To import brass fittings to the USA or brass parts to the UK, the main difference is not the metal but the approvals. Drinking-water fittings face strict lead and product approval rules in both countries, while other brass parts face lighter requirements.
Rules change and apply differently by product, so confirm them with your customs broker and the relevant approval body before you place an order.
Is the part for drinking water?
Start with the end use. A brass part that touches drinking water is regulated much more strictly than a terminal, a decorative part or a machine component.
If it does carry water, read lead-free brass and when it is required first, because the alloy choice drives everything else.
Do not rely on the broker alone for the water-contact question. Your customer, specifier or plumbing merchant will usually tell you which approval they need, and getting that in writing before the order saves a rejected shipment later. Brass that is cheaper because it uses a different alloy is the usual cause of trouble.
Importing brass fittings to the USA
In the USA, federal law limits the lead content of the wetted surfaces of products for drinking water. Many states and plumbing codes also expect third-party certification to a recognised standard such as NSF/ANSI 61 or 372.
The factory should show you its certification scope and the alloy it applies to. A certificate for one alloy does not cover another, and a certificate issued to a trader does not prove that a particular plant made the part.
The importer of record must also handle country of origin marking and the correct customs classification. Trade measures on metal products have shifted in recent years, so check the current position.
Importing brass parts to the UK
For the UK, plumbing fittings that connect to the public water supply are subject to water fittings regulations, and installers and specifiers often look for an approved product listing. Ask the water industry body for the current approval route before you order.
Separately, the UK has its own post-Brexit conformity marking and its own substances rules. For parts used in electrical equipment, see whether RoHS applies to brass parts. For sanitary products, see brass sanitary fittings and their standards.
If your product includes a plastic or rubber seal that touches water, that material may need its own approval. Treat the assembly as a whole, not only the brass body.
What both markets will ask the factory to show
Whichever country you ship to, prepare these items before the first order:
- A material certificate for each batch, with a chemical analysis that shows lead and other regulated elements.
- A dimensional report and thread gauge check against the standard in your drawing.
- A statement of conformity to the relevant substance rules, signed by the factory.
- Clear marking and packing, including country of origin and a batch code for traceability.
Next step
We find brass manufacturers in Jamnagar, audit them, have samples tested at a laboratory, and supervise loading. Book a free sourcing review with your drawing and end use, and we will tell you which approvals you should ask for first.