Importing guide · China to UK
Importing lipstick and lip make-up from China to the UK
Cosmetics need a UK Responsible Person, a safety assessment and a notification before they go on sale. The product can be made in China; the responsibility sits in the UK.
Rates checked against the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026. Your exact product may fall under a different code: check it before you order.
What to watch
- Arrange the Responsible Person and the safety assessment before you place the order.
- Get the full ingredients list from the supplier: the safety assessor needs it.
- Label the Responsible Person’s name and address and the country of origin.
The UK rules
General Product Safety Regulations 2005
General product safety
- Supply only products that are safe in normal and foreseeable use.
- Give users the warnings and instructions they need, in English.
- Act if a product turns out to be unsafe, including telling the authorities.
UK cosmetics regulation (Great Britain)
Cosmetics
- Every product needs a Responsible Person with a UK address, who makes sure it is safe and meets the rules.
- Notify the Office for Product Safety and Standards before the product is sold.
- Keep a Product Information File in English, including a safety assessment by a qualified safety assessor.
Work it out for your order
- Landed-cost calculatorSet up for code 3304 10 00 00: add your price, quantity and freight.
- Price checkIs a quote too cheap? Compare it with what UK importers declare per kilo.
- Product rules checkerThe rules above, with a checklist to print and send to the supplier.
- Quote comparerCompare suppliers by landed cost.
- Spec sheet and AQLPut the quality standard in writing, with the inspection sample size.
Questions about importing lipstick and lip make-up
What is the import duty on lipstick and lip make-up from China?
Goods from China under commodity code 3304 10 00 00 pay 0% customs duty, with no anti-dumping duty, and 20% import VAT on top. Checked against the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026.
What rules apply to lipstick and lip make-up imported into the UK?
General product safety, Cosmetics. As the importer you are responsible for making sure the lipstick and lip make-up meet them before they go on sale.
How much does the UK import from China under this code?
£56.1m in the 12 months to July 2026, under the 8-digit code 33041000 (lip make-up preparations), according to HMRC’s overseas trade statistics.
Importing lipstick and lip make-up?
Send me the product and I’ll check the code, the duty and the rules for free, then tell you whether I can help with suppliers, inspections and shipping.
Get a free import check ->