Sourcing woven bamboo food covers from China
Woven bamboo food covers from China carry 2% UK duty on both bamboo commodity lines, with no listed anti-dumping duty. Materials intended for food contact must be safe and suitable for their use. Specify clearance, weave and finish before approving samples. Cambridge China Bridge sources woven bamboo food covers.
UK duty on woven bamboo food covers
Heading 4602 covers basketwork, wickerwork and other articles made directly to shape from plaiting materials or assembled from plaiting products. Woven bamboo food covers belong in the bamboo branch, subject to confirmation of the finished construction. The table shows shape variants sharing the relevant bamboo codes. For the wider heading, see rattan bread-proofing baskets.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, both bamboo lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. The hand-made plaiting-material line is 4602 11 00 10; the other bamboo line is 4602 11 00 90.
Give your customs broker photographs, the material breakdown and an explanation of how the cover is woven and assembled. Confirm the commodity code before shipment. Food-contact suitability remains a separate check even when the tariff record lists no import control.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made round woven bamboo food covers | 4602 11 00 10 | 2% | None |
| Other round woven bamboo food covers | 4602 11 00 90 | 2% | None |
Specify the dome, rim and food-contact use
Specify woven bamboo strips, overall shape, internal opening, usable height, rim flatness, weave gaps and handle attachment. State the plate or serving tray the cover must fit and whether it needs a mesh lining. Approve a sample on the actual tray, with the intended food clearance, and retain it as the production reference.
Record every coating, dye, adhesive and lining. Materials intended for food contact must be safe and suitable for their intended use. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, food-contact provisions also cover materials expected to transfer constituents to food. Ask for evidence covering the finished cover and its intended conditions of use through testing and certification.
Agree a cleaning and drying method, then try it on the sample. Check whether the weave traps crumbs, the finish transfers to a damp cloth or the rim changes shape after cleaning. Describe the product as woven bamboo in the purchase specification and require approval before any material substitution.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 hand-made woven bamboo food covers; illustrative order under 4602 11 00 10, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 2% is £184. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,384, so it is £1,876.80. Import taxes total £2,060.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £184 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: check the opening and internal height against the approved tray and sample; place the rim on a flat surface and look for rocking or gaps.
Weave and handle: check loose strips, splinters, exposed binding ends and handle security; inspect any mesh lining for holes and detached seams.
Moisture and packing: check for mould, musty smells, insect holes and dust; compare moisture readings with the agreed specification and inspect nested covers for crushed rims.
Finish and records: compare colour and coating with the approved sample, check for tackiness and shedding, and match material records to the delivered batch. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A cover can match the outside dimensions yet touch food because its usable height is too low. Uneven rims leave openings, loose weave sheds fibres, and tightly nested covers arrive distorted. Damp bamboo can develop mould during transport. Check assembled samples and packing before dispatch, then repeat the fit and condition checks on arrival.
A sample made from bare bamboo does not establish the suitability of a later coated or lined version. Keep material changes subject to approval and request updated supporting evidence. Consumer products should only be sold once compliance with product safety regulations has been demonstrated appropriately.
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 woven bamboo food covers from China?
Both bamboo lines carry 2% duty in the supplied tariff record read on 1 October 2026, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Which commodity code applies to a hand-made bamboo food cover?
4602 11 00 10 covers bamboo articles from plaiting materials, hand-made. Ask your customs broker to confirm the finished cover's construction before using it.
Do bamboo food covers need food-contact evidence?
Materials intended for food contact must be safe and suitable for that use. Ask for supporting evidence covering the bamboo, coatings, adhesives and lining in the finished cover.
What should I check when bamboo food covers arrive?
Check tray fit, usable height, rim flatness, loose fibres, handle security, mould and crushed nesting edges. Compare the finish and material records with the approved sample.