Subheading · Chapter 49 · Heading 4901
4901.91: Dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial instalments thereof
Subheading 4901.91 belongs to heading 4901 (printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter) in chapter 49.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 4901 91 00 00 Dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial instalments thereof Free
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 2
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 598
- Documents
- 9014
- 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
- 2020 No. 1431
- Documents
- C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
Import requirements 1
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Iraq, Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2020/707, S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
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 | |
| 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–Andorra agreement | Andorra | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | £442k | 30.6% | -2% |
 United States | £260k | 18% | +76.2% |
 Belgium | £196k | 13.6% | +145.8% |
 India | £133k | 9.2% | +71.2% |
 Italy | £78k | 5.4% | -32.6% |
| United Kingdom | £62k | 4.3% | -64.2% |
 Ireland | £43k | 3% | +82.4% |
 Germany | £38k | 2.6% | +610.2% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Brazil Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC Free General (MFN) 16 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$41kUS$41k+US$441k+US$2m+> US$5m
Exports: 117
- United Kingdom: US$20m
- China: US$9m
- Germany: US$6m
- United States: US$5m
- Italy: US$5m
- France: US$4m
- Australia: US$2m
- Serbia: US$2m
- India: US$2m
- South Korea: US$2m
- Denmark: US$2m
- Bulgaria: US$2m
- Netherlands: US$2m
- Mexico: US$1m
- Poland: US$1m
- Spain: US$1m
- Russia: US$859k
- Czechia: US$812k
- Portugal: US$797k
- Malaysia: US$790k
- Israel: US$729k
- Canada: US$587k
- Latvia: US$523k
- Japan: US$516k
- Brazil: US$499k
- Slovakia: US$460k
- Estonia: US$442k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$441k
- Belgium: US$406k
- Lithuania: US$318k
- South Africa: US$318k
- Türkiye: US$314k
- Colombia: US$286k
- El Salvador: US$281k
- Saudi Arabia: US$280k
- Lebanon: US$248k
- Slovenia: US$208k
- Uruguay: US$202k
- United Arab Emirates: US$192k
- Singapore: US$191k
- Switzerland: US$178k
- Ireland: US$148k
- North Macedonia: US$147k
- Hungary: US$113k
- Guatemala: US$112k
- Ukraine: US$91k
- Austria: US$89k
- Sweden: US$89k
- Romania: US$80k
- Taiwan: US$57k
- Finland: US$51k
- Fiji: US$49k
- Norway: US$49k
- Thailand: US$43k
- Ecuador: US$41k
- Argentina: US$36k
- Vietnam: US$32k
- New Zealand: US$32k
- Iceland: US$29k
- Cyprus: US$27k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$84kUS$84k+US$416k+US$1m+> US$3m
Imports: 187
- France: US$6m
- United Kingdom: US$5m
- Germany: US$4m
- United States: US$4m
- Canada: US$3m
- Singapore: US$3m
- Switzerland: US$3m
- United Arab Emirates: US$3m
- Israel: US$2m
- Belgium: US$2m
- Australia: US$2m
- Poland: US$2m
- Mexico: US$2m
- Dominican Republic: US$1m
- Norway: US$1m
- Spain: US$1m
- Jordan: US$1m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$1m
- Kenya: US$1m
- Czechia: US$1m
- Netherlands: US$1m
- Ireland: US$1m
- Montenegro: US$1m
- Saudi Arabia: US$981k
- Japan: US$959k
- Guatemala: US$931k
- Peru: US$901k
- Egypt: US$882k
- Chile: US$849k
- Sweden: US$819k
- Pakistan: US$818k
- Honduras: US$763k
- South Africa: US$762k
- Angola: US$752k
- Vietnam: US$701k
- Italy: US$668k
- Kazakhstan: US$623k
- Romania: US$582k
- Brazil: US$515k
- Russia: US$509k
- Türkiye: US$506k
- Mauritius: US$474k
- Papua New Guinea: US$435k
- Ghana: US$425k
- Yemen: US$420k
- Morocco: US$416k
- Sri Lanka: US$394k
- Austria: US$357k
- Argentina: US$354k
- Denmark: US$333k
- Qatar: US$318k
- Oman: US$292k
- Ukraine: US$273k
- Libya: US$271k
- Colombia: US$266k
- Slovakia: US$259k
- New Zealand: US$248k
- Malaysia: US$245k
- India: US$240k
- China: US$239k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Kingdom | US$20m | 25.3% |
| 2 | China | US$9m | 11.4% |
| 3 | Germany | US$6m | 8.1% |
| 4 | United States | US$5m | 6.7% |
| 5 | Italy | US$5m | 5.8% |
| 6 |  France | US$4m | 4.8% |
| 7 |  Australia | US$2m | 3.1% |
| 8 |  Serbia | US$2m | 2.9% |
| 9 | India | US$2m | 2.8% |
| 10 |  South Korea | US$2m | 2.3% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | US$6m | 7.6% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | US$5m | 5.9% |
| 3 | Germany | US$4m | 5.4% |
| 4 | United States | US$4m | 4.7% |
| 5 | Canada | US$3m | 4.1% |
| 6 |  Singapore | US$3m | 3.9% |
| 7 | Switzerland | US$3m | 3.7% |
| 8 |  United Arab Emirates | US$3m | 3.5% |
| 9 |  Israel | US$2m | 2.8% |
| 10 | Belgium | US$2m | 2.1% |
Import duty on this product around the world 164
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.
- 0%median duty
- 136number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 20%highest: Syria, Cayman Islands, India
164
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 2.5% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 5% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 0% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 0% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
| Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 0% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 0% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 0% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 0% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 0% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2022 |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 0% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 0% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 11% | 0% – 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 |
 Central African Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 0% | 2023 | |
 Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Comoros | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 0% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 5% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 0% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 0% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 0% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 0% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 10% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
| Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 0% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 0% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 10% | 2.5% – 18% | 2023 |
 Mozambique | 0% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 10% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 0% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 0% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 0% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 3% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 0% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 0% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 8% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 0% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 0% | 2023 | |
| Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
| South Korea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 0% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Syria | 20% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 0% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 0% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| United Arab Emirates | 0% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 0% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 0% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 0% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. · 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
- 89216 Dictionaries & encyclopaedias, & serial instalments thereof, not in single sheets
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Consumption goods · BEC 613202
- CPC 2.1 product
- 32220 General reference books, in print
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 5811 Book publishing
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 4901.91 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 4901.91 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 4901.91 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 4901.91 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 4901.91 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 4901.91 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 4901.91; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 4901.91 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is duty-free.
156 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.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £1.4m between September 2025 and August 2026 (down 3% on the year before); China supplied 31%, followed by United States.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$78m (−4.7% year on year).
The largest exporter was the United Kingdom (US$20m), followed by China.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial instalments thereof?
Dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial instalments thereof fall under HS subheading 4901.91, part of heading 4901, in section X of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial… in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 4901.91 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 dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 4901.91 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial…?
The United Kingdom, with US$20m in 2024 (25.3% of world exports).
Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?
156 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.
Is there anti-dumping duty on these goods?
The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were China (31%), United States (18%) and Belgium (14%), out of total imports of £1.4m.
Typical products
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.