Sourcing wooden cuticle sticks from China
Wooden and bamboo cuticle sticks from China carry 0% UK duty under the relevant lines of heading 4421, with no listed trade remedy or suspension. Importers are responsible for consumer product safety; check splinters, tip finish and the wood species before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources wooden cuticle sticks.
Duty and species checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 4421 covers other articles of wood. For plain solid-wood cuticle sticks, 4421 99 99 99 is the candidate line; bamboo has the separate line 4421 91 00 00. Both carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table separates buying formats that share a code.
The solid-wood line carries a CITES import control. Obtain the actual species name: protected plant products brought into Great Britain need a permit or certificate. Confirm the species-specific paperwork with your customs broker before shipment. Both candidate lines also attach an import prohibition concerning torture and repression goods; ask your broker to confirm whether the linked goods descriptions affect the declaration. The recorded cultural-goods licence and torture restrictions also include export measures.
Confirm the material, finished shape and whether the sticks are imported separately using finding your commodity code. For tools supplied together, see manicure sets and nail clippers. Agree the classification before comparing factory offers.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid-wood cuticle sticks with pointed and bevelled ends | 4421 99 99 99 | 0% | None |
| Bamboo cuticle sticks | 4421 91 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the wood and working ends
Specify the wood species rather than accepting 'orangewood' as the complete material description. Agree length, shaft diameter, straightness, the pointed tip profile and the width and angle of the pushing end. Use an approved sample to show the finish, including any coating or abrasive surface.
Agree whether sticks are loose, bundled or individually wrapped, together with pack count and carton identification. Importers of consumer products are responsible for their safety. For this product, make smooth shafts, intact tips and freedom from splinters explicit acceptance points.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 30,000 solid-wood cuticle sticks, illustrative order only under 4421 99 99 99, invoiced at £1,120 free on board, with £50 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £1,170. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £1,170, so it is £234. 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
Tips: compare the point and pushing end with the approved sample; reject chipped ends, ragged bevels and loose fibres.
Shafts: check length, diameter and straightness against the drawing; gently flex samples to identify cracks and weak grain.
Cleanliness: open packs from different cartons and inspect for mould, dampness, dust, staining and unusual odour.
Packing: check pack counts, wrapper seals and carton identification; repeat the surface and moisture checks on arrival. Use an agreed quality inspection checklist.
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What goes wrong
A smooth sample can be followed by a batch with torn fibres because the cutting or sanding process changes. A pushing end can become too thin and break, while a blunt point makes detailed nail work difficult. Damp sticks can arrive stained or mouldy inside apparently intact packaging.
Keep the approved sample and written end profiles with the purchase order. Inspect production sticks from different cartons before dispatch, then check arrival stock before releasing it for sale. Resolve an unidentified wood species before shipping rather than relying on a generic material name.
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 wooden cuticle sticks from China?
The relevant solid-wood and bamboo lines carry 0% duty. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for these lines.
Which commodity code covers wooden cuticle sticks?
For plain solid-wood sticks, check 4421 99 99 99; bamboo has 4421 91 00 00. Ask your customs broker to confirm the finished product and any set presentation.
Do wooden cuticle sticks need CITES paperwork?
The solid-wood tariff line attaches CITES control. Protected plant products need a permit or certificate for entry into Great Britain. Establish the species and confirm the paperwork before shipment.
What should I check before accepting the shipment?
Check tip profiles, splinters, cracks, straightness, dampness, mould and pack counts against the approved sample and specification. Open packs from different cartons.