To import textiles to the UK from India, you register for customs, classify the goods, claim the right duty rate, and make sure fibre content and care labels meet UK rules. UK import duty on garments from India now depends on whether the goods qualify under the India-UK trade agreement.
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement came into force on 15 July 2026, according to published reports. Reports describe duty-free access for most Indian textiles and clothing, but only for goods that meet the rules of origin. Confirm the rate for your exact commodity code on the UK Trade Tariff before you rely on it.
How do you claim the agreement's duty rate?
The preference is not automatic. The exporter has to show the goods qualify, and the importer has to claim the preference at the border. As of October 2026, check the official guidance on the origin declaration and how it is worded. In general you will need:
- The commodity code from the UK Trade Tariff.
- A statement of origin from the Indian exporter, in the form the agreement requires.
- Proof that the processing steps in India meet the product-specific rule for that code.
Origin rules for garments often depend on where the fabric or yarn was made, so ask your supplier early. Our guide on the India-UK and India-EU trade agreements explains how this works in general.
What are the UK textile labelling rules?
UK textile labelling covers the fibre content of textile products sold to consumers. The Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012 require the fibre names and percentages to be shown, using the approved fibre names, and the label must be durable and visible at the point of sale. Check the current text on legislation.gov.uk or with Trading Standards, because the UK has its own rules separate from the EU.
Care labels are not required by law in the same way, but nearly all UK retailers require them. See care labelling rules in the US, UK and EU for what they usually contain. For origin marking, use country of origin marking for textiles from India.
What safety rules apply?
UK general product safety law applies to consumer textiles. Children's clothing has specific requirements, including drawcord limits and flammability for nightwear. Chemical restrictions also apply, so ask the mill for test reports that cover the restricted substances your retailer lists. Our guides on UK and EU chemical restrictions in textiles and azo dyes show what to request.
The importer, or the brand placing the goods on the UK market, carries the legal responsibility for compliance. Confirm any product-specific point with Trading Standards or your customs broker.
What should you do before the first order?
Set out the commodity code, fibre composition, origin rule and label text before the factory cuts any fabric. It is cheap to fix a label draft and expensive to fix a shipped container.
Also agree who obtains the origin statement and when you will receive it. A late statement can cost you the preference on that shipment.
Next step
We find and audit factories, check samples and documents, have lots tested, and supervise production and loading. If you are planning a UK import, book a free sourcing review and bring your commodity codes and label drafts.