Sourcing washed duck down from China

Zero duty on loose washed duck down

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 0505 covers feathers and down not further worked than cleaned, disinfected or treated for preservation, as well as specified bird parts, powder and waste. Loose washed duck down for stuffing falls within 0505 10 90 00. The table shows product variants under that same code. For the wider heading, see feathers and down.

The supplied tariff reading records 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, and no suspension. It attaches veterinary control and waste import and export controls to this code. Ask your customs broker to confirm the common health entry document requirement for the actual consignment alongside the treated-down documentation. Confirm the commodity code against the processing and intended use.

Waste shipment controls apply when the material is waste. Ask the broker and relevant environmental authority to confirm whether any proposed recovered or discarded down falls within that route. For waste entering England under notification controls, confirm with the relevant environmental authority which consents are needed from the authorities of dispatch, destination and transit before shipping. The tariff's waste entries should be checked against the actual goods.

Specify duck down content, fill power and treatment

Specify duck species, white or grey colour, down cluster content, feather and fibre content, fill power and the test method. Agree oxygen number, turbidity, moisture, residual fat, odour and foreign-matter acceptance criteria against a retained sample. Match the purchased composition to the claims you plan to make on finished bedding or clothing. Use testing and certification to agree the sampling and laboratory brief.

Treated down is permitted from any trading partner, including China. Ask APHA to confirm any premises approval requirements and whether untreated down has an available import route before ordering. Obtain records of the recognised treatment, not just a supplier's description of 'washed'. Commercial imports need pre-notification; confirm with APHA or your customs broker whether a signed exporter commercial document is required and which premises approval, treatment and bird-health details it should contain. Check the actual processor through factory verification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order, not a quotation: 30 kg of washed duck down for a bedding sample run under 0505 10 90 00, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,400, so it is £480. 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

Composition: sample across bales and compare duck identity, down clusters, feathers, fibres and colour with the contract and retained sample.

Performance: test fill power using the agreed method and conditioning procedure; compare oxygen number, turbidity, moisture and residual fat with the purchase specification.

Condition: inspect delivered bales for damp, damaged wrapping, mould, unusual odour and foreign matter; keep suspect material separate for investigation.

Traceability: match bale marks and batch references to treatment records, processor details and consignment documents. If a welfare claim is required by your customer, reconcile its certificates with the lot. Plan sampling with the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A sample can have more down clusters or better fill power than the shipment. Feather or fibre blending, inconsistent grading and poor washing can leave low performance, dust, grease or odour. Test representative shipment samples before loading and compare arrival samples with the same specification.

A 'washed' invoice does not establish recognised treatment or approved-premises status. Resolve those points and the consignment paperwork before dispatch. Keep certified and uncertified batches identifiable so that mixing does not undermine the welfare claim agreed with your customer.

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.