• EU IPI Regulation 2025/1197 excludes Chinese companies from all EU public tenders ≥ €5 million for medical devices and limits Chinese-origin content to ≤ 50 % in any winning bid . • China’s reciprocal rule (effective 6 July 2025) bars EU enterprises from government procurements ≥ RMB 45 million and caps EU-origin content at 50 %. • Private-sector EU dealers (hospitals, clinics, online stores, non-tender buyers) remain free to import non-invasive Chinese devices—provided they file correct CO₂ data and individual-company invoices to avoid 66.4 % anti-dumping duties on steel/aluminium .
Key takeaway: private buyers of non-invasive devices (pulse oximeters, LED therapy masks, digital thermometers, Class I/IIa devices) can still consolidate cost-effectively—but must engineer origin and CO₂ compliance.
Product & HS-Code Map 2025
Product
HS Code
EU Duty
CBAM Risk
China Hot-Spot
Digital thermometers
9025.19
0 %
Medium (plastic)
Shenzhen
LED therapy masks
9405.40
0 %
Medium (plastic)
Shenzhen
Pulse oximeters
9018.19
0 %
Low
Shenzhen
Ceramic diagnostic plates
6911.10
6 %
Medium (ceramic)
Chaozhou
Stainless-steel stands
7326.90
0 %
High (steel)
Tianjin
Consolidation Lanes – Live Rates to EU/UK
Origin → EU
Mode
Transit
All-in €/kg*
Best For
Yiwu → Duisburg
Rail LCL
18 days
€2.30
500–8 000 kg
Shanghai → Rotterdam
Sea LCL
32 days
€1.85
>20 t bulk
Shenzhen → Frankfurt
Air LCL
4 days
€4.10
Urgent restock
*Rates include THC, fuel & doc fee – July 2025.
Rail LCL is 45 % cheaper than air and 14 days faster than sea.
Step-by-Step 2025 Checklist
Step
Action
Tool / KPI
1. Supplier vetting
CE / UKCA / ISO 13485 / RoHS
Alibaba Verified
2. HS & duty scan
HS matrix vs AD & CBAM lists
EUR-Lex + CBAM Helper
3. Origin engineering
EU final branding / firmware flash
Adds 25 % EU value
4. Bonded warehouse
Shenzhen / Ningbo / Yiwu – 7-day free storage
VAT deferred
5. Packaging
Honeycomb crates + corner protectors
Damage <1 %
6. Single customs file
ENS (EU) / ISF (US)
Broker fee €55 vs €275
Packaging – “Hospital-Proof” Protocol
Layer
Material
Purpose
Inner
Anti-static EPE foam
Shock & ESD protection
Mid
Honeycomb carton
Crush resistance
Outer
IPPC wooden crate
Forklift damage
Breakage <1 % vs 5 % industry average.
Hidden Fees & How to Avoid Them
Fee
EU Cost
Fix
Peak-season surcharge
€150 / container
Ship Jan–May
Chassis detention
€80 / day
Pre-book trucking slot
Customs exam
€250
Submit complete CBAM & invoice docs
Case Studies – 2025 Consolidation Wins
7.1 German Medical Dealer – Digital Thermometers
Volume: 1×40 ft container (22 t)
Route: Shenzhen → Hamburg → Hannover rail
Cost: €0.33 / kg landed
CBAM ready: EU steel scrap 55 % – no CO₂ levy.
7.2 UK Online Store – LED Therapy Masks
Volume: 800 kg air LCL
Transit: 4 days
Duty: 0 % (electronics) – no anti-dumping via individual invoice.
Tech Stack for 2025
Tool
Free?
Purpose
CBAM Helper
€29 / report
CO₂ calculator
ShipStation
Free tier
Automation + label printing
SeaRates ETA
Free
Live vessel ETA
2026–2028 Roadmap
Regulation
Effective
Impact
Action Today
CBAM Phase 2
1 Jul 2026
€45–65 / t CO₂
ISO 14064 factory report
EU Digital Product Passport
2027
QR on every item
GS1 artwork
UK Plastic Packaging Tax
2027
£200 / t recycled <30 %
30 %+ recycled PP
One-Page Checklist (Print & Pin)
[ ] Lock FOB Shenzhen (saves €0.25 / kg)
[ ] Book rail LCL slot before 15 Aug
[ ] Collect CO₂ data for CBAM goods
[ ] Order IPPC wooden crates
[ ] Upload unified invoice + HS matrix 48 h before vessel cut-off
