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Exporting clothing, footwear and textiles from the UK

For clothing and textiles, origin is often the deciding question: under the UK-EU agreement, many garment rules require specific processes such as weaving and making-up, and textiles have their own tolerances. The garment is classified in chapter 61 or 62 and declared on CDS. Used textiles must be sorted and assessed as waste or non-waste before export.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Knitted garments
Chapter 61
Woven garments
Chapter 62
UK-EU origin
Specified processes, such as weaving combined with making-up
Textile tolerances
Notes 7 and 8 of Annex 2 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Used textiles
Waste or non-waste assessment before export (England)
Russia
Ban on garments and footwear over £250 per item

Before the goods leave

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Which chapter and heading does the garment fall under? Read more
  2. 2Does the garment meet the product specific rule, with cumulation or tolerance if needed? Read more
  3. 3Are suppliers' declarations held for the fabric and yarn? Read more
  4. 4Are the goods new, or used textiles that need a waste assessment? Read more
  5. 5Is the destination under sanctions, and who lodges the declaration? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Classification

How HMRC classifies apparel, which decides the origin rule that applies.

  • Garments of knitted or crocheted fabric are classified in chapter 61; garments of woven or non-woven fabric, such as felt, in chapter 62.
  • Left over right closure at the front marks men's or boys' garments and right over left women's or girls' garments, unless the cut clearly shows otherwise; garments that cannot be identified go under women's or girls' headings.
  • Shirt-blouses are in heading 6106 or 6206, and men's or boys' shirts in 6105 or 6205.
  • The product specific rule is found from the commodity code; exports from the UK are classified to an 8-digit code.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the commodity code with each style and the reasoning behind it, so the declaration and the origin rule match. Ask about this

Preferential origin for clothing and textiles

Whether a garment counts as UK-made for the buyer's lower duty rate.

  • Specified process rules are common in textiles and clothing and may require the weaving and cutting of fabric to make garments to take place in the free trade area.
  • For cotton men's shirts (620520) under the UK-EU agreement, the rule is weaving combined with making-up including cutting of fabric; with full bilateral cumulation the fabric can be woven in the EU and the shirt made up in the UK.
  • The general tolerance of 10% by value for manufactured goods does not apply to clothing and textiles; products of HS chapters 50 to 63 have their own tolerances in Notes 7 and 8 of Annex 2.
  • Where origin relies on cumulation with EU processing, the exporter must hold a supplier's declaration from the supplier of the non-originating materials.
  • A long-term supplier's declaration can cover regular consignments expected to have the same origin over a set period.
  • If the materials, suppliers or manufacturers change, the origin can change, so it is checked each time a proof of origin is issued.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps suppliers' declarations for fabric and yarn with each style, dated, shows which expire before the next shipment, and answers the buyer's origin questions from the record. Ask about this

Used and waste textiles

Controls on exporting second-hand clothing and textile waste from England.

  • Before exporting textiles, the exporter works out whether they are waste, because different controls apply.
  • Textiles are non-waste only if they are suitable for direct reuse; mixed loads, damaged items and non-textile material are treated as waste.
  • For all textile exports, the exporter sorts the textiles, removes non-textile material and contamination, presents loads to a clear specification and keeps evidence of how quality is assessed.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the sorting procedures and load specifications with each shipment, dated, as the evidence the guidance asks exporters to keep. Ask about this

Export declaration and sanctions

Clearing the goods to leave the UK, and destinations they cannot go to.

  • An export declaration is submitted on CDS before the goods leave, and the proof of origin is declared on it.
  • Records supporting a proof of origin are kept for at least 4 years, or 5 years for exports to South Korea.
  • Schedule 3A to the Russia sanctions regulations lists garments, clothing accessories and footwear over £250 per item among luxury goods that cannot be exported to Russia.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the declaration, origin evidence and invoice for each shipment together, and shows the sanctions lists for the route with their source. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ExporterThe proof of origin, the supporting records, the export declaration and the sanctions check.Origin evidence and declarations kept by shipment and dated.
Garment makerThe processes carried out, such as cutting and making-up, and the materials used.Process and material records ready for each proof of origin.
Fabric and yarn suppliersSuppliers' declarations on the origin of the materials they supply.Declarations collected once and kept with each style.
Customs agentLodging the CDS declaration with the proof of origin.The documents the agent needs, from one record.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Most export guidance here is written for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Exporters in Northern Ireland apply to DAERA for export health certificates, do not need one to export to the EU, and follow EU dual-use rules under the Windsor Framework.

An EORI number starting GB is needed to export from Great Britain; moving goods to or from Northern Ireland may need one starting XI.

Where are the goods going?

Most of what clothing, footwear and textiles have to meet is set where they are sold. Each guide sets out the rules on arrival, with the official source for each.

Questions businesses ask

Do UK-made clothes qualify for zero duty in the EU?
If they meet the product specific rule in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. For many garments that means specified processes, such as weaving combined with making-up including cutting of fabric, carried out in the UK or EU.
Can I use EU fabric and still export the garment to the EU as UK origin?
Yes, with full bilateral cumulation. HMRC's example is a cotton men's shirt with fabric woven in the EU and made up in the UK, which can be exported to the EU as originating.
Can one supplier's declaration cover regular deliveries of fabric?
Yes. A supplier that regularly sends consignments expected to have the same origin can give a long-term supplier's declaration covering consignments dispatched over a set period.
Does the 10% tolerance apply to clothing?
No. The general 10% by value tolerance for manufactured goods excludes clothing and textiles. Products of HS chapters 50 to 63 have their own tolerances in Notes 7 and 8 of Annex 2 to the agreement.
What is a supplier's declaration, and when do I need one?
A statement from your supplier about the origin of what it supplies. You must hold it when you issue a proof of origin that relies on it, for example when origin depends on cumulation with EU processing.
How is a garment classified for export?
Knitted or crocheted garments are in chapter 61 and woven or non-woven ones in chapter 62. The direction of the front closure helps decide men's or women's headings, unless the cut clearly shows otherwise.
Can I export second-hand clothing from England?
Yes, but first decide whether it is waste. Only textiles suitable for direct reuse are non-waste. You must sort loads, remove contamination, present them to a clear specification and keep evidence of your quality checks.
Can I export designer clothing to Russia?
Not above £250 per item. Schedule 3A to the Russia sanctions regulations lists garments, clothing accessories and footwear above that price among luxury goods that cannot be exported to Russia.
How long must I keep origin records for textile exports?
At least 4 years, and at least 5 years for exports to South Korea, including the proof of origin, the declaration and details of the processes and materials.
How does Compliant Always help with exporting from the UK?
Our team reads the rules for the routes you ship. Compliant Always shows which export documents apply to your product, keeps them with the shipment beside what the destination asks for, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in the UK and what your paperwork needs to show.

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