Subheading · Chapter 15 · Heading 1521
1521.90: Vegetable waxes: other
Official description Other
Subheading 1521.90 belongs to heading 1521 (vegetable waxes) in chapter 15.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 1521 90 00 00 Other
- 1521 90 10 00 Spermaceti, whether or not refined or coloured Free
- Beeswax and other insect waxes, whether or not refined or coloured
- 1521 90 91 00 Raw Free
- 1521 90 99 00 Other Free
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Import requirements 4
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlImport control - CITES
- Import controlImport control - Waste
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/590
- 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 controlVeterinary control
- Applies to goods from
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica and 232 more
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/782
- Documents
- 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).
- 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
- Y930 The declared goods are not concerned by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632
- Tariff lines
- on 2 of 3 lines
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | Free |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 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, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code " EU") | Free | |
| DCTS Enhanced | Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 moreAlgeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu | 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) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Iceland agreement | Iceland | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| £935k | 39.6% | -29.8% | |
| £603k | 25.5% | +58.7% | |
| £395k | 16.7% | +25.2% | |
| £91k | 3.9% | — | |
| £73k | 3.1% | +16.3% | |
| £61k | 2.6% | -19.5% | |
| £48k | 2% | +4,415.3% | |
| £40k | 1.7% | — |
Same subheading in other tariffs
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$164kUS$164k+US$1m+US$3m+> US$9m
Exports: 97
- China: US$45m
- Germany: US$15m
- Vietnam: US$9m
- Netherlands: US$7m
- United States: US$7m
- France: US$6m
- Argentina: US$5m
- Brazil: US$5m
- Tanzania: US$3m
- Canada: US$3m
- Japan: US$3m
- Australia: US$3m
- New Zealand: US$2m
- Togo: US$2m
- Indonesia: US$2m
- Spain: US$2m
- Denmark: US$2m
- Italy: US$2m
- Malaysia: US$2m
- India: US$1m
- Belgium: US$1m
- Ethiopia: US$1m
- Ukraine: US$1m
- United Kingdom: US$899k
- Zambia: US$851k
- Poland: US$806k
- Thailand: US$760k
- Cuba: US$738k
- Cameroon: US$633k
- Uruguay: US$489k
- Czechia: US$404k
- Austria: US$402k
- Greece: US$391k
- Nicaragua: US$306k
- Kenya: US$291k
- Iran: US$273k
- Taiwan: US$261k
- Egypt: US$259k
- Central African Republic: US$232k
- Türkiye: US$227k
- South Korea: US$214k
- Bulgaria: US$211k
- Madagascar: US$185k
- South Africa: US$164k
- Senegal: US$139k
- Romania: US$97k
- Lithuania: US$79k
- Uganda: US$76k
- Mexico: US$76k
- Slovenia: US$66k
- Croatia: US$66k
- Ecuador: US$56k
- Hungary: US$52k
- Sweden: US$45k
- Sri Lanka: US$43k
- Serbia: US$41k
- Switzerland: US$36k
- Latvia: US$34k
- Saudi Arabia: US$32k
- Myanmar (Burma): US$30k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$52kUS$52k+US$358k+US$2m+> US$6m
Imports: 166
- United States: US$27m
- Germany: US$23m
- Japan: US$8m
- France: US$8m
- Italy: US$6m
- Netherlands: US$4m
- South Korea: US$4m
- Spain: US$4m
- Poland: US$3m
- Philippines: US$3m
- United Kingdom: US$3m
- India: US$3m
- Canada: US$3m
- Algeria: US$2m
- Australia: US$2m
- Belgium: US$2m
- Greece: US$2m
- China: US$2m
- Serbia: US$1m
- Czechia: US$1m
- Angola: US$1m
- Ireland: US$1m
- Saudi Arabia: US$1m
- Switzerland: US$1m
- Thailand: US$1m
- Mexico: US$1m
- Denmark: US$1m
- Türkiye: US$981k
- United Arab Emirates: US$975k
- Bulgaria: US$949k
- Slovakia: US$782k
- Austria: US$765k
- Singapore: US$610k
- Taiwan: US$535k
- Lithuania: US$479k
- Romania: US$458k
- Russia: US$435k
- Tunisia: US$389k
- Portugal: US$387k
- Vietnam: US$373k
- Egypt: US$358k
- South Africa: US$350k
- Israel: US$340k
- Costa Rica: US$324k
- Albania: US$317k
- Pakistan: US$291k
- Sweden: US$280k
- Norway: US$266k
- Lebanon: US$262k
- Brazil: US$259k
- Jordan: US$259k
- Finland: US$250k
- Colombia: US$234k
- Indonesia: US$222k
- Slovenia: US$217k
- Chile: US$212k
- Croatia: US$209k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$200k
- Malaysia: US$191k
- Oman: US$186k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$45m | 32.4% | |
| 2 | US$15m | 11% | |
| 3 | US$9m | 6.6% | |
| 4 | US$7m | 5.3% | |
| 5 | US$7m | 5% | |
| 6 | US$6m | 4.4% | |
| 7 | US$5m | 3.9% | |
| 8 | US$5m | 3.3% | |
| 9 | US$3m | 2.4% | |
| 10 | US$3m | 2% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$27m | 19.8% | |
| 2 | US$23m | 16.8% | |
| 3 | US$8m | 6.2% | |
| 4 | US$8m | 6.1% | |
| 5 | US$6m | 4.4% | |
| 6 | US$4m | 3.1% | |
| 7 | US$4m | 2.8% | |
| 8 | US$4m | 2.6% | |
| 9 | US$3m | 2.5% | |
| 10 | US$3m | 2.4% |
Import duty on this product around the world 165
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 5%median duty
- 25number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 40%highest: Bahamas, India, Bermuda
165
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5% | 2018 · HS 2012 | ||
| 4.7% | 2% – 10% | 2023 | |
| 15% | 2023 | ||
| 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2021 · HS 2007 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 15% | 2023 | ||
| 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 40% | 2022 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | ||
| 15% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 25% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2022 | ||
| 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2022 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 7% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 20% | 2023 | ||
| 7.5% | 5% – 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 7.5% | 0% – 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| 5% | 2019 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2022 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 17% | 10% – 30% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| 0.8% | 0% – 2.5% | 2023 | |
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 13% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 12% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 30% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 22% | 5% – 55% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
| 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 7.5% | 4.5% – 13% | 2023 | |
| 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 | |
| 13% | 10% – 15% | 2023 | |
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 20% | 2023 · HS 2002 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 15% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 13% | 10% – 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 7.5% | 2023 | ||
| 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 | |
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 3% | 2% – 5% | 2023 | |
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 11% | 2023 | ||
| 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | ||
| 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 3% | 0% – 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| 3% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 15% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 8% | 2020 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2019 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 8% | 2023 | ||
| 15% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | ||
| 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 1% | 2020 · HS 2012 | ||
| 15% | 2021 · HS 2012 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 5%* | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | ||
| 0.8% | 0% – 2.5% | 2023 | |
| 15% | 2017 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 2.4% | 0% – 4.8% | 2023 | |
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 4% | 3% – 5% | 2023 | |
| 4% | 2021 · HS 2012 | ||
| 10% | 2017 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 43142 Beeswax, other insect waxes & spermaceti, whether/not refined/coloured
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 111210
- CPC 2.1 product
- 02960 Insect waxes and spermaceti, whether or not refined or coloured
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 1040 Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1521.90 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 1521.90 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 1521.90 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 1521.90 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 1521.90 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 1521.90 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Binding rulings for similar goods 1
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.
- 600010998 HMRC
Natural bees wax. The product is used as an additive in a variety of applications such as cosmetics, foodstuffs, care of the skin, candle making, and many more. The wax is obtained from raw beeswax combs, which is collected from specialised bee farms. The wax is then sent to a refining plant to be…
Recent rule changes mentioning this code
Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.
-
FR Doc. 2026-14542 · 91 FR 45516 · Source: federalregister.gov
-
CELEX 32026R1395 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
-
FR Doc. 2026-11158 · 91 FR 33854 · Source: federalregister.gov
The UK Global Tariff divides subheading 1521.90 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, subheading 1521.90 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 2.5%. 2 of them are duty-free.
155 countries pay no duty in the UK thanks to trade agreements and preference schemes such as DCTS Comprehensive and European Union, against a standard rate of Free.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £2.4m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 4% on the year before); China supplied 40%, followed by Germany.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$137m (+8.5% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$45m), followed by Germany.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for vegetable waxes: other?
Vegetable waxes: other fall under HS subheading 1521.90, part of heading 1521, in section III of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on vegetable waxes: other in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 1521.90 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on vegetable waxes: other in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 1521.90 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 2.5%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most vegetable waxes: other?
China, with US$45m in 2024 (32.4% of world exports).
Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?
155 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, CARIFORUM. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of Free applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were China (40%), Germany (26%) and France (17%), out of total imports of £2.4m.
Typical products
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.