Importing guide · China to UK
Importing lithium-ion batteries from China to the UK
Lithium-ion batteries are dangerous goods in transport, so shipping them needs the right test documents, and as importer you become a battery producer.
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
- Get the UN 38.3 test summary for every battery design before you book freight.
- By air, lithium-ion batteries on their own can only fly on cargo aircraft, at no more than 30% charge.
- Register as a battery producer and mark the batteries with the crossed-out wheeled bin.
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.
Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 and producer responsibility
Batteries
- Register as a battery producer with the environmental regulator and record the tonnage and chemistry each year.
- Portable batteries: over 1 tonne a year, join a battery compliance scheme; smaller producers register directly (there is an annual charge).
GOV.UK: batteries regulations · GOV.UK: waste batteries producer responsibility · IATA: shipping lithium batteries
Work it out for your order
- Landed-cost calculatorSet up for code 8507 60 00 90: 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 lithium-ion batteries
What is the import duty on lithium-ion batteries from China?
Goods from China under commodity code 8507 60 00 90 pay 2% 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 lithium-ion batteries imported into the UK?
General product safety, Batteries. As the importer you are responsible for making sure the lithium-ion batteries meet them before they go on sale.
How much does the UK import from China under this code?
£1.3bn in the 12 months to July 2026, under the 8-digit code 85076000 (lithium-ion accumulators), according to HMRC’s overseas trade statistics.
Importing lithium-ion batteries?
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