Importing handmade rugs from India to the UK

General information, not legal or customs advice. This page summarises public official sources we opened on 30 October 2026. Tariffs, taxes and product rules change. Your customs broker or compliance adviser decides the classification, duty and labelling for your shipment.

The UK Integrated Online Tariff follows the Harmonized System (WCO HS Nomenclature 2022, Chapter 57, checked 30 October 2026). It lists these headings for handmade rugs (UK Trade Tariff, heading 5701, 5702, 5703, checked 30 October 2026):

The full commodity code has more digits and depends on fibre and construction. Your broker decides it; the Trade Tariff explains how to request a binding decision.

Duty rates. We do not quote a rate. Rates are set per commodity code and can change, so look up your code in the UK Trade Tariff and confirm with your broker.

As standard we provide the commercial invoice, packing list, Certificate of Origin. We do not issue a phytosanitary certificate; a buyer who needs one for jute or seagrass should check the destination's rules with their broker. Additional compliance declarations and material-composition documents are prepared based on your market and requirements. We confirm the full document set for your order before production begins. See export and logistics and our standards.

We do not issue fire-test, flammability or other test certificates unless they are arranged for a specific order and confirmed on your quote.

GOV.UK textile labelling guidance says the label must show fibre content, and that if a product has components with different fibre contents, each must be shown. It also says that if you place EU textile products on the UK market you should check their labels are present and accurate (GOV.UK textile labelling, checked 30 October 2026). That page does not mention carpets or floor coverings specifically, so ask your adviser how it applies to rugs.

On request from us: your own woven or sewn-in label, a barcode or QR sticker (you supply the numbers), your own packaging or polybag, and country of origin and fibre content on the label. See OEM and private label.

We do not state other UK product-safety or flammability requirements here because we have not verified them for rugs. Confirm what applies to your end use with your adviser.

For trade orders the buyer is the importer of record. GOV.UK says normal VAT and customs rules apply to goods imported into Great Britain from outside the UK for consignments over 135 pounds (GOV.UK, VAT and overseas goods sold directly to customers in the UK, checked 30 October 2026). Duty and VAT depend on your commodity code, value and VAT status, so confirm them with a customs broker. We do not state figures.

For retail orders on RS Living, import duties and taxes, if any, are paid by the customer to the carrier or customs on delivery. We do not collect or refund them. See RS Living shipping to the United Kingdom.

The usual default for this route is FOB Nhava Sheva (JNPT, Mumbai). Under FOB we clear the goods for export and load them on board at the Indian port; from that point cost and risk pass to you, and you arrange the ocean freight, destination clearance and delivery. We work to all Incoterms 2020 terms, and the term, named place and cost breakdown are confirmed on your quote before production. See export and logistics for the full list.

Retail orders are different. For orders placed through RS Living shipping to the United Kingdom, import duties and taxes, if any, are paid by the customer to the carrier or customs on delivery, and RS Living does not collect or refund them.

1. NDA and brief. We sign an NDA as standard before designs are shared, then you send construction, material, size and quantity.
2. Sample. 5 to 20 days. The sampling cost is credited against your order. See the sampling process.
3. Approval and PO. The approved sample becomes the reference for bulk. Label, barcode or QR sticker and packaging choices are confirmed here (OEM and private label).
4. Bulk production. 8 to 16 weeks.
5. Export documents and loading. We prepare the document set and clear the goods for export at Nhava Sheva under FOB.
6. Ocean freight and import clearance. Arranged by you or your forwarder and broker. Transit time depends on the carrier and service you book.
7. Air freight. Air freight for samples and urgent small orders is typically around Rs 1,000 per kg door to door (indicative, owner estimate; varies by route, weight and season).

Constructions and materials are listed in rug specifications. For ordering see how to order and wholesale rugs. New to importing? Read how to start a rug brand.

Archived with a DOI: Importing handmade rugs from India: HS headings 5701, 5702, 5703 (Zenodo, CC BY 4.0).

Core references: OEM and private label, rug specifications, how to order, wholesale rugs and the sample program.

See also: Export and logistics · OEM and private label · Rug specifications · Rug sampling process · Wholesale rugs · Importing to Germany · Importing to France · Importing to Canada · Importing to Australia · Importing to the UAE · RS Living shipping to the UK · Importing to the EU