Sourcing veterinary operating tables from China

Veterinary operating tables: 0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, veterinary operating tables under 9402 90 00 00 carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Heading 9402 covers medical, surgical, dental and veterinary furniture and its parts. The table rows describe different products sharing the same tariff line.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import prohibition concerning goods for torture and repression and an import control on cat and dog fur. Importing or exporting cat and dog fur, including products made from it, is banned. Ask your customs broker to confirm the torture-control requirement for the exact table. The record also lists cultural-object export licensing, torture-related export restrictions and cat-and-dog-fur export controls; confirm these before any onward export.

Confirm the commodity code using the table's construction, function and supplied components. For the wider veterinary table range, see veterinary examination tables. Import VAT is normally 20%; the calculation method is explained in UK import duty and VAT.

Specify the animal support, lift and drainage

Specify the intended animal range, rated load, usable tabletop dimensions, height adjustment, tilt and access around the base. Agree whether the top is flat or divided, how each section locks, and which restraint rails, clamps and removable trays are included. Request drawings showing the clearance beneath the table for the operator's feet.

Agree the tabletop material, surface finish, drainage outlet and collection arrangement. Check that seams, clamps and removable sections can be cleaned with the clinic's chosen disinfectants. Specify replacement seals, actuators and control parts by model.

For a model within machinery rules, the responsible person must compile a technical file and provide information necessary for safe operation. Ask the supplier to identify the rules applicable to the exact design and supply matching documents before shipment. Use testing and certification support to review the proposed evidence.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative small batch of electric veterinary operating tables 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 lift: test the agreed load at different heights and tilt positions; check for sinking, rocking, leaks and slipping locks.

Top and drainage: inspect welds, edges and removable sections; pour water onto the agreed drainage areas and check for pooling or leaks.

Controls and access: operate the lift and tilt through their travel; check pedal placement, cable routing and accessible pinch points.

Documents and packing: match the model label to the supplied documents and parts list; inspect protection around the tabletop, column and controls during inspection.

What goes wrong

A table can lift an unloaded top yet sink or twist under an uneven load. Divided sections may slip when tilted, while a projecting base can prevent the veterinary team from standing close enough. Test the proposed configuration with a representative load and the intended working positions.

Poorly finished seams trap liquid, drainage outlets leak, and exposed pedal connections are vulnerable during cleaning. A document for a different actuator or control assembly gives little confidence in the delivered model. Compare the approved sample, component list and shipment before accepting substitutions.

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.