Locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet, sugar cane, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground; fruit stones, kernels and other vegetable products (including unroasted chicory roots) used primarily for human consumption, n.e.c (heading 1212): importing markets

Fact sheet

Code

1212

Chapter

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

Subheadings

10

What to know before exporting under HS 1212

HS 1212 is a heading of Chapter 12 of the Harmonized System. It groups products of very different nature: seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet, sugar cane, locust beans, and fruit stones and kernels used mainly for human consumption. Each one has its own commercial logic, so the first step is to identify which product you actually ship.

The fact sheet above shows that the heading is divided into 10 subheadings. The subheading is what sets the duty, the statistical reporting and, often, the documents requested. Classifying at heading level only is not enough to quote a price or fill in a customs declaration.

The market table shows concentrated demand. China and Japan appear well ahead of the rest, and the United States, Thailand and Germany follow. Within Europe, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain and Italy all appear among the main importers. The table reports each country's total imports of the heading from the world, not purchases from Spain.

For a company exporting from Spain, the duty depends on the subheading and on the agreement in force between the EU and the destination. Shipments to EU member states move within the single market and carry no customs duty. For third countries, the applicable duty and preferential origin conditions are checked in Access2Markets, entering the full code and the destination.

Products of plant origin that are fresh, chilled or dried are usually subject to sanitary and plant health controls at the destination. Which ones apply depends on the product, its state and the country. They are checked in the importing country's official requirements, and the exporter should confirm them with the buyer before production or shipment.

Because the heading is a catch-all for several products, check that the code in the buyer's order matches your own classification. A mismatch between the exporter's and the importer's subheading is a common source of delays and duty adjustments at customs.

Frequently asked questions about HS 1212