# European Union tariff lines under HS 3815.90

> The European Union tariff splits HS 3815.90 (reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, not elsewhere specified or included) into 16 national lines: 3815 90 10 00 (catalyst consisting of ethyltriphenylphosphonium acetate in the form of a solution in methanol), 3815 90 90 16 (initiator based on dimethylaminopropyl urea), 3815 90 90 30 (catalyst, consisting of a suspension in mineral oil of: - tetrahydrofuran complexes of magnesium chloride and titanium(III) chloride; and - silicon dioxide - containing 6,6 % (± 0,6 %) by weight of magnesium, and - containing 2,3 % (± 0,2 %) by weight of titanium), 3815 90 90 38 (photoinitiator, containing by weight: -80 % or more of polyethylene glycol di[β-4-[4-(2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl)butanoylphenyl]piperazine]propionate (CAS RN 886463-10-1), -not more than 17 % of polyethylene glycol [β-4-[4-(2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl)butanoylphenyl]piperazine]propionate) and 12 others.

Source: https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/381590
Last updated: 11 October 2026

[Countries](https://border.bot/countries) / [European Union](https://border.bot/countries/european-union) / [Chapter 38](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/38) / [3815.90](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/381590)

## Key facts

- HS subheading: [3815.90](https://border.bot/hs-codes/381590)
- National lines: 16
- 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)
- Chapter: 38: Miscellaneous chemical products

## European Union lines under 3815.90

The European Union tariff splits HS 3815.90 (reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, not elsewhere specified or included) into 16 national lines: 3815 90 10 00 (catalyst consisting of ethyltriphenylphosphonium acetate in the form of a solution in methanol), 3815 90 90 16 (initiator based on dimethylaminopropyl urea), 3815 90 90 30 (catalyst, consisting of a suspension in mineral oil of: - tetrahydrofuran complexes of magnesium chloride and titanium(III) chloride; and - silicon dioxide - containing 6,6 % (± 0,6 %) by weight of magnesium, and - containing 2,3 % (± 0,2 %) by weight of titanium), 3815 90 90 38 (photoinitiator, containing by weight: -80 % or more of polyethylene glycol di[β-4-[4-(2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl)butanoylphenyl]piperazine]propionate (CAS RN 886463-10-1), -not more than 17 % of polyethylene glycol [β-4-[4-(2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl)butanoylphenyl]piperazine]propionate) and 12 others.

- [3815 90 10 00](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815901000) Other, Catalyst consisting of ethyltriphenylphosphonium acetate in the form of a solution in methanol. Duty (MFN): 0%
- [3815 90 90 16](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909016) Other, Other, Initiator based on dimethylaminopropyl urea. Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 30](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909030) Other, Other, Catalyst, consisting of a suspension in mineral oil of: - tetrahydrofuran complexes of magnesium chloride and titanium(III) chloride; and - silicon dioxide - containing 6,6 % (± 0,6 %) by weight of magnesium, and - containing 2,3 % (± 0,2 %) by weight of titanium. Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 38](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909038) Other, Other, Photoinitiator, containing by weight: -80 % or more of polyethylene glycol di[β-4-[4-(2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl)butanoylphenyl]piperazine]propionate (CAS RN 886463-10-1), -not more than 17 % of polyethylene glycol [β-4-[4-(2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl)butanoylphenyl]piperazine]propionate. Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 43](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909043) Other, Other, Catalyst in powder form consisting by weight of -92,50 % (± 2) % titanium dioxide (CAS RN 13463-67-7) -5 % (± 1) % silicon dioxide (CAS RN 112926-00-8) and -2,5 % (± 1,5) % sulphur trioxide (CAS RN 7446-11-9). Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 48](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909048) Other, Other, Photoinitiator containing by weight: -88 % or more of α-(2-benzoylbenzoyl)-ω-[(2-benzoylbenzoyl)oxy]-poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) (CAS RN 1246194-73-9), -not more than 12 % of α-(2-benzoylbenzoyl)-ω-hydroxy-poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) (CAS RN 1648797-60-7). Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 50](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909050) Other, Other, Catalyst containing titanium trichloride, in the form of a suspension in hexane or heptane containing by weight, in the hexane- or heptane-free material, 9 % or more but not more than 30 % of titanium. Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 55](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909055) Other, Other, Catalytic Additives for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), not containing Y type zeolite (CAS RN 308079-79-0), and not being a FCC (Fluid Catalytic Cracking) base catalyst, in the form of powder, consisting of a mixture of one or more of the following active substances: -calcium carbonate (CAS RN 471-34-1), -copper oxide (CAS RN 1217-38-0), -iron oxide (CAS RN 1309-37-1), -aluminium magnesium vanadium oxide (CAS RN 70621-8-0), -vanadium pentoxide (CAS RN 1314-62-1), -aluminium phosphate (CAS RN 7784-30-7), -cerium oxide (CAS RN 1306-38-3), -ZSM-5 type zeolite (CAS RN 308081-08-5), and one or more of the following inert substances: -magnesium oxide (CAS RN 1309-48-8), -aluminium oxide (CAS RN 1344-28-1), -kaolin (CAS RN 1332-58-7). Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 58](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909058) Other, Other, 1,1′-Bis(4-triethylsilylphenyl)methylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-tert-butyl-9-fluorenyl)dimethylhafnium (CAS RN 264926-41-2) in the form of a hexane (CAS RN 110-54-3) solution, containing by weight 2,0 % or more but not more than 2,5 % of 1,1′-bis(4-triethylsilylphenyl)methylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-tert-butyl-9-fluorenyl)dimethylhafnium. Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 60](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909060) Other, Other, Dinonylnaphthalenedisulfonic acid (CAS RN 60223-95-2) with a content by weight of 50 % or more but not more than 65 %, in the form of a solution in isobutanol (CAS RN 78-83-1). Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 76](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909076) Other, Other, Catalyst consisting of titanium dioxide and tungsten trioxide. Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 81](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909081) Other, Other, Catalyst, containing by weight 69 % or more but not more than 79 % of (2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)trimethylammonium 2-ethylhexanoate. Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 85](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909085) Other, Other, Catalyst based on aluminosilicate (zeolite), for the alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons, for the transalkylation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons or for the oligomerization of olefins. Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 88](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909088) Other, Other, Catalyst, consisting of titanium tetrachloride and magnesium chloride, containing by weight on an oil- and hexane-free basis: - 4 % or more but not more than 10 % of titanium and - 10 % or more but not more than 20 % magnesium. Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 89](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909089) Other, Other, Rhodococcus rhodocrous J1 bacteria, containing enzymes, suspended in a polyacrylamide gel or in water, for use as a catalyst in the production of acrylamide by the hydration of acrylonitrile. Duty (MFN): 6.5%
- [3815 90 90 90](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/3815909090) Other. Duty (MFN): 6.5%

## 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 3815.90 are live on border.bot for the United States (4 lines, also used by 1 other country).

- [United States](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/381590): 4 lines, used by 1 other country
- [The Harmonized System text for 3815.90](https://border.bot/hs-codes/381590)

- Previous subheading: [3815.19](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/381519) Other
- Next subheading: [3816.00](https://border.bot/countries/european-union/hs-codes/381600) Refractory cements, mortars, concretes and similar compositions, including dolomite ramming mix, other than products of heading 3801

## Frequently asked questions

### How many national tariff lines does the European Union tariff have under HS 3815.90?

The European Union tariff splits HS 3815.90 (reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, not elsewhere specified or included) into 16 national lines: 3815 90 10 00 (catalyst consisting of ethyltriphenylphosphonium acetate in the form of a solution in methanol), 3815 90 90 16 (initiator based on dimethylaminopropyl urea), 3815 90 90 30 (catalyst, consisting of a suspension in mineral oil of: - tetrahydrofuran complexes of magnesium chloride and titanium(III) chloride; and - silicon dioxide - containing 6,6 % (± 0,6 %) by weight of magnesium, and - containing 2,3 % (± 0,2 %) by weight of titanium), 3815 90 90 38 (photoinitiator, containing by weight: -80 % or more of polyethylene glycol di[β-4-[4-(2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl)butanoylphenyl]piperazine]propionate (CAS RN 886463-10-1), -not more than 17 % of polyethylene glycol [β-4-[4-(2-dimethylamino-2-benzyl)butanoylphenyl]piperazine]propionate) and 12 others.

## 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/381590.json