Exporting plush and merchandise to the United Kingdom

Great Britain applies the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. Toys carry the UKCA marking, or CE where Great Britain accepts it, with a UK Declaration of Conformity and the UK importer’s name and address. Plush from Vietnam can enter duty-free under the UK–Vietnam FTA.

Checked 9 Nov 20263 requirements for plush2 sources

Get a quote for this market

At a glance

Import duty from Vietnam
Stuffed toys (9503 00 41): 4% third-country duty; 0% for Vietnam-origin goods under the UK–Vietnam FTA with valid origin proof (UK Trade Tariff, Nov 2026).
Tax at import
Import VAT 20%.
Marks
UKCA, or CE where Great Britain accepts it.
Key document
UK Declaration of Conformity and technical documentation.
Labels
English; UK importer’s name and address on the toy or packaging.
Responsible party
The UK importer, with the manufacturer’s technical file.

Easy to miss

  • BS EN 71 testingThe designated standards mirror EN 71, so one test program usually serves the EU and UK.
  • UK REACHChemical restrictions run separately from EU REACH.
  • 0% duty from VietnamConfirmed on the UK Trade Tariff for 9503 00 41; the importer needs valid proof of origin.

Requirements by product

Pick your product. Indicative checklist from Takara’s market rule set; the accredited lab confirms the final scope.

Plush & toys2 tests · 1 label

  • Test
    Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011

    Great Britain’s toy rules: testing to the designated BS EN 71 standards, a technical file and a UK Declaration of Conformity.

  • Test
    UK REACH

    Great Britain’s own chemical restrictions, mirroring the EU list for most consumer-product substances.

  • Label
    UKCA or CE marking

    UKCA marking, or CE marking where Great Britain currently accepts it, plus the UK importer’s name and address.

Apparel1 test · 1 document · 1 label

  • Test
    UK REACH

    Great Britain’s own chemical restrictions, mirroring the EU list for most consumer-product substances.

  • Document
    UK general product safety rules

    Non-toy consumer products must be safe and traceable, with the producer’s or importer’s details on the product or packaging.

  • Label
    UK textile labelling regulations

    Fibre composition label using the standard fibre names.

Drinkware2 tests · 1 document

  • Test
    UK REACH

    Great Britain’s own chemical restrictions, mirroring the EU list for most consumer-product substances.

  • Test
    GB food-contact rules (retained 1935/2004 & 10/2011)

    Migration testing and a Declaration of Compliance, as in the EU.

  • Document
    UK general product safety rules

    Non-toy consumer products must be safe and traceable, with the producer’s or importer’s details on the product or packaging.

Electronics3 tests · 1 label

  • Test
    Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011

    Great Britain’s toy rules: testing to the designated BS EN 71 standards, a technical file and a UK Declaration of Conformity.

  • Test
    UK REACH

    Great Britain’s own chemical restrictions, mirroring the EU list for most consumer-product substances.

  • Test
    UK radio, EMC, electrical safety & RoHS regulations

    Radio Equipment, EMC and Electrical Equipment (Safety) regulations as they apply, RoHS limits, and WEEE producer obligations.

  • Label
    UKCA or CE marking

    UKCA marking, or CE marking where Great Britain currently accepts it, plus the UK importer’s name and address.

Selling through retailers or under license (2 more)
  • Audit
    Retailer test protocol & factory audit

    Major retailers usually set their own lab test protocol and require a social-compliance audit (for example amfori BSCI or Sedex SMETA) at the producing partner factory. These programs are generally practical for relatively large orders.

  • Audit
    Licensor approvals & factory program

    Licensors approve the concept, pre-production and final samples, and some (for example Disney FAMA) require production at an authorized partner factory. Authorized facilities are limited and generally practical for larger orders.

How Takara handles it

  1. Declare the marketList every market and retailer at inquiry. It sets the tests and the eligible partner factories.
  2. Design for testingComponents, colors and labels are chosen so testing stays clear and affordable.
  3. Test before productionAccredited labs test the approved sample and risky components on production materials.
  4. Label and documentMarks, local-language labels and your importer’s documents are ready before shipment.

Custom plush for export starts at 1,000 pieces per design, because testing is a fixed cost per design.

Read next

Toy safety matrix: US, EU, UK, Vietnam

Questions

Is UK duty on plush from Vietnam 0%?

Yes for Vietnam-origin goods with valid proof of origin under the UK–Vietnam FTA; otherwise the third-country rate for stuffed toys is 4%.

Can a CE-marked toy be sold in the UK?

Great Britain accepts the CE marking for many goods alongside UKCA. Check the current government guidance for toys before printing labels.

Sources

Checked on 9 November 2026. General information, not legal or customs advice: confirm the rate for your exact tariff code and the requirements for your product with a customs broker or accredited lab.

  1. UK Trade Tariff, commodity 9503 00 41 00 (stuffed)
  2. UK Government, Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 guidance

Planning plush for the United Kingdom?

Send the design, quantity, age grade and sales channel. Takara replies within 3 business days with a quote that includes testing and documents.

Get a quoteWhatsApp