3204 20 00 · Synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents
This subheading covers the products described in the HS Explanatory Note to heading 3204, (II), (1).
EU Combined Nomenclature · CN code · HS 3204.20
3204 20 00
3204 20 00: Synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents
Not declarable on its own: use one of its 2 subdivisions Data: EU Combined Nomenclature, in force from 1 January 2026 · checked on 24 October 2026
- 3204 Synthetic organic colouring matter, whether or not chemically defined; preparations as specified in note 3 to this chapter based on synthetic organic colouring matter; synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores, whether or not chemically defined:
- 3204 20 00 Synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents
What you pay
Importing into EU
Customs duty 6% standard rate depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 5 additional measures 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 7
- Duty suspensionSuspension - goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- Regulation 2658/87
- Documents
- C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
- Duty suspensionAirworthiness tariff suspension Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- Regulation 1517/18
- Documents
- C119 Authorised Release Certificate — EASA Form 1 (Appendix I to Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012), or equivalent certificate
- Duty suspensionAutonomous tariff suspension Free
- Only for
- 3204 20 00 10 Colourant C.I. Fluorescent Brightener 184 (CAS RN 7128-64-5) and preparations based thereon with a colourant C.I. Fluorescent Brightener 184 content of 20% or more by weight
- Applies to goods from
- all countries except Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- Regulation 2605/25
- Duty suspensionAutonomous tariff suspension Free
- Only for
- 3204 20 00 30 Colourant C.I. Fluorescent Brightener 351|(CAS RN 27344-41-8) and preparations based thereon with a colourant C.I. Fluorescent Brightener 351|content of 90|% or more by weight
- Applies to goods from
- all countries except Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- Regulation 2605/25
- 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
- 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 controlVeterinary control
- Applies to goods from
- all countries except Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino
- Legal act
- Regulation 0632/21
- Documents
- N853 Common Health Entry Document for Products (CHED-P) (as set out in Part 2, Section B of Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 (OJ L 261))
- Y058 Exemption by virtue of Article 7 of Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/2122 (Goods which form part of passengers' personal luggage and are intended for personal consumption or use) or Article 10 (small consignments of goods sent to natural persons which are not intended to be placed on the market) of Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/2122
- Y170 Goods with third country origin coming from Andorra, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y171 Goods with third country origin coming from Switzerland, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y174 Goods with third country origin coming from Iceland, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y175 Goods with third country origin coming from Liechtenstein, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y176 Goods with third country origin coming from Norway, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y177 Goods with third country origin coming from San Marino, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y930 The declared goods are not concerned by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632
- C084 Exemption by virtue of Articles 3 and 4 of regulation 2019/2122 (animals intended for scientific purposes, research and diagnostic samples, and samples for product analysis and quality testing).
- Import controlVeterinary control
- Applies to goods from
- Faroe Islands, Greenland
- Legal act
- Regulation 0632/21
- Documents
- N853 Common Health Entry Document for Products (CHED-P) (as set out in Part 2, Section B of Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 (OJ L 261))
- Y058 Exemption by virtue of Article 7 of Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/2122 (Goods which form part of passengers' personal luggage and are intended for personal consumption or use) or Article 10 (small consignments of goods sent to natural persons which are not intended to be placed on the market) of Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/2122
- Y170 Goods with third country origin coming from Andorra, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y171 Goods with third country origin coming from Switzerland, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y174 Goods with third country origin coming from Iceland, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y175 Goods with third country origin coming from Liechtenstein, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y176 Goods with third country origin coming from Norway, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y177 Goods with third country origin coming from San Marino, according to the relevant EU legislation.
- Y930 The declared goods are not concerned by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632
- C084 Exemption by virtue of Articles 3 and 4 of regulation 2019/2122 (animals intended for scientific purposes, research and diagnostic samples, and samples for product analysis and quality testing).
- Import controlImport control - Waste
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- Regulation 1157/24
- Documents
- C672 Information document accompanying shipments of waste as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 18 and Annex VII
- C669 Notification document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 - Article 5 and Annex IA
- Y923 Product not subjected to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157
- C670 Movement document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 5 and Annex IB
- Import control
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- Regulation 0692/14
- 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
TARIC subdivisions
Declare the 10-digit TARIC code that fits the goods: measures can differ between subdivisions.
| 3204 20 00 10 | Colourant C.I. Fluorescent Brightener 184 (CAS RN 7128-64-5) and preparations based thereon with a colourant C.I. Fluorescent Brightener 184 content of 20% or more by weight |
| 3204 20 00 30 | Colourant C.I. Fluorescent Brightener 351 (CAS RN 27344-41-8) and preparations based thereon with a colourant C.I. Fluorescent Brightener 351 content of 90 % or more by weight |
| 3204 20 00 90 | Other |
Export measures 4
Prohibitions, licences, controls and sanctions that apply when these goods leave the EU.
| Export measures | Destination | Legal act | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export controlSanctions regime: Russia | Russia | Regulation 0833/14 | 22 October 2025 |
| Export control on restricted goods and technologiesSanctions regime: Syria | Syria | Regulation 0697/13 | 24 July 2013 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Belarus | Belarus | Regulation 0765/06 | 24 April 2026 |
| Export control - Waste | All third countries | Regulation 1157/24 | 21 May 2026 |
TARIC data as of 26 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 21% -
Denmark 25% -
Estonia 24% -
Finland 25.5% -
France 20% -
Germany 19% -
Greece 24% -
Hungary 27% -
Ireland 23% -
Italy 22% -
Latvia 21% -
Lithuania 21% -
Luxembourg 17% -
Malta 18% -
Netherlands 21% -
Poland 23% -
Portugal 23% -
Romania 21% -
Slovakia 23% -
Slovenia 22% -
Spain 21% -
Sweden 6% reduced rate
TEDB · 26 October 2026
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | 6% |
| GSP-EBA (Special arrangement for the least-developed countries - Everything But Arms) | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 42 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Antarctica, Aruba, Caribbean Netherlands, Curaçao and 8 moreAntarctica, Aruba, Caribbean Netherlands, Curaçao, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Greenland, New Caledonia, Sint Maarten, St Barthélemy, St Pierre & Miquelon, Wallis & Futuna | Free |
| GSP+ (incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance) | Bolivia, Cape Verde, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and 4 moreBolivia, Cape Verde, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia | Free |
| EEA - European Economic Area | Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| EU–Andorra customs union | Andorra | Free |
| EU–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| EU–Bosnia & Herzegovina agreement | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Free |
| EU–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| EU–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| EU–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| EU–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| EU–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| EU–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| EU–Algeria agreement | Algeria | Free |
| EU–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| EU–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| Preferential origin in accordance with the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco on the amendment of Protocols 1 and 4 to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part. | Western Sahara | Free |
| EU–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| EU–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| EU–United Kingdom agreement | United Kingdom | Free |
| EU–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| EU–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| EU–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| EU–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| EU–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| EU–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| EU–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| EU–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| EU–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| EU–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| EU–Montenegro agreement | Montenegro | Free |
| EU–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| EU–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| EU–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| EU–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| EU–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| EU–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| EU–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| EU–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| EU–San Marino customs union | San Marino | Free |
| EU–Syria agreement | Syria | Free |
| EU–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| EU–Türkiye customs union | Türkiye | Free |
| EU–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| EU–United States agreement | United States | Free |
| EU–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| EU–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| EU–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| EU–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
| GSP - General arrangements | Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia and 5 moreCongo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, Micronesia, Nigeria, Niue, Tajikistan, Vanuatu | 2.1% |
| Mercosur | Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay | 4.8% |
EU: imports by month · HS 3204.20
last 12 months€47.9m-5% · previous 12 months
Average import price€4.00 per kg
Preferential rate47%
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Switzerland | €15.4m | 32.1% | +3.8% |
 China | €15.1m | 31.5% | -11.1% |
 India | €6.7m | 14% | -12% |
 Taiwan | €5.2m | 10.9% | +33.4% |
 United States | €2.4m | 5% | +8.1% |
 Indonesia | €1.2m | 2.4% | -57.8% |
 Mexico | €909k | 1.9% | +15.5% |
 United Kingdom | €514k | 1.1% | -1.6% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
3204.20 Synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents
UK 6% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Türkiye 6% Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA Free – 6.5% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 4.3% 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line Mexico Free – 6% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 2% 
Brazil 12.6% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Argentina 12.6% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan 4.4% General (MFN) 1 tariff line Taiwan 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line Legal notes
Notes
1. This chapter does not cover:
(a) separate chemically defined elements or compounds (except those of heading 3203 or 3204, inorganic products of a kind used as luminophores (heading 3206), glass obtained from fused quartz or other fused silica in the forms provided for in heading 3207, and also dyes and other colouring matter put up in forms or packings for retail sale of heading 3212);
(b) tannates or other tannin derivatives of products of headings 2936 to 2939, 2941 or 3501 to 3504; or
(c) mastics of asphalt or other bituminous mastics (heading 2715).
2. Heading 3204 includes mixtures of stabilised diazonium salts and couplers for the production of azo dyes.
3. Headings 3203, 3204, 3205 and 3206 apply also to preparations based on colouring matter (including, in the case of heading 3206, colouring pigments of heading 2530 or Chapter 28, metal flakes and metal powders), of a kind used for colouring any material or used as ingredients in the manufacture of colouring preparations. The headings do not apply, however, to pigments dispersed in non-aqueous media, in liquid or paste form, of a kind used in the manufacture of paints, including enamels (heading 3212), or to other preparations of headings 3207, 3208, 3209, 3210, 3212, 3213 or 3215.
4. Heading 3208 includes solutions (other than collodions) consisting of any of the products specified in headings 3901 to 3913 in volatile organic solvents when the weight of the solvent exceeds 50 % of the weight of the solution.
5. The expression ‘colouring matter’ in this chapter does not include products of a kind used as extenders in oil paints, whether or not they are also suitable for colouring distempers.
6. The expression ‘stamping foils’ in heading 3212 applies only to thin sheets of a kind used for printing, for example, book covers or hat bands, and consisting of:
(a) metallic powder (including powder of precious metal) or pigment, agglomerated with glue, gelatin or other binder; or
(b) metal (including precious metal) or pigment, deposited on a supporting sheet of any material.
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.
General notes to the chapter
TANNING OR DYEING EXTRACTS; TANNINS AND THEIR DERIVATIVES; DYES, PIGMENTS AND OTHER COLOURING MATTER; PAINTS AND VARNISHES; PUTTY AND OTHER MASTICS; INKS
Note 4
The term ‘solutions’ used both in this note and in note 6(a) to Chapter 39 does not apply to colloidal solutions.
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.
| Year | Description | Third-country duty | Supplementary unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents | 6% | — |
| 2025 | unchanged | 6% | — |
| 2024 | unchanged | 6% | — |
| 2023 | unchanged | 6% | — |
| 2022 | unchanged | 6% | — |
| 2021 | unchanged | 6% | — |
| 2020 | unchanged | 6% | — |
| 2019 | Synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents | 6% | — |
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, 3204 20 00 is one of 1 line under subheading 3204.20, synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents.
The third-country duty is 6%, and quantities are declared in —.
Goods from 153 countries can enter the EU at a preferential rate instead of the standard 6%; 140 of them pay no duty at all, for example under GSP-EBA or CARIFORUM.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the EU imported goods of subheading 3204.20 worth €47.9m (down 5% on the year before), at an average of €4.00 per kg; Switzerland supplied 32%, followed by China.
For the same subheading, the UK duty is 6%, the Türkiye duty is 6%, the US duty is 0%–6.5%, the Canada duty is free, the Mexico duty is 0%–6%, the Brazil duty is 12.6%, the Argentina duty is 12.6%, the Peru duty is free, the New Zealand duty is free, the Japan duty is 4.4%, the Taiwan duty is 5%, the GCC duty is 5%, the Switzerland duty is free, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is free and the Nigeria duty is 5%.
EU member states imported goods of subheading 3204.20 worth US$165m in 2024; the largest supplier from outside the EU was China.
Questions and answers
What is the EU import duty for CN code 3204 20 00?
The third-country duty in the EU Combined Nomenclature is 6%; the supplementary unit is —. Preferential rates for goods from agreement countries, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which countries get a lower rate on 3204 20 00?
153 countries have a preferential rate on this line, 140 of them at 0%, under GSP-EBA, CARIFORUM and OCTs and other arrangements. The rate applies only to goods that meet the rules of origin of the agreement, with proof of origin. Choose the country of origin on this page to see its rate.
Where does the EU import these goods from?
For subheading 3204.20 as a whole, the largest supplier from outside the EU in 2024 was China (US$20m), followed by Switzerland.