EU Combined Nomenclature · CN code · HS 2208.90

2208 90 19

2208 90 19: Other spirits and liqueurs: More than 2 litres

Other spirits and liqueurs

✓ Can be used in a customs declaration Data: EU Combined Nomenclature, in force from 1 January 2026 · checked on 24 October 2026

  1. 2208 Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80 % vol; spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages:
  2. 2208 90 Other:
  3. Arrack, in containers holding:
  4. 2208 90 19 More than 2 litres

What you pay

Importing into EU

Customs duty Free standard rate depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 3 additional measures + Excise duty in the EU member states Import requirements: 4
VAT standard rate of the member state of import, 17% to 27%
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

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 5

  • Additional dutyAdditional duties 50% with document Y-155 (Products exported directly or indirectly from the Russian Federation or Belarus) · otherwise free
    Applies to goods from
    all countries except Belarus, Russia
    Legal act
    Regulation 1227/25
    Documents
    • Y155 Products exported directly or indirectly from the Russian Federation or Belarus
  • Additional dutyAdditional duties 50%
    Applies to goods from
    Belarus, Russia
    Legal act
    Regulation 1227/25
  • Duty on low-value parcelsLow-value consignment customs duty 3 EUR
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    In force
    until 31 October 2026
    Legal act
    Regulation 0382/26
  • Duty on low-value parcelsLow-value consignment customs duty 3 EUR
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    In force
    from 1 November 2026
    Legal act
    Regulation 0382/26
    Documents
    • C127 Merchant product identifier
    • C128 Non-standardised manufacturer product identifier
    • C129 Standardised manufacturer product identifier
    • Y081 No standardised manufacturer product identifier for the declared product exists
  • Handling feeUnion handling fee 2 EUR
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    In force
    from 1 November 2026
    Legal act
    Regulation 2108/26
    Documents
    • Y126 Goods sold in distance sales

Import requirements 5

  • Import controlImport control on luxury goods
    Applies to goods from
    North Korea
    Legal act
    Regulation 2062/17
    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)
  • Import controlImport control of organic products
    Applies to goods from
    all countries except Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
    Legal act
    Regulation 2306/21
    Documents
    • C644 Certificate of inspection for organic products
    • Y929 Goods not concerned by Regulation (EU) 2018/848 (organic products)
  • Import control
    Applies to goods from
    Belarus, Ukraine
    Legal act
    Regulation 0765/06, Regulation 0692/14
    Documents
    • Y727 The prohibitions defined in article 1ra paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 765/2006 do not apply (see exemptions in article 1ra paragraph 3)
    • Y728 The prohibitions defined in article 1ra paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 765/2006 do not apply (see exemptions in article 1ra paragraph 4)
    • L152 Import authorisation by virtue of article 1ra paragraph 10 of Council Regulation (EU) 765/2006
    • Y870 Goods entered the territory of the customs union of the EU and presented to customs authorities prior to the entry into force or to applicability date of the present sanction, whichever is latest (see Article 8f of Regulation (EU) No 765/2006)
    • Y997 Goods not originating from or destined to Crimea or Sevastopol (Articles 2 and 2b.1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2014)
    • N864 Invoice declaration or origin declaration made out by any exporter on invoice or any other commercial document
    • N954 Movement certificate EUR.1
  • Import control
    Applies to goods from
    Russia
    In force
    until 31 December 2027
    Legal act
    Regulation 0833/14
    Documents
    • L142 Import authorisation by virtue of article 3i paragraph 3c of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014
    • Y874 The prohibitions defined in article 3i.1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 do not apply (see exemptions in article 3i.3aa)
    • L143 Import authorisation by virtue of article 12b.2 of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014
    • Y859 Goods entered the territory of the customs union of the EU and presented to customs authorities prior to the entry into force or to applicability date of the present sanction, whichever is latest (see Article 12e of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014)
  • Import control
    Applies to goods from
    Ukraine
    Legal act
    Regulation 0263/22
    Documents
    • Y984 Goods not originating from or not destined for the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine in the oblasts of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia
    • N954 Movement certificate EUR.1
    • N864 Invoice declaration or origin declaration made out by any exporter on invoice or any other commercial document

Export measures 2

Prohibitions, licences, controls and sanctions that apply when these goods leave the EU.

Export measuresDestinationLegal actValidity
Export control on luxury goodsSanctions regime: Russia Russia Regulation 0833/14 24 June 2023
Export control on luxury goodsSanctions regime: North Korea North Korea Regulation 2062/17 28 June 2018

TARIC data as of 25 October 2026

Import VAT in the EU member states

The rate each member state applies to goods of this code, from the Commission’s Taxes in Europe Database. A reduced rate can cover only part of the goods under a code: check the national VAT law.

  • Austria 20%
  • Belgium 21%
  • Bulgaria 20%
  • Croatia 25%
  • Cyprus 19%
  • Czechia 12% reduced rate
  • Denmark 25%
  • Estonia 24%
  • Finland 25.5%
  • France 5.5% reduced rate
  • Germany 19%
  • Greece 24%
  • Hungary 27%
  • Ireland 23%
  • Italy 22%
  • Latvia 12% reduced rate
  • Lithuania 21%
  • Luxembourg 17%
  • Malta 18%
  • Netherlands 21%
  • Poland 23%
  • Portugal 23%
  • Romania 21%
  • Slovakia 23%
  • Slovenia 22%
  • Spain 21%
  • Sweden 25%

TEDB · 25 October 2026

Excise duty in the EU member states

Alcohol, tobacco and energy products also pay excise duty in the member state where they are released for consumption, on top of customs duty and VAT. The rates below are the standard national rates reported to the European Commission; the category that applies depends on the product (strength, sparkling or still, use).

Ethyl alcohol (spirits)

Member stateRate
Austria €1,200.00 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Belgium €2,992.79 per hl of pure alcohol
Bulgaria €562.42 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Croatia €796.34 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Cyprus €956.82 per hl of pure alcohol
Czechia €1,691.04 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Denmark €2,009.13 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Estonia €2,281.00 per hl of pure alcohol
Finland €5,628.00 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
France €620.47 – €1,932.42 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Germany €1,303.00 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Greece €2,450.00 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Hungary €1,580.58 per hl of pure alcohol
Ireland €4,257.00 per hl of pure alcohol
Italy €1,035.52 per hl of pure alcohol
Latvia €2,084.00 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Lithuania €3,130.00 per hl of pure alcohol
Luxembourg €1,123.10 per hl of pure alcohol
Malta €1,360.00 per hl of pure alcohol
Netherlands €1,827.00 per hl of pure alcohol
Poland €1,970.50 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Portugal €1,253.70 – €1,602.51 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Romania €1,150.80 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Slovakia €1,490.40 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Slovenia €1,412.40 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Spain €958.94 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist
Sweden €4,775.23 per hl of pure alcohol · reduced rates exist

The CN code can also cover goods taxed in another category, and member states apply reduced rates and exemptions (small producers, uses). Source: TEDB · 22 October 2026 · © European Union, CC BY 4.0

EU: imports by month · HS 2208.90

last 12 months€624.6m+15.7% · previous 12 months
Average import price€4.84 per kg
Preferential rate1%
Jan 2024: €33mFeb 2024: €28.9mMar 2024: €35mApr 2024: €43.2mMay 2024: €40.4mJun 2024: €44.3mJul 2024: €38.9mAug 2024: €34.8mSept 2024: €39.1mOct 2024: €34.8mNov 2024: €55.5mDec 2024: €39.8mJan 2025: €37.7mFeb 2025: €38.9mMar 2025: €37.1mApr 2025: €56.3mMay 2025: €43.2mJun 2025: €51.4mJul 2025: €63.7mAug 2025: €42.2mSept 2025: €51.1mOct 2025: €45.9mNov 2025: €50.1mDec 2025: €53.5mJan 2026: €48.3mFeb 2026: €36.5mMar 2026: €49.6mApr 2026: €46mMay 2026: €56mJun 2026: €59.2mJul 2026: €75.5mAug 2026: €52.9m 202420252026
Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Monthly data: Eurostat Comext (CC BY 4.0), HMRC (OGL v3.0)

Main suppliers, last 12 months

CountryValueShareChange
Mexico €264.4m 42.3% +23.1%
United States €162.4m 26% +90.4%
United Kingdom €83.9m 13.4% -9.2%
Türkiye €25m 4% -11.1%
Norway €11.7m 1.9% -23.2%
China €11.2m 1.8% -68.7%
Switzerland €10.6m 1.7% +3%
Serbia €7.4m 1.2% +8.2%

Same subheading in other tariffs

2208.90 Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength: other

EU lines: 2208.90

Binding rulings for similar goods

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.

  • N344585 U.S. CBP 6 January 2025 · 2208.90.71.00

    The tariff classification of Imitation Silver Tequila from the United States

  • N344583 U.S. CBP 20 December 2024 · 2208.90.71.00

    The tariff classification of Imitation Brandy with Natural Flavors from the United States

  • N344584 U.S. CBP 20 December 2024 · 2208.90.71.00

    The tariff classification of Imitation Gold Tequila from the United States

  • N333933 U.S. CBP 7 August 2023 · 2208.90.75.00

    The tariff classification of Feline Shell and Coral Essence Blends from Australia

  • 600015630 HMRC 13 July 2026 – 12 July 2029 · 2208 90 69 00

    Product is a pack of 12x 100ml raspberry mojito frozen cocktails with 8% Vol. They are packaged in a tapered cylindrical push up tube with a foil lid. It is made from Plantation rum, Raspberry flavour, Mint flavour, lime flavour, Glycerine, Cellulose gum, Citric acid, Demerara sugar, Sugar,…

  • 600012863 HMRC 17 April 2025 – 16 April 2028 · 2208 90 69 00

    A mushroom tincture, enhanced with Vitamin C to support normal psychological function and reduce tiredness and fatigue. Contains mushroom, herbs and plant extracts. With an alcoholic strength by volume of 29%. It is in a liquid form and is dosed using a pipette. Recommended dosage: 1.5ml directly…

  • 600012864 HMRC 17 April 2025 – 16 April 2028 · 2208 90 69 00

    A mushroom tincture, enhanced with Vitamin C to support normal collagen formation and protect cells for oxidative stress. Contains mushroom and plant extracts. With an alcoholic strength by volume of 25%. It is in a liquid form and is dosed using a pipette. Recommended dosage: 1.5ml directly under…

  • 600012865 HMRC 17 April 2025 – 16 April 2028 · 2208 90 69 00

    A mushroom tincture, enhanced with Vitamin C to support normal function of the immune system and protect cells from oxidative stress. Contains mushroom, herbs and plant extracts. With an alcoholic strength by volume of 32%. It is in a liquid form and is dosed using a pipette. Recommended dosage:…

29 rulings in total for this code

Legal notes

Notes

Chapter notes: Chapter 22 →

CN Explanatory Notes

The European Commission's explanatory notes on how to classify goods in these CN codes. They are not legally binding but customs authorities follow them; they complement the HS Explanatory Notes of the World Customs Organization.

2208 · Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80 % vol; spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages

Spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages of heading 2208 are alcoholic liquids generally intended for human consumption and are prepared:

  • either directly by distilling (with or without added flavouring) natural fermented liquids such as wine or cider, or previously fermented fruit, marc, grain or other vegetable products, or
  • by simply adding various aromatic substances, and sometimes sugar, to alcohol produced by distillation.

The various spirituous beverages are described in the HS Explanatory Note to heading 2208, third paragraph, (1) to (18).

As regards undenatured spirits, it should be noted that they remain classified in this heading even if they have an alcoholic strength of 80 % vol or higher, whether or not the product is ready for consumption as a drink.

This heading does not cover alcoholic beverages obtained by fermentation (headings 2203 00 to 2206 00).

2208 90 11 and 2208 90 19 · Arrack, in containers holding

Arrack is a spirit manufactured, using a special yeast, from sugar-cane molasses or from molasses of the sweet juices of plants and of rice.

Arrack should not be confused with raki which is obtained by redistilling raisin or dry fig spirits with aniseed and falls in subheading 2208 90 56 or 2208 90 77.

General notes to the chapter

BEVERAGES, SPIRITS AND VINEGAR

General

Where a distinction is made in this chapter between products in containers holding 2 litres or less and those holding more than 2 litres, the quantity to be taken into consideration is the volume of liquid contained in the containers and not the capacity of the containers.

This chapter covers — in so far as they are not medicaments — tonic preparations which, even though they are taken in small quantities, for example, by the spoonful, are suitable for direct consumption as beverages. Non-alcoholic tonic preparations which require dilution before consumption do not fall in Chapter 22 (generally, heading 2106).

Additional note 2(b)

The potential alcoholic strength by volume is to be calculated by multiplying the mass of the sugars (calculated in kilograms of invert sugar) contained in 100 litres of the product in question by a factor of 0,6.

Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union, Official Journal C (consolidated text and later amendments) · © European Union

This line in earlier years

The Combined Nomenclature of each year, as published in the Official Journal: description, third-country duty and supplementary unit.

YearDescriptionThird-country dutySupplementary unit
2026 More than 2 litres Free l alc. 100 %
2025 unchanged Free l alc. 100 %
2024 unchanged Free l alc. 100 %
2023 unchanged Free l alc. 100 %
2022 unchanged Free l alc. 100 %
2021 unchanged Free l alc. 100 %
2020 unchanged Free l alc. 100 %
2019 More than 2 litres Free l alc. 100 %

In the EU Combined Nomenclature, 2208 90 19 is one of 16 lines under subheading 2208.90, undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength: other.

The third-country duty is free, and quantities are declared in l alc. 100 %.

In the EU, additional duty of 50% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.

In the 12 months to August 2026, the EU imported other spirits and liqueurs (HS 2208.90) worth €624.6m (up 16% on the year before), at an average of €4.84 per kg; Mexico supplied 42%, followed by United States.

For the same subheading, the UK duty is free, the Türkiye duty is 0%–70%, the US duty is free, the Canada duty is free, the Mexico duty is 10%–20%, the Brazil duty is 18%, the Argentina duty is 20%, the Peru duty is 6%, the New Zealand duty is free, the Japan duty is 0%–16%, the Taiwan duty is 0%–40%, the GCC duty is 5%–50%, the Switzerland duty is free, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is free and the Nigeria duty is 20%.

EU member states imported goods of subheading 2208.90 worth US$2bn in 2024; the largest supplier from outside the EU was Mexico, and the United Kingdom ranked 2nd with US$95m.

Questions and answers

What is the EU import duty for CN code 2208 90 19?

The third-country duty in the EU Combined Nomenclature is free; the supplementary unit is l alc. 100 %. Preferential rates for goods from agreement countries, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

Do anti-dumping or other extra duties apply to 2208 90 19?

Additional duty of 50% on goods from Belarus and Russia. These are charged on top of the customs duty.

Where does the EU import these goods from?

For subheading 2208.90 as a whole, the largest supplier from outside the EU in 2024 was Mexico (US$185m), followed by the United Kingdom.

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Typical products

Everyday names, not part of the legal text.