Sourcing wooden cutlery trays from China
Wooden cutlery trays from China carry 0% UK duty across the relevant heading 4419 lines. Consumer trays must be safe in normal and foreseeable use; where the tray touches food, confirm applicable food contact rules with the relevant authority. Check the wood species for CITES controls. Cambridge China Bridge sources wooden cutlery trays.
Zero duty and species checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the relevant bamboo, tropical wood and other wood lines carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions recorded. Heading 4419 covers wooden tableware and kitchenware. For cutlery trays, the material and construction determine which line to check.
The tariff attaches a CITES import control and a CITES export control to 4419 90 00 00. Obtain the wood's botanical name and ask your customs broker to confirm whether the finished tray is covered. Where CITES permits are required for a shipment from China into Great Britain, apply for the appropriate UK documentation and contact the Chinese management authority for the corresponding export documentation.
The tariff also lists a DCMS Export Licence measure. This concerns cultural objects leaving Great Britain; ask your broker to confirm its relevance and the recorded waiver for newly manufactured goods. Confirm the commodity code using the species, construction and intended use. See the wooden and bamboo kitchenware guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamboo cutlery trays | 4419 19 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Cutlery trays of tropical wood specified in the chapter note | 4419 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Cutlery trays of other tropical wood | 4419 20 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Cutlery trays of other wood | 4419 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Drawer fit, dividers and sliding extensions
Specify the wood species, solid or laminated construction, base material, finish and adhesive. Give the drawer's usable internal dimensions, including clearance beneath its closing mechanism. Define compartment dimensions around the actual knives, forks and spoons. For expandable trays, agree the closed and extended dimensions, sliding clearance and how the side sections remain attached. Approve a sample in the intended drawer.
Consumer trays sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal and reasonably foreseeable use. Include splinters, loose dividers and trapping at sliding sections in your assessment. State whether the tray only stores cutlery or also holds food directly. Where it touches food, confirm with the relevant authority the requirements concerning substance transfer from the wood, finish and adhesive; request specifications and migration testing appropriate to the intended contact.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 bamboo cutlery trays; illustrative order, not a quotation under 4419 19 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,200, so it is £2,040. 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
Fit: check external and compartment dimensions against the approved drawing, place the tray in the intended drawer and confirm that the drawer closes with cutlery loaded.
Construction: check base flatness, divider joints and glue lines; operate sliding extensions and confirm that they do not jam, detach or expose rough edges.
Surface: run a cloth over corners and compartment edges to detect splinters; check for sticky finish, colour transfer, glue residue and persistent odour.
Arrival condition: inspect sampled cartons for mould, damp packaging, cracks and bowed bases; record moisture readings against the agreed specification and compare with dispatch records. Use an agreed inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A tray can match the drawer's nominal width but foul the runner or closing mechanism. Tall dividers can catch on the drawer above, while compartments sized from a photograph may not hold the buyer's cutlery. Check a loaded sample in the actual drawer before approving production.
Damp wood can warp or grow mould during transport. Opening glue joints loosen dividers, and uneven finishing makes sliding sections bind. Agree moisture checks, protective packing and cleaning instructions before production. Test any dishwasher-safe claim before printing it.
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 cutlery trays from China?
The relevant heading 4419 lines carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff record, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Import VAT is normally 20%.
Do wooden cutlery trays need food contact testing?
State the intended use. Where a tray touches food, check the wood, finish and adhesive against food contact rules and request suitable migration testing. Assess drawer-storage trays for safe use.
How do I check an expandable wooden cutlery tray?
Measure it closed and extended, load it with the intended cutlery and try it in the actual drawer. Check sliding clearance, attachment of the side sections and rough edges throughout movement.
Do wooden cutlery trays need CITES documents?
It depends on the species and whether the finished product is covered. The tariff flags CITES on the other-wood line. Confirm the botanical name and required documents with your broker before shipment.