EU Combined Nomenclature · CN code · HS 8531.80
8531 80 70: Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus: other apparatus, other
Other sound or visual signalling apparatus
✓ Can be used in a customs declaration Data: EU Combined Nomenclature, in force from 1 January 2026 · checked on 24 October 2026
- 8531 Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus (for example, bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), other than those of heading 8512 or 8530:
- 8531 80 Other apparatus:
- 8531 80 70 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 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 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
- Prohibition or restrictionImport prohibition
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- Regulation 0285/18
- Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- Regulation 1509/17
- Documents
- Y920 Goods other than those described in the footnotes linked to the measure
- 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 23 April 2031
- 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)
- Y683 The prohibitions defined in article 3i.1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 do not apply (see exemptions in article 3i.3i)
- L143 Import authorisation by virtue of article 12b.2 of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014
- L129 Import authorisation by virtue of article 3i paragraph 3e 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 10
Prohibitions, licences, controls and sanctions that apply when these goods leave the EU.
| Export measures | Destination | Legal act | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export prohibitionSanctions regime: North Korea | North Korea | Regulation 0285/18 | 28 February 2018 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Crimea and Sevastopol | Ukraine | Regulation 0692/14 | 25 February 2025 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Russia | Russia | Regulation 0833/14 | 27 September 2024 |
| Export control on restricted goods and technologiesSanctions regime: Syria | Syria | Regulation 0509/12 | 1 January 2017 |
| Export control on restricted goods and technologiesSanctions regime: North Korea | North Korea | Regulation 1509/17 | 1 September 2017 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Belarus | Belarus | Regulation 0765/06 | 25 February 2025 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine | Ukraine | Regulation 0263/22 | 25 August 2022 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Russia | Russia | Regulation 0833/14 | 24 June 2023 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Belarus | Belarus | Regulation 0765/06 | 25 February 2025 |
| Export authorization (Dual use) | All third countries | Regulation 2003/25 | 15 November 2025 |
TARIC data as of 8 November 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 5% reduced rate -
Cyprus 3% reduced rate -
Czechia 21% -
Denmark 25% -
Estonia 24% -
Finland 25.5% -
France 20% -
Germany 19% -
Greece 6% reduced rate -
Hungary 27% -
Ireland 23% -
Italy 22% -
Latvia 21% -
Lithuania 21% -
Luxembourg 17% -
Malta 18% -
Netherlands 21% -
Poland 23% -
Portugal 23% -
Romania 21% -
Slovakia 5% reduced rate -
Slovenia 22% -
Spain 21% -
Sweden 25%
TEDB · 8 November 2026
EU: imports by month · HS 8531.80
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | €667.7m | 58.5% | -4.3% |
 Vietnam | €250.4m | 21.9% | -2.9% |
 United States | €84.2m | 7.4% | -19.5% |
 United Kingdom | €27.3m | 2.4% | +8.7% |
 Tunisia | €19.6m | 1.7% | +40% |
 Thailand | €10m | 0.9% | -69.4% |
 Taiwan | €9.5m | 0.8% | +31.3% |
 Indonesia | €9.2m | 0.8% | -19.7% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
8531.80 Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus: other apparatus
UK Free – 2% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 1% 
Türkiye Free – 2.2% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 1.5% USA Free – 1.3% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 0.7% 
Canada Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Mexico Free – 15% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 8.8% 
Brazil 16.2% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 18% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free – 5% General (MFN) 12 tariff lines · average 1.7% 
Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line Taiwan Free General (MFN) 8 tariff lines 
GCC Free – 5% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 2.5% 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free – 15% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 10% 
Nigeria 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line EU lines: 8531.80
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.
- N365585 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of a signaling device from China
- N362045 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of a concealed weapons detection system from Mexico
- N345806 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of a hot line proximity detector from Japan
- N340920 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification and country of origin of metal detector systems
- 600014520 HMRC
The product is a Class 1 eye-safe infrared laser sensor designed to detect high-visibility safety apparel that contains retroreflective tape. It is primarily used on mobile industrial equipment, such as forklifts and other vehicles operating in warehouses, factories, and loading areas, to help…
- 600012544 HMRC
The product is electronic bite alarm. This alerts anglers when the fish has taken the bait. The electronics are housed in a plastic case. The angler rests the rod with the line running through to the alarm. Works by sensing when there is tension or movement on the fishing line which triggers the…
26 rulings in total for this code
Legal notes
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 | Free | — |
| 2025 | unchanged | Free | — |
| 2024 | unchanged | Free | — |
| 2023 | unchanged | Free | — |
| 2022 | unchanged | Free | — |
| 2021 | unchanged | Free | — |
| 2020 | unchanged | Free | — |
| 2019 | Other | Free | — |
Code history
Since 2017; before, these goods were classified under 8531 80 20, 8531 80 95.
CN code 8531 80 70 is a line of the EU Combined Nomenclature under HS subheading 8531.80 (electric sound or visual signalling apparatus: other apparatus).
The third-country duty is free, and quantities are declared in —.
Imports of other sound or visual signalling apparatus (HS 8531.80) into the EU came to €1.1bn between September 2025 and August 2026 (down 6% on the year before); China supplied 59%, followed by Vietnam.
For the same subheading, the UK duty is 0%–2%, the Türkiye duty is 0%–2.2%, the US duty is 0%–1.3%, the Canada duty is free, the Mexico duty is 0%–15%, the Brazil duty is 16.2%, the Argentina duty is 18%, the Peru duty is free, the New Zealand duty is 0%–5%, the Japan duty is free, the Taiwan duty is free, the GCC duty is 0%–5%, the Switzerland duty is free, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is 0%–15% and the Nigeria duty is 10%.
EU member states imported goods of subheading 8531.80 worth US$2.5bn in 2024; the largest supplier from outside the EU was China, and the United Kingdom ranked 5th with US$30m.
Questions and answers
What is the EU import duty for CN code 8531 80 70?
The third-country duty in the EU Combined Nomenclature is free; the supplementary unit is —. Preferential rates for goods from agreement countries, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Where does the EU import these goods from?
For subheading 8531.80 as a whole, the largest supplier from outside the EU in 2024 was China (US$1.1bn), followed by Vietnam.
Typical products
- bells, electric
- buzzers, electric
- door chimes, electric
- doorbells, electric
- electronic bite alarm
- hooters, electric
- horns, electric
- sirens, electric
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.