Subheading · Chapter 40 · Heading 4015
4015.12: Of a kind used for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary purposes
Medical rubber gloves
4015.12 is the HS subheading for medical rubber gloves, under heading 4015 in chapter 40.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 4015 12 00 00 Of a kind used for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary purposes 2%pa
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 3
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 598
- Documents
- 9014
- Duty suspensionAutonomous tariff suspension Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- In force
- until 31 December 2028
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1435
- Duty suspensionSuspension - goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1431
- Documents
- C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
Import requirements 5
- Prohibition or restrictionImport prohibition
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/411
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Syria
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/792
- Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
- Applies to goods from
- Iran, Libya, North Korea, Russia
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/461, S.I. 2019/411, 2020 No. 1665, S.I. 2019/855
- Import controlImport control on luxury goods
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/411
- Documents
- Y945 Travellers' personal effects or goods of a non-commercial nature for travellers' personal use contained in their luggage (Art 10.2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1509)
- Y946 Goods necessary for the official purposes of diplomatic or consular missions of Member States in the DPRK or international organisations enjoying immunities in accordance with international law, or to the personal effects of their staff (Art 10.3 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1509)
- Y948 Goods other than those described in Annex VIII (Luxury goods) of Reg. (EU) 2017/1509
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | 2% |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code " EU") | Free | |
| DCTS Enhanced | Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 moreAlgeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu | Free |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Andorra agreement | Andorra | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| DCTS Standard | Indonesia | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Iceland agreement | Iceland | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | £60.5m | 43.9% | +22.8% |
 Malaysia | £54.1m | 39.3% | -23.5% |
 Thailand | £10m | 7.3% | +29.5% |
 Sri Lanka | £6.8m | 4.9% | -18.1% |
 Indonesia | £1.6m | 1.1% | +159.7% |
 Vietnam | £1.1m | 0.8% | -70.1% |
 Hong Kong SAR China | £1.1m | 0.8% | +88.2% |
 Austria | £1.1m | 0.8% | -13.1% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 2% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 2% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
USA Free – 14% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 7% 
Canada Free – 15.5% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 7.8% 
Mexico Free – 15% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 7.5% 
Brazil 14.4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Argentina 16% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines 
Peru 6% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Japan Free Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Taiwan 5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Nigeria Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$275kUS$275k+US$2m+US$27m+> US$249m
Exports: 138
- Malaysia: US$2bn
- China: US$1bn
- Thailand: US$874m
- Indonesia: US$249m
- Germany: US$129m
- Sri Lanka: US$96m
- Vietnam: US$72m
- Austria: US$69m
- India: US$58m
- Belgium: US$54m
- Poland: US$42m
- Netherlands: US$30m
- United States: US$27m
- Denmark: US$22m
- Hungary: US$16m
- France: US$16m
- Oman: US$13m
- Spain: US$12m
- Sweden: US$12m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$9m
- Singapore: US$8m
- Türkiye: US$7m
- Italy: US$6m
- United Kingdom: US$5m
- Canada: US$2m
- Finland: US$2m
- Egypt: US$2m
- Croatia: US$2m
- Portugal: US$2m
- Czechia: US$2m
- South Africa: US$2m
- Morocco: US$2m
- Serbia: US$2m
- Bulgaria: US$2m
- Ireland: US$2m
- Slovenia: US$2m
- United Arab Emirates: US$1m
- Australia: US$1m
- Romania: US$1m
- Kenya: US$1m
- Kazakhstan: US$1m
- Uzbekistan: US$1m
- Brazil: US$1m
- Taiwan: US$725k
- Mexico: US$721k
- Panama: US$691k
- Norway: US$654k
- Saudi Arabia: US$651k
- Latvia: US$601k
- Cambodia: US$595k
- Switzerland: US$589k
- Russia: US$585k
- Chile: US$458k
- Tonga: US$418k
- Lithuania: US$392k
- Uganda: US$353k
- Guatemala: US$337k
- Barbados: US$327k
- Iran: US$325k
- Greece: US$305k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$1mUS$1m+US$9m+US$45m+> US$127m
Imports: 213
- United States: US$2bn
- Germany: US$430m
- Netherlands: US$172m
- Poland: US$148m
- Spain: US$142m
- United Kingdom: US$138m
- Canada: US$127m
- Brazil: US$123m
- France: US$120m
- Türkiye: US$119m
- China: US$113m
- Japan: US$104m
- Russia: US$96m
- Italy: US$95m
- Sweden: US$86m
- Belgium: US$83m
- Malaysia: US$71m
- Austria: US$70m
- Argentina: US$53m
- Australia: US$52m
- South Korea: US$46m
- India: US$45m
- Saudi Arabia: US$41m
- Switzerland: US$41m
- Mexico: US$34m
- Taiwan: US$34m
- Denmark: US$34m
- Egypt: US$32m
- Norway: US$31m
- Hungary: US$31m
- Czechia: US$29m
- Colombia: US$28m
- Finland: US$28m
- Greece: US$27m
- Chile: US$25m
- United Arab Emirates: US$25m
- Ukraine: US$25m
- Romania: US$21m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$21m
- Ireland: US$19m
- Israel: US$18m
- Portugal: US$18m
- South Africa: US$16m
- Peru: US$15m
- Indonesia: US$15m
- New Zealand: US$15m
- Philippines: US$14m
- Vietnam: US$12m
- Pakistan: US$12m
- Kenya: US$11m
- Morocco: US$11m
- Thailand: US$10m
- Bulgaria: US$10m
- Ethiopia: US$9m
- Singapore: US$9m
- Slovakia: US$8m
- Croatia: US$8m
- Estonia: US$7m
- Iraq: US$7m
- Kazakhstan: US$7m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malaysia | US$2bn | 39.6% |
| 2 | China | US$1bn | 26% |
| 3 | Thailand | US$874m | 16.1% |
| 4 | Indonesia | US$249m | 4.6% |
| 5 |  Germany | US$129m | 2.4% |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | US$96m | 1.8% |
| 7 | Vietnam | US$72m | 1.3% |
| 8 | Austria | US$69m | 1.3% |
| 9 |  India | US$58m | 1.1% |
| 10 |  Belgium | US$54m | 1% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$2bn | 37.6% |
| 2 | Germany | US$430m | 7.9% |
| 3 |  Netherlands | US$172m | 3.2% |
| 4 |  Poland | US$148m | 2.7% |
| 5 |  Spain | US$142m | 2.6% |
| 6 | United Kingdom | US$138m | 2.5% |
| 7 | Canada | US$127m | 2.3% |
| 8 | Brazil | US$123m | 2.3% |
| 9 |  France | US$120m | 2.2% |
| 10 | Türkiye | US$119m | 2.2% |
Import duty on this product around the world 93
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 5%median duty
- 39number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 30%highest: Algeria, Morocco, Botswana
93
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 2% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 30% | 2023 | |
 Armenia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Australia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bahamas | 0% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Belize | 0% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 0% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 0% | 2022 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 20% | 2023 | |
 Burkina Faso | 0% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cameroon | 5% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 7.8% | 0% – 16% | 2023 |
 Central African Republic | 5% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 5% | 2023 | |
| China | 8% | 2023 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 5% | 2023 | |
 Costa Rica | 7% | 0% – 14% | 2023 |
 Dominican Republic | 4.3% | 0% – 14% | 2023 |
 El Salvador | 7.5% | 0% – 15% | 2022 |
 Equatorial Guinea | 5% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 20% | 2023 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 2% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 13% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 5% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ghana | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guatemala | 7.5% | 0% – 15% | 2023 |
 Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 0% | 2023 | |
 Honduras | 7.5% | 0% – 15% | 2023 |
| Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 10% | 2023 | |
| Indonesia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 9% | 8% – 10% | 2023 |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Lesotho | 20% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 0% | 2023 | |
| Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 20% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Morocco | 21% | 2.5% – 40% | 2023 |
 Mozambique | 0% | 2023 | |
 Namibia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Nepal | 5% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 7.5% | 0% – 15% | 2023 |
 Niger | 0% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 0% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 20% | 2023 | |
 Panama | 7.5% | 0% – 15% | 2023 |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Philippines | 5% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Rwanda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 12% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 0% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 0% | 2023 | |
 South Africa | 20% | 2023 | |
 South Korea | 8% | 2023 | |
| Sri Lanka | 20% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 0% | 2023 | |
| Switzerland | 2.5%* | 2023 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
| Thailand | 10% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 0% | 2023 | |
| Türkiye | 2% | 2023 | |
 Uganda | 10% | 2023 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 2% | 2023 | |
| United States | 7% | 0% – 14% | 2023 |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
| Vietnam | 20% | 2023 | |
 Zambia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2022–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 84822 Rubber gloves
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 711220
- CPC 2.1 product
- 36260 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories (including gloves) of vulcanized rubber other than hard rubber
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 2219 Manufacture of other rubber products
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 4015.11, 4015.19 | changed |
| 2012 | 4015.11, 4015.19 | changed |
| 2007 | 4015.11, 4015.19 | changed |
| 2002 | 4015.11, 4015.19 | changed |
| 1996 | 4015.11, 4015.19 | changed |
| 1992 | 4015.11, 4015.19 | changed |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
EU deforestation regulation (EUDR)
Products of these commodities may only be placed on the EU market or exported if they are deforestation-free, legally produced and covered by a due diligence statement.
- Rubber applies from 30 December 2026
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories (including gloves, mittens and mitts), for all purposes, of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber (not including used products and second-hand products)
Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, Annex I (consolidated text)
Binding rulings for similar goods 1
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
- 600012472 HMRC
AQL 1.5 medical grade, non-sterile, powder-free disposable latex white gloves. The gloves have textured fingers and palm area, they also have a beaded cuff. The gloves conform to BS EN455 parts 1, 2 & 3. They can be used in a variety of settings and are single use only. Each cardboard box contains…
Recent rule changes mentioning this code
Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.
- Sanctions · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R0506 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
- Sanctions · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R0513 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
Code history
Since 2022; before, these goods were classified under 4015.11, 4015.19.
Subheading 4015.12 is a single line in the UK Global Tariff, where the duty is 2%.
The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 4015.12; the duty is 2%.
Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard 2%; 174 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported medical rubber gloves worth £137.7m (down 4% on the year before), at an average of £4.52 per kg; China supplied 44%, followed by Malaysia.
World trade in medical rubber gloves reached US$5bn in 2024, up 21.4% on 2023.
Malaysia was the largest exporter with 39.6% of the total, ahead of China.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for of a kind used for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary purposes?
Of a kind used for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary purposes fall under HS subheading 4015.12, part of heading 4015, in section VII of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on of a kind used for medical, surgical, dental or… in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 4015.12 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 2%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on of a kind used for medical, surgical, dental or… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 4015.12 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 2%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most of a kind used for medical, surgical, dental or…?
Malaysia, with US$2bn in 2024 (39.6% of world exports).
Which countries can export medical rubber gloves to the UK duty-free?
174 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, DCTS Enhanced. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of 2% applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Is there anti-dumping duty on medical rubber gloves?
The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.
Where does the UK import medical rubber gloves from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were China (44%), Malaysia (39%) and Thailand (7%), out of total imports of £137.7m.
Typical products
- Surgical gloves, of vulcanised rubber (PPE)
- disposable gloves, rubber
- latex gloves
- rubber gloves, disposable
- rubber gloves, medical, surgical, dental
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.