Sourcing vet examination tables from China

Duty on veterinary examination tables

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 18 October 2026, heading 9402 covers medical, surgical, dental and veterinary furniture. Veterinary examination tables fall within the other-furniture line, 9402 90 00 00, carrying 0% duty from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table rows show different designs under the same commodity line.

The tariff attaches import controls on cat and dog fur and goods for torture and repression. Imports of cat and dog fur products are banned; exclude these materials from covers and accessories. Listed prohibited torture goods cannot be imported. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached controls apply to the actual table. The record also lists cultural-goods licensing and torture-goods and fur restrictions for exports; check these separately if re-exporting.

Confirm the commodity code using the table's intended veterinary use, construction and supplied accessories. Send the broker photographs and drawings rather than relying on the factory's code. See operating tables for the wider heading and import duty and VAT for the calculation method.

Animal load, lift and cleaning specification

Specify the intended animal sizes, rated load, usable tabletop dimensions, loading height and adjustment range. Choose fixed, hydraulic or electric operation. Agree the tabletop material, removable non-slip mat, rounded edges, restraint attachment points and whether the base needs floor levelling feet or locking castors. Specify compatibility with the clinic's disinfectants and how liquids drain without reaching the lift or electrics.

Suppliers must supply safe work equipment. For powered models, ask the supplier to identify the applicable machinery, electrical and electromagnetic compatibility rules and provide documents for the exact model. Agree tests for trapping points, unintended movement and foot-control operation. Decide whether the product is a medical device before following that compliance process; ask for an assessment of the stated veterinary use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative batch of electric veterinary examination tables for a clinic equipment dealer under 9402 90 00 00, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,500, so it is £5,100. 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

Load and stability: test a sample at the agreed rated load, including an off-centre position. Check rocking, tabletop deflection, loose fixings and castor brakes.

Lift and controls: cycle the lift under load, check hydraulic leaks and downward drift, and test controlled lowering. Check that an animal or operator cannot accidentally activate an exposed pedal.

Cleaning and finish: inspect welds, edges and underside crevices. Wipe samples with the agreed disinfectants and check mats, coatings and joints for damage or trapped liquid.

Documents and packing: match model identifiers to drawings and test reports. Check operating and maintenance instructions, spare pump or actuator details, and protection for the tabletop and controls during transport. Agree these checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Watch for hydraulic drift, a base that rocks with an animal near the edge, sharp welds beneath the top and mats that lift during cleaning. A pedal positioned under the animal's paws can trigger movement. Liquid entering a control enclosure and inaccessible dirt traps can make an otherwise usable design unsuitable for a clinic.

A report for a different actuator or frame does not establish the performance of the supplied table. Approve a complete production sample and record the agreed load, cleaning and movement checks before shipment. Check arrival damage before use. Unsafe work equipment must not be used.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.