HS Code 7010 vs 7013 for UK Glass Containers
Release time: 2026-09-23
Prepared 16 September 2026. Check current official guidance before relying on this article for a shipment.
Classification starts with the actual article
A bottle shape alone does not settle whether a glass article belongs under 7010 or 7013. Buyers should describe construction, closure, dimensions and the intended function, and provide photographs or a sample where needed.
Broadly, heading 7010 concerns glass containers for conveyance or packing of goods; 7013 concerns table, kitchen and similar glassware. The distinction requires a product-specific review rather than a choice between convenient labels.
A useful official example
HMRC’s 2022 tariff notice describes a skull-shaped bottle with a loose cork closure that was not suitable to prevent leakage during transport. It was classified under 7013 as table or kitchen glassware. The reasoning relied on the article’s objective characteristics.
That example does not establish that every decorative bottle belongs under 7013. A commercially filled bottle with a different closure and function can present different facts. Use the notice to understand the reasoning, not as a template for reclassifying your range.
Prepare a classification evidence pack
Include the drawing, nominal capacity, glass construction, closure details, intended filling and use, and the way the product is marketed and supplied. Explain whether the article is imported empty, filled or as part of a set.
Record any existing classification advice and the exact product it concerns. A decision about one model should not be silently applied to a substantially different model.
Resolve uncertainty before tooling
Ask your broker to review the evidence before approving a mould or paying for a large production run. For eligible recurring imports, discuss a UK Advance Tariff Ruling with the appropriate adviser. Check the current UK service requirements.
Changing a description on an invoice is not a substitute for changing the physical goods or establishing their correct classification. A sourcing brief should reflect the design the business actually needs.
Keep the purchasing and classification records connected
Give each approved specification a revision number. If the closure, capacity or function changes, flag that revision for review. The broker should receive the same specification that the factory has been asked to produce.
This creates a clearer handover from product development to import planning and reduces the chance of a historic code being copied onto a new product.
Related guides
UK anti-dumping overview for glass bottles
Discuss your packaging project with Gowing
Send a bottle photo or drawing, capacity, intended use, quantity and delivery target. These details help structure a discussion of the specification, manufacturing information and quotation requirements.
Contact Gowing about a UK glass packaging project
Explore Gowing glass packaging
Sources and scope
UK Government current glass container trade remedies notice
HMRC glass bottle classification example
General procurement information. Shipment classification, customs and tax treatment require product-specific review by the importer and its advisers. Calculations and scenarios are illustrative.
