EU Combined Nomenclature · CN code · HS 6115.96
6115 96 99: Synthetic socks and hosiery: Pantyhose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery: other, of synthetic fibres, other, other
Synthetic socks and hosiery
✓ Can be used in a customs declaration Data: EU Combined Nomenclature, in force from 1 January 2026 · checked on 24 October 2026
- 6115 Pantyhose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery, including graduated compression hosiery (for example, stockings for varicose veins) and footwear without applied soles, knitted or crocheted:
- Other:
- 6115 96 Of synthetic fibres:
- Other:
- 6115 96 99 Other
What you pay
Importing into EU
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 4
- 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 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 controlEntry into free circulation (quantitative limitation)
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- Regulation 0936/15
- Documents
- L079 Textile products: import licence
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- Regulation 1836/17
- Documents
- Y084 Derogation from import prohibition by virtue of Article 16i (1) of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1509
- 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)
- Y948 Goods other than those described in Annex VIII (Luxury goods) of Reg. (EU) 2017/1509
- 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
Export measures 2
Prohibitions, licences, controls and sanctions that apply when these goods leave the EU.
| Export measures | Destination | Legal act | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 6% reduced rate -
Bulgaria 20% -
Croatia 25% -
Cyprus 19% -
Czechia 21% -
Denmark 25% -
Estonia 9% reduced rate -
Finland 25.5% -
France 20% -
Germany 19% -
Greece 13% reduced rate -
Hungary 27% -
Ireland 23% -
Italy 22% -
Latvia 21% -
Lithuania 21% -
Luxembourg 3% reduced rate -
Malta 18% -
Netherlands 21% -
Poland 23% -
Portugal 6% reduced rate -
Romania 21% -
Slovakia 23% -
Slovenia 9.5% reduced rate -
Spain 21% -
Sweden 25%
TEDB · 25 October 2026
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | 12% |
| GSP-EBA (Special arrangement for the least-developed countries - Everything But Arms) | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 41 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, 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 | 9.6% |
| Mercosur | Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay | 10.6% |
EU: imports by month · HS 6115.96
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | €318.8m | 54.7% | -3.5% |
 Türkiye | €167.5m | 28.8% | +26.1% |
 Pakistan | €15.8m | 2.7% | -7.3% |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | €14.2m | 2.4% | +19.7% |
 United Kingdom | €7.7m | 1.3% | +12.5% |
 Vietnam | €6.8m | 1.2% | +10.3% |
 Tunisia | €6m | 1% | -7% |
 Serbia | €4.6m | 0.8% | -15.9% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
6115.96 Pantyhose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery: other, of synthetic fibres
UK 12% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines Türkiye 12% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
USA 14.6% – 18.8% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 16.7% 
Canada 16% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
Mexico 35% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
Brazil 35% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Argentina 20% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Peru 11% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
New Zealand 10% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
Japan 6.6% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 12% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway 5.9% – 10.7% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 9.1% 
North Macedonia 17.5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Nigeria 20% Third-country duty 1 tariff line EU lines: 6115.96
- 6115 96 10Pantyhose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery: other, of synthetic fibres, knee-length stockings
- 6115 96 91Pantyhose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery: other, of synthetic fibres, other, women's stockings
- 6115 96 99Pantyhose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery: other, of synthetic fibres, other, other
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.
- N353868 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of socks from China
- N350749 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of socks from an undisclosed country
- N322186 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of socks from China
- N321718 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of socks from China
- 600014999 HMRC
knitted football ankle socks Material: 100% polyester packaged in a transparent polybag
- 600015000 HMRC
knitted football sleeve socks Material: 100% polyester packaged in a transparent polybag
- 600014219 HMRC
The product consists of a pair of long football socks designed to be worn while playing football matches. The socks are unisex, knitted and made from polyester . They are available in a range of colours, designs, and sizes, and are individually packaged in a transparent polybag.
- 600011885 HMRC
Knitted socks Materials: 35% polyester 30% wool 30% acrylic 3% nylon 2% elastane packaging: cardboard header card
35 rulings in total for this code
Legal notes
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
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES, KNITTED OR CROCHETED
General
1. For the classification, within headings, of articles composed of two or more textile materials, see the general explanatory note to this section.
2. For the classification of garments put up in sets for retail sale, see note 14 to this section.
3. When a component of a suit or an ensemble of heading 6103 or 6104 has applied trimmings or decorations which are not found on the other component or components, all these garments remain classified as suits or ensembles as long as these trimmings or decorations are of minor importance and are limited to one or two places on the garment (for example, on the collar and the sleeve ends or on the lapels and pockets).
However, when these decorations are produced during the knitting of the garment, classification as suits or ensembles is excluded, except when the decoration is a logo or other similar symbol.
4. Garments covering the upper part of the body, in distinction to garments covering the lower part of the body and to garments covering the entire body (for example, overcoats, dresses), are garments that:
- from their objective characteristics (style, cut etc.) are clearly meant to be worn as, for example, anoraks, (suit) jackets and uppers of ensembles, shirts and blouses, uppers of pyjamas, pullovers, cardigans and waistcoats, upper parts of ski suits etc. (unless otherwise specified, these garments need not completely cover the upper part of the body), and
- do not extend below the mid-thigh area. However, mainly due to fashion, some parts of these garments can extend down below mid-thigh area (for example, fancy fashionable fringes, but also the traditional tails of tailcoats) and are negligible as far as the length of the garment is concerned, because they do not change the function of these garments, which is to cover the upper part of the body.
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 | Other | 12% | pa |
| 2025 | unchanged | 12% | pa |
| 2024 | unchanged | 12% | pa |
| 2023 | unchanged | 12% | pa |
| 2022 | unchanged | 12% | pa |
| 2021 | unchanged | 12% | pa |
| 2020 | unchanged | 12% | pa |
| 2019 | Other | 12% | pa |
CN code 6115 96 99 is a line of the EU Combined Nomenclature under HS subheading 6115.96 (pantyhose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery).
The third-country duty is 12%, and quantities are declared in pa.
139 countries pay no duty in the EU thanks to trade agreements and preference schemes such as GSP-EBA and CARIFORUM, against a standard rate of 12%.
Imports of synthetic socks and hosiery (HS 6115.96) into the EU came to €582.3m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 5% on the year before); China supplied 55%, followed by Türkiye.
For the same subheading, the UK duty is 12%, the Türkiye duty is 12%, the US duty is 14.6%–18.8%, the Canada duty is 16%, the Mexico duty is 35%, the Brazil duty is 35%, the Argentina duty is 20%, the Peru duty is 11%, the New Zealand duty is 10%, the Japan duty is 6.6%, the Taiwan duty is 12%, the GCC duty is 5%, the Switzerland duty is free, the Norway duty is 5.9%–10.7%, the North Macedonia duty is 17.5% and the Nigeria duty is 20%.
EU member states imported goods of subheading 6115.96 worth US$1bn in 2024; the largest supplier from outside the EU was China.
Questions and answers
What is the EU import duty for CN code 6115 96 99?
The third-country duty in the EU Combined Nomenclature is 12%; the supplementary unit is pa. Preferential rates for goods from agreement countries, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which countries get a lower rate on 6115 96 99?
152 countries have a preferential rate on this line, 139 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 6115.96 as a whole, the largest supplier from outside the EU in 2024 was China (US$377m), followed by Türkiye.