect surface orientation or coating data measured at the wrong incidence angle can produce an apparently acceptable part that misses the assembly's focus or transmission target.
Edge chips, coating abrasion and contamination can arise when lenses touch during transport or are packed against unsuitable materials. Agree separate protective pockets, handling instructions and a method for linking each inspection report to the delivered batch.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on unmounted glass aspheric lenses from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% for unmounted, optically worked industrial glass lenses under 9001 90 00 90, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Do unmounted aspheric lenses need CE or UKCA marking?
Conformity marking is required only where sector-specific regulations require it. Establish the intended application before deciding what documentation to request.
What should I put on an aspheric lens drawing?
Specify glass grade, surface prescription and coefficient convention, clear aperture, focal length and wavelength, diameter, thickness, centration, coating and agreed test methods.
Can I accept a supplier's focal-length report alone?
Ask for surface-form, centration, dimensional and coating results as well. Check a sample in your intended assembly, because focal length alone does not establish imaging or collimation performance.