# Importing pet products to the UK > What buyers need to know when importing pet products from China into Great Britain: customs value, duty, import VAT, registration numbers and product safety. Source: https://petlivinggear.com/markets/import-pet-products-to-the-uk/ Updated: 2026-10-25 **Short answer:** In Great Britain, duty is assessed on a value that includes freight and insurance up to the border, and import VAT is charged on top of goods plus duty. You will usually need an importer registration number, and consumer products must meet general product safety rules. ## How duty is calculated Duty in Great Britain is a percentage of the customs value, which generally includes the price of the goods plus freight and insurance to the border. The rate comes from the UK Global Tariff for the commodity code. Similar products can have different codes, so the calculator shows candidate codes rather than one answer. Rates are read from the official tariff service, with the date shown. ## Import VAT Import VAT is charged on the customs value plus duty. The standard rate was 20 percent when we last checked on 2026-10-24. Reduced and zero rates exist for some goods, but most pet products are standard rated, so confirm for your product. ## Registration numbers To make customs declarations in the UK you usually need an economic operator registration number. If you use a forwarder or broker, they can often declare on your behalf, but you should still understand who is importer of record and who pays duty and VAT. ## Product safety Consumer products placed on the market in Great Britain are generally subject to general product safety requirements. The UK framework may be changing, so confirm the current rules. Electrical products, such as heated pet mats, can have additional requirements and marks, so check them early with a testing lab. Our [compliance checklist](https://petlivinggear.com/tools/landed-cost/?category=cooling_warming_mat&country=GB) lists starting points. ## Labelling and documents Make sure the labels, instructions and any required warnings are in English and match the product. Keep test reports, specifications and the production batch records together in case a regulator or marketplace asks. ## Great Britain and Northern Ireland Northern Ireland follows different rules for some goods because of its trading arrangements. If you sell there, check separately. ## Before you order - Confirm the commodity code and the duty rate for your exact product with your broker. - Decide who is importer of record and who pays duty and VAT at the border. - Ask the manufacturer for documents that match your product: test reports, material data, and a statement that production equals the tested sample. - Put label wording, warnings and instruction language into the specification so the factory applies them. - If a supplier quotes delivered duty paid, ask how duty and VAT will be declared and on what value, because an understated value is a problem for you as well as for them. ## Next steps Use the [landed cost calculator](https://petlivinggear.com/tools/landed-cost/?country=GB) for an estimate, then send a [sourcing request](https://petlivinggear.com/rfq/) and we will include the landed cost in your brief. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the UK customs value the same as the US one? No. The UK value generally includes freight and insurance to the border, while the US value normally excludes international freight. That changes the base on which duty is calculated. ### Can I reclaim import VAT? If you are VAT-registered and the goods are for your business, import VAT is usually recoverable through your VAT return. It still affects cash flow. Check with your accountant. ### Do UK rules follow the EU? Not automatically. Great Britain has its own tariff, its own product-safety framework and its own marks, and they can differ from the EU. Check each market separately. ## Related - [Landed cost from China to the US, UK and EU](https://petlivinggear.com/guides/landed-cost-china-to-us-uk-eu/): What makes up the landed cost of pet products imported from China into the US, UK and EU: duty, fees, VAT, freight, and what a calculator cannot know. - [Safety claims and test reports](https://petlivinggear.com/guides/pet-product-safety-claims-and-test-reports/): How to read supplier test reports and decide which safety claims you can make about pet carriers, strollers, car restraints, bowls and mats. - [How to vet a supplier remotely](https://petlivinggear.com/guides/vetting-chinese-pet-product-suppliers/): A practical way to check a Chinese manufacturer before paying: documents to request, video audits, samples, third-party inspection and warning signs. - [Pet beds and nests](https://petlivinggear.com/products/pet-beds/): How to source pet beds, nests and orthopedic mattresses in China: filling, cover fabric, size charts, washability, packaging and the cost drivers behind quotes.