UK Global Tariff · commodity code · HS 3401.30
3401 30 00 00: Liquid soap and body wash (retail): Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap
Liquid soap and body wash (retail)
✓ Can be used in a customs declaration Data: UK Global Tariff · checked on 24 October 2026
- 3401 Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent
- 3401 30 00 00 Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap
What you pay
Importing into UK
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 1
- Duty suspensionAutonomous tariff suspension Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- In force
- until 31 December 2028
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1435
- Documents
- 9Y11
Import requirements 2
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Russia, Ukraine
- Legal act
- 2023 No. 440, S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9011
- 9022
- 9038
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- 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
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | 4% |
| 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–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 |
| DCTS Standard | Indonesia | 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 |
Footnotes
TN208 The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 impose trade restrictions on certain good…
TN701 According to the Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2014 (OJ L183, p. 9), as retained in UK La…
The prohibition shall not apply in respect of:
(a) the execution until 26 September 2014, of trade contracts concluded before 25 June 2014, or of ancillary contracts necessary for the execution of such contracts, provided that the natural or legal persons, entity or body seeking to perform the contract have notified, at least 10 working days in advance, the activity or transaction to the competent authority of the Member State in which they are established.
(b) goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol which have been made available to the Ukrainian authorities for examination, for which compliance with the conditions conferring entitlement to preferential origin has been verified and for which a certificate of origin has been issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 and Regulation (EU) No 374/2014, as retained in UK Law, or in accordance with the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
UK: imports by month · HS 3401.30
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Italy | £55.9m | 17.4% | +17.7% |
 Germany | £46m | 14.4% | -9.2% |
 Poland | £44.8m | 14% | +10.7% |
 France | £42.8m | 13.4% | +13.7% |
 China | £41.9m | 13.1% | +18.5% |
 United States | £19m | 5.9% | -27.8% |
 South Korea | £13.4m | 4.2% | +190.3% |
 Canada | £10.4m | 3.2% | +28.1% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA Free – 4% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 2% Canada 6.5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Mexico 25% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Brazil 16.2% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Argentina 18% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Peru 6% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
New Zealand 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Japan Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia 6.5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 35% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 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.
- 600015612 HMRC
A renewal oil to use and clean the skin that can also be used for makeup removal. Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Olus Oil C9-12-Isoalkanes Acanthosicyos Horridus Seed Oil Avena Sativa Kernel Oil Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Glyceryl…
- 600014189 HMRC
Natural Hand Wash With Botanical Blend. A liquid used for washing hands. Put up for retail sale. 500ml Ingredients: Aqua, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Betaine, Citric Acid, Sodium Pca, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate,…
- 600012907 HMRC
Bath & Body Collection packaged inside a metal tin, with hand drawn floral print . Travel-sized toiletries for the skin. 1 x Rollerball Fragrance 20 ml, 1 x Body Butter 50 ml, 1 x Body Wash 100 ml, 1 x Body Scrub Bar 50g
- 600012729 HMRC
A body wash, used to lather into wet skin in the bath or shower to clean the body. It is in a 500ml (16.9 fl oz) bottle. Ingredients: Aqua, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Vitis Vinefera Fruit Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Parfum, Sodium…
- 600012487 HMRC
A salted caramel body wash used for cleaning the body during showers. Presented in 400ml plastic bottle
- 600012489 HMRC
A Jasmine & Vanilla body wash used for cleaning the body during showers. For cleansing and softening the skin. Presented in 400ml plastic bottle.
- 600012493 HMRC
A Jasmine & Vanilla body wash used for cleaning the body during showers. For cleansing and softening the skin. Presented in 400ml plastic bottle
- 600012496 HMRC
Body care set contains a body wash (100ml) and shimmer oil (35ml). The body wash is used to cleanse the skin and to be followed by the shimmer oil to leave a sun-kissed glow to skin. Packaged in bottles and presented in a box.
Legal notes
Notes
1. This chapter does not cover:
(a) edible mixtures or preparations of animal, vegetable or microbial fats or oils of a kind used as mould release preparations (heading 1517);
(b) separate chemically defined compounds; or
(c) shampoos, dentifrices, shaving creams and foams, or bath preparations, containing soap or other organic surface-active agents (heading 3305, 3306 or 3307).
2. For the purposes of heading 3401, the expression ‘soap’ applies only to soap soluble in water. Soap and the other products of heading 3401 may contain added substances (for example, disinfectants, abrasive powders, fillers or medicaments). Products containing abrasive powders remain classified in heading 3401 only if in the form of bars, cakes or moulded pieces or shapes. In other forms, they are to be classified in heading 3405 as ‘scouring powders and similar preparations’.
3. For the purposes of heading 3402, ‘organic surface-active agents’ are products which, when mixed with water at a concentration of 0,5 % at 20 °C and left to stand for one hour at the same temperature:
(a) give a transparent or translucent liquid or stable emulsion without separation of insoluble matter; and
(b) reduce the surface tension of water to 4,5 × 10–2 N/m (45 dyn/cm) or less.
4. In heading 3403, the expression ‘petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals’ applies to the products defined in note 2 to Chapter 27.
5. In heading 3404, subject to the exclusions provided below, the expression ‘artificial waxes and prepared waxes’ applies only to:
(a) chemically produced organic products of a waxy character, whether or not water-soluble;
(b) products obtained by mixing different waxes;
(c) products of a waxy character with a basis of one or more waxes and containing fats, resins, mineral substances or other materials.
The heading does not apply to:
(a) products of heading 1516, 3402 or 3823, even if having a waxy character;
(b) unmixed animal waxes or unmixed vegetable waxes, whether or not refined or coloured, of heading 1521;
(c) mineral waxes or similar products of heading 2712, whether or not intermixed or merely coloured; or
(d) waxes mixed with, dispersed in or dissolved in a liquid medium (headings 3405, 3809, etc.).
Commodity code 3401 30 00 00 is a line of the UK Global Tariff under HS subheading 3401.30 (organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the…).
The third-country duty is 4%.
174 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 4%.
Imports of liquid soap and body wash (retail) (HS 3401.30) into the UK came to £320.4m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 5% on the year before); Italy supplied 17%, followed by Germany.
For the same subheading, the EU duty is 4%, the Türkiye duty is 4%, the US duty is 0%–4%, the Canada duty is 6.5%, the Mexico duty is 25%, the Brazil duty is 16.2%, the Argentina duty is 18%, the Peru duty is 6%, the New Zealand duty is 5%, the Japan duty is free, the Taiwan duty is 4%, the GCC duty is 5%, the Switzerland duty is free, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is 6.5% and the Nigeria duty is 35%.
The UK imported goods of subheading 3401.30 worth US$354m in 2024; the largest supplier was Germany.
Questions and answers
What is the UK import duty for commodity code 3401 30 00 00?
The third-country duty in the UK Global Tariff is 4%. Preferential rates for goods from agreement countries, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which countries get a lower rate on 3401 30 00 00?
174 countries have a preferential rate on this line, 174 of them at 0%, under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union and DCTS Enhanced 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 UK import these goods from?
For subheading 3401.30 as a whole, the largest supplier in 2024 was Germany (US$70m), followed by Italy.
Typical products
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.