# European Union tariff line 1604 12 91 13: For processing

> In the European Union tariff, line 1604 12 91 13 covers fish, whole or in pieces, but not minced, herring, in airtight containers, of the species Clupea harengus, spiced and/or vinegar-cured, in brine, for processing. The general (MFN) duty rate is 20%. It falls under HS subheading 1604.12 in heading 16.04 (chapter 16).

Source: https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604129113
Last updated: 11 October 2026

[Countries](https://border.bot/countries) / [European Union](https://border.bot/countries/european-union) / [Chapter 16](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/16) / [1604.12](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/160412) / [1604 12 91 13](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604129113)

## Key facts

- Tariff line: 1604 12 91 13
- Covers: Fish, whole or in pieces, but not minced, herring, in airtight containers, of the species Clupea harengus, spiced and/or vinegar-cured, in brine, for processing
- Supplementary unit: Kilogram drained net weight (kg/net eda), imports only
- Duty (MFN): 20%
- Preferential rates: From 0% (52 programmes or origins)
- Additional duties: None recorded
- Restrictions: None recorded
- Import VAT/GST in the European Union: VAT 21%
- De minimis in the European Union: Flat €3 duty up to €150; tax always charged
- Tariff: [European Union](https://border.bot/countries/european-union)
- HS subheading: [1604.12](https://border.bot/hs-codes/160412)

## What this line covers

In the European Union tariff, line 1604 12 91 13 covers fish, whole or in pieces, but not minced, herring, in airtight containers, of the species Clupea harengus, spiced and/or vinegar-cured, in brine, for processing.

Its legal text is “For processing”, read under “Fish, whole or in pieces, but not minced”, “Herring”, “Other”, “In airtight containers”, “Of the species Clupea harengus” and “Spiced and/or vinegar-cured, in brine”.

## How it is structured

It falls under HS subheading 1604.12 in heading 16.04 (chapter 16). The first six digits are the Harmonized System code; the 4 digits after them are added by the European Union tariff.

- Chapter 16: Preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or of insects
- Heading 16.04: Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs
- Subheading 1604.12: Fish, whole or in pieces, but not minced
- Within the subheading: Herring
- Within the subheading: Other
- Within the subheading: In airtight containers
- Within the subheading: Of the species Clupea harengus
- Within the subheading: Spiced and/or vinegar-cured, in brine
- Line 1604 12 91 13: For processing

## Duty

The general (MFN) duty rate is 20%.

The rate is published on 1604 12 91 00.

Duty-free entry applies to goods that qualify under 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 St…, and to goods from 44 origins.

A preferential rate of 16.5% applies to goods from GSP - General arrangements.

A preferential rate of 18.1% applies to goods from Mercosur.

A preferential rate of 10% applies to goods from Albania and Iceland.

A preferential rate of 14% applies to goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.

- 0%: CARIFORUM (1033)
- 0%: Eastern and Southern Africa States (1034)
- 0%: SADC EPA (1035)
- 0%: 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 St… (2000)
- 0%: GSP-EBA (Special arrangement for the least-developed countries - Everything But Arms) (2005)
- 0%: GSP+ (incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance) (2027)
- 0%: OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) (2080)
- 0%: Central America (2200)
- 0%: Andorra (AD)
- 0%: Canada (CA)
- 0%: Côte d'Ivoire (CI)
- 0%: Chile (CL)
- 0%: Cameroon (CM)
- 0%: Colombia (CO)
- 0%: Algeria (DZ)
- 0%: Ecuador (EC)
- 0%: Egypt (EG)
- 0%: Fiji (FJ)
- 0%: Faroe Islands (FO)
- 0%: United Kingdom (GB)
- 0%: Georgia (GE)
- 0%: Ghana (GH)
- 0%: Israel (IL)
- 0%: Japan (JP)
- 0%: Kenya (KE)
- 0%: South Korea (KR)
- 0%: Lebanon (LB)
- 0%: Morocco (MA)
- 0%: Moldova (MD)
- 0%: North Macedonia (MK)
- 0%: Mexico (MX)
- 0%: New Zealand (NZ)
- 0%: Peru (PE)
- 0%: Papua New Guinea (PG)
- 0%: Palestine (PS)
- 0%: Solomon Islands (SB)
- 0%: Singapore (SG)
- 0%: San Marino (SM)
- 0%: Tunisia (TN)
- 0%: Türkiye (TR)
- 0%: Ukraine (UA)
- 0%: Vietnam (VN)
- 0%: Samoa (WS)
- 0%: Kosovo (XK)
- 0%: South Africa (ZA)
- 16.5%: GSP - General arrangements (2020)
- 18.1%: Mercosur (5500)
- 10%: Albania (AL)
- 10%: Iceland (IS)
- 14%: Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA)
- 14%: Montenegro (ME)
- 14%: Serbia (XS)

## Import VAT and de minimis in the European Union

The European Union charges VAT on imports at a standard rate of 21%.

From 1 July 2026 until 1 July 2028, consignments sold to buyers in the European Union worth up to €150 pay a flat customs duty of €3 per tariff classification in the consignment instead of the tariff rate. Import tax is charged whatever the value.

## In other countries

National tariff lines under 1604.12 are live on border.bot for the United States (6 lines, also used by 1 other country).

- [United States](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/160412): 6 lines, used by 1 other country
- [The Harmonized System text for 1604.12](https://border.bot/hs-codes/160412)

## Other lines under 1604.12

- [1604 12 10 00](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604121000) Fillets, raw, merely coated with batter or breadcrumbs, whether or not pre-fried in oil, frozen
- [1604 12 91 15](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604129115) Other
- [1604 12 91 19](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604129119) Other
- [1604 12 91 93](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604129193) For processing
- [1604 12 91 95](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604129195) Other
- [1604 12 91 99](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604129199) Other
- [1604 12 99 00](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604129900) Other

- Previous line: [1604 12 10 00](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604121000) Fillets, raw, merely coated with batter or breadcrumbs, whether or not pre-fried in oil, frozen
- Next line: [1604 12 91 15](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604129115) Other

## Frequently asked questions

### What does tariff line 1604 12 91 13 cover in the European Union tariff?

In the European Union tariff, line 1604 12 91 13 covers fish, whole or in pieces, but not minced, herring, in airtight containers, of the species Clupea harengus, spiced and/or vinegar-cured, in brine, for processing.

### What is the general (MFN) duty on 1604 12 91 13 in the European Union?

The general (MFN) duty rate is 20%. The rate is published on 1604 12 91 00.

### Which preferential rates apply to 1604 12 91 13?

Duty-free entry applies to goods that qualify under 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 St…, and to goods from CARIFORUM, the Eastern and Southern Africa States, SADC EPA, GSP-EBA (Special arrangement for the least-developed countries - Everything But Arms), GSP+ (incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance), OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories), Central America, Andorra, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Chile, Cameroon, Colombia, Algeria, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, the Faroe Islands, the United Kingdom, Georgia, Ghana, Israel, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Morocco, Moldova, North Macedonia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Palestine, the Solomon Islands, Singapore, San Marino, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Vietnam, Samoa, Kosovo and South Africa. A preferential rate of 16.5% applies to goods from GSP - General arrangements. A preferential rate of 18.1% applies to goods from Mercosur. A preferential rate of 10% applies to goods from Albania and Iceland. A preferential rate of 14% applies to goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.

## Sources and updates

The tariff lines for the European Union come from border.bot release 1, read from the publisher’s files, and have been live since 11 October 2026.

The duty rates for the European Union come from border.bot release 1, read from the publisher’s files, and have been live since 11 October 2026.

The trade programmes for the European Union come from border.bot release 1, read from the publisher’s files, and have been live since 11 October 2026.

The import taxes for the European Union come from border.bot release 1, imported from a file, and have been live since 9 October 2026.

The de minimis thresholds for the European Union come from border.bot release 2, entered by border.bot, and have been live since 11 October 2026.

This page was last updated on 11 October 2026.

Guidance from published tariff data, not a binding ruling. For a decision customs must follow, apply to the destination’s customs authority for a binding tariff ruling.

Official source files:

- https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/9e277705-ac42-441d-8580-90cd730d9bc6/Geographical%20areas%20composition.xlsx
- https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/bfb94607-8b4c-40c3-ad33-1efef11bb80a/Duties%20Import%2001-99.xlsx
- https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/4b3c682c-947c-4f34-932d-0b8d192537bd/Measure%20exclusions.xlsx
- https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/13694f84-6980-4966-8c91-22459447b52b/Nomenclature%20EN.xlsx

Machine-readable: https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/1604129113.json