Seeds, fruit and spores; of a kind used for sowing (heading 1209): importing markets

Fact sheet

Code

1209

Chapter

12 · Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit, industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder

Subheadings

13

What to know before exporting HS 1209 from Spain

HS 1209 is the heading for seeds, fruit and spores used for sowing. It sits in chapter 12 and is divided into 13 subheadings, according to the fact sheet on this page. The first step is to classify the product at subheading level, because the rest of the export process depends on it.

The table shows that demand is spread across several regions. European buyers (the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland) appear alongside Mexico, the United States, China, Canada and Japan. Imports declared by a country include re-exports and trade between traders, so a high figure does not always mean a large end market for a new supplier.

Tariffs depend on the subheading, the destination and the agreement in force between the EU and that country. For a company exporting from Spain, the duty applicable to each combination is consulted in Access2Markets, and for shipments to non-EU countries it is worth cross-checking with the destination customs authority.

Seeds for sowing are normally subject to plant health controls, and many countries also regulate varietal quality, labelling and certification. These requirements differ by destination and by species. The competent authority for plant health in Spain and the importing country's plant protection service are the reference points to check before quoting.

Within the EU, shipments between member states follow different rules from exports to third countries. Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland in the table are EU markets, while Mexico, the United States, China, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, India, Türkiye and Morocco are not. Confirm which regime applies before preparing documents.

Frequently asked questions