Sourcing X-ray equipment from China
Apparatus based on X-rays or other ionising radiation from China, including baggage scanners, NDT systems, dental, medical and veterinary units and X-ray tubes, pays 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Employers using X-ray equipment must register with HSE, and medical units are medical devices. Cambridge China Bridge sources X-ray equipment.
X-ray security scanners, dental and veterinary units, NDT systems and X-ray tubes pay 0% UK duty from China. Radiation rules and a worked example.
Zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, computed tomography apparatus, dental X-ray apparatus, other medical, surgical or veterinary X-ray apparatus, X-ray apparatus for other uses, apparatus using alpha, beta or gamma radiation, X-ray tubes and parts and accessories of heading 9022 carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Metal detectors and non-ionising inspection systems are in other headings, and radiation detectors in 9030; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computed tomography apparatus | 9022 12 00 00 | 0% | None |
| X-ray apparatus for dental uses | 9022 13 00 00 | 0% | None |
| X-ray apparatus for medical or veterinary uses | 9022 14 00 00 | 0% | None |
| X-ray apparatus for other uses, such as scanners and NDT | 9022 19 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Apparatus using other ionising radiation, other uses | 9022 29 00 00 | 0% | None |
| X-ray tubes | 9022 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts and accessories of X-ray apparatus | 9022 90 20 00 | 0% | None |
Radiation and medical device rules
Under regulation 6 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017, work with X-ray generators is generally a registrable practice, so the employer using the equipment must register with HSE, and regulation 7 requires HSE consent for certain practices such as industrial radiography. The buyer also needs a radiation risk assessment and a radiation protection adviser, so shielding, interlocks and warning signals have to be right on delivery.
Dental, medical and veterinary X-ray units are medical devices under the UK Medical Devices Regulations 2002 where used on people, needing UKCA or CE marking and MHRA registration, and medical exposures are governed by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017. Security and industrial systems still need machinery, electrical safety and EMC evidence.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: four X-ray baggage inspection machines, commodity code 9022 19 00 00, bought for £64,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance, so £68,000 is the value customs works from. No duty is due on X-ray inspection machines; import VAT at 20% of £68,000 is £13,600. If you are VAT-registered, that VAT is normally reclaimable. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
What goes wrong
X-ray equipment fails on shielding, the tube and support. Leakage radiation above the stated level around tunnels, curtains or panels is the critical failure, and interlocks that can be bypassed stop a machine at the buyer's safety review. X-ray tubes and detectors wear out and are expensive to replace, software and threat-detection libraries arrive in Chinese or unlicensed, and there is no UK engineer to service the machine.
Ask for the leakage radiation survey and the interlock and warning system design, have the buyer's radiation protection adviser review them before shipment, check image quality with test pieces, confirm tube life, spare tubes and detectors, software language and licences, and agree installation and service support in the UK. Ship tubes and detectors in shock-proof packing.
Cambridge China Bridge sources X-ray scanners, NDT systems and medical and dental X-ray units, with radiation documentation, image quality tests and UK service agreed before the order. Read how we source inspection and medical equipment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on X-ray machines from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, X-ray apparatus, tubes and parts of heading 9022 carried 0% duty from China.
Do I need to register X-ray equipment with HSE?
The employer using it generally does, under regulation 6 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017; some practices need consent.
Are dental X-ray units medical devices?
Yes. They need UKCA or CE marking and MHRA registration, and medical exposures fall under IR(ME)R 2017.
What is the critical check on an X-ray scanner?
Leakage radiation around the tunnel and panels, and interlocks that cannot be bypassed.