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64022000
FOOTWEAR, GAITERS AND THE LIKE; PARTS OF SUCH ARTICLESOther footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics

Footwear with upper straps or thongs assembled to the sole by means of plugs

Standard EU duty
17%
VAT
23%
Additional duties / sanctions
0 rules
Docs required
11 docs
Y946Y948Y945Y821Y822N954+5
Standard rates
Applies toTypeRateConditionsRegulation
ERGA OMNESThird country duty17%R2261/98
Preferences
ERGA OMNES 0%AD 0%AL 0%BA 0%CA 0%CAMER 0%CARI 0%CH 0%CI 0%CL 0%CM 0%CO 0%DZ 0%EBA 0%EC 0%EEA 0%EG 0%EH 0%ESA 0%EUCA 0%FJ 0%FO 0%GB 0%GE 0%GH 0%GSP 11.9%GSP+ 0%IL 0%JO 0%JP 0%KE 0%KR 0%LB 0%LOMB 0%MA 0%MD 0%ME 0%MK 0%MX 0%NZ 0%PE 0%PG 0%PS 0%SADC EPA 0%SB 0%SG 0%SM 0%SWITZ 0%SY 0%TN 0%TR 0%UA 0%VN 0%WS 0%XC 0%XK 0%XL 0%XS 0%ZA 0%
Notes
TM5101. Customs duties shall be suspended in respect of goods intended for incorporation in the ships, boats or other vessels classified at the following CN codes 8901 10 10; 8901 20 10; 8901 30 10; 8901 90 10; 8902 00 10; 8903 91 10; 8903 92 10; 8904 00 10; 8904 00 91; 8905 10 10; 8905 90 10; 8906 10 00; 8906 90 10 for the purposes of their construction, repair, maintenance or conversion, and in respect of goods intended for fitting to or equipping such ships, boats or other vessels.2. Customs duties shall be suspended in respect of:(a) goods intended for incorporation in drilling or production platforms:(1) fixed, of subheading ex 8430 49, operating in or outside the territorial sea of Member States, or(2) floating or submersible, of subheading 8905 20, for the purposes of their construction, repair, maintenance or conversion, and in respect of goods intended for equipping the said platforms.(b) tubes, pipes, cables and their connection pieces, linking these drilling or production platforms to the mainland.
EU003According to The Special Provisions of Section II (A) (3) of the Preliminary Provisions of the Combined Nomenclature the suspension of customs duties for goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms shall be subject to conditions laid down in the relevant provisions of the European Union with a view to customs control of the use of such goods.
CD303The relief from or reduction of customs duties shall be subject to the specific request expressed by the declarant in box 44 "Additional information/Documents produced/Certificates and authorisations", of the Single Administrative Document (SAD)
TM904Preferences granted under the agreement between the European Union and Morocco in force from 19 July 2019.As of 3 October 2025, products originating in Western Sahara subject to controls by the customs authorities of the Kingdom of Morocco shall benefit from trade preferences under the terms of the new Agreement in the form of exchange of letters between the EU and Morocco, The European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to allow those products to be identified by reference to the region of origin to be included in the proof of origin and as provided for in Protocol 4.In view of the application of these measures, the origin certificates codes U179 and U180 must be declared.The country code to be entered in the origin declaration when these proofs of origin are used is “EH”.
CD727Eligibility to benefit from this preference is subject to the presentation of an origin declaration stating the European Union origin of the goods, in the context of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
TM547Application of Article 7.3 of Regulation (EC) No 978/2012 (OJ L 303).
CD906The list of non-eligible locations and their postal codes is available at the following address: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/technical-arrangement_postal-codes.pdf
CD500Eligibility to benefit from this preference is subject to the presentation of a proof of origin stating the community origin of the goods, in the context of the agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation.
5

Binding Tariff Information

BTI classification examples

DEgold085/25-1

Plastic flip-flops with decorative prints

plasticGRI 1GRI 6
DEgold374/24-1

Plastic flip-flops with toe post

plasticGRI 1GRI 6
DEgold888/25-1

Unassembled rubber flip-flop sandals

rubberGRI 1GRI 2aGRI 6
DEgold585/25-1

Plastic flip-flops with leopard print

plasticGRI 1GRI 6
DEgold275/24-1

Flip-flops with plastic soles and straps

plasticGRI 1GRI 6

BTI (Binding Tariff Information) is an official EU customs decision confirming the classification of goods. Valid for 3 years, binding across all EU member states.

Classification scope of CN code 640220

CN code 640220 covers footwear with uppers consisting of straps or thongs of rubber or plastics assembled to the sole by means of plugs (also known as dowels). Typical products include flip-flop beach sandals, PVC or rubber strap sandals, and recreational footwear with simple strap construction. The distinguishing technical feature is the method of attaching straps to the sole, where straps are inserted through holes in the sole and secured by plugs or pins from below. This production method differentiates products under code 640220 from other footwear in heading 6402, where the upper is attached by gluing, stitching or other techniques. The outer sole must be of rubber or plastics. This type of footwear is mass-produced primarily in Asia, mainly in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, and represents a significant import volume into the EU.

Regulatory requirements and product safety

Import of footwear under CN code 640220 into the European Union is subject to the GPSR (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety. REACH Regulation imposes restrictions on chemical substance content, with particularly relevant limits on phthalates in soft PVC (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP combined maximum of 0.1 percent by weight), lead and cadmium in plastics, and formamide in EVA foam used in soles. Footwear under code 640220 is often produced from low-cost materials, which increases the risk of chemical non-compliance. Labelling must comply with Directive 94/11/EC on footwear materials. The importer must ensure that their identification data and address appear on the product or packaging. Consumer footwear of this type does not require CE marking. Market surveillance authorities in EU Member States regularly inspect flip-flops and sandals imported from Asia for REACH compliance.

Practical advice for importers

Footwear under CN code 640220 is classified separately from other footwear in heading 6402 due to its specific plug-attachment technique for straps. During customs clearance, authorities may examine the footwear construction to confirm correct classification. Duty rates for this code should be checked in the TARIC system, taking into account the country of origin. Preferential duty rates may apply to imports from countries covered by EU trade agreements. The importer should commission REACH testing at an accredited laboratory before the first delivery, particularly for phthalates and heavy metals. Flip-flops and sandals are frequently counterfeited products, and EU customs services conduct active IPR controls at borders. For large import volumes from a single source, obtaining Binding Tariff Information ruling is recommended, providing classification certainty for a period of three years.

Strap footwear of rubber or plastics - CN 6402 20

Footwear with upper straps or thongs assembled to the sole by plugs under CN 6402 20 carries a 16.9% EU duty. This covers sandals, flip-flops with straps and summer plastic footwear. REACH compliance required. Major sources are China and Vietnam.

Frequently asked questions

What distinguishes footwear under CN 640220 from other sandals in heading 6402?
The key feature is the method of attaching straps to the sole using plugs. Rubber or plastic straps are inserted through holes in the sole and secured by pins or plugs from the underside. This specific production technique distinguishes footwear under code 640220 from sandals and flip-flops where straps are glued, stitched or injection-moulded together with the sole.
Are PVC flip-flops imported from China subject to additional charges?
The current status of anti-dumping duties and other trade measures for footwear under CN code 640220 from China must be verified in the TARIC system. In addition to standard customs duty, additional charges related to trade defence measures may apply. Additional TARIC codes identifying the exporting manufacturer and exact country of origin must be declared at customs clearance.
Which REACH restrictions are most commonly violated in low-cost flip-flops?
The most frequently detected violations involve exceeding phthalate limits (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP) in soft PVC, elevated lead or cadmium content in coloured plastics, and the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rubber sole components. EU market surveillance authorities regularly publish footwear control results through the Safety Gate system (formerly RAPEX).
What duty applies to plastic sandals CN 6402 20?
Strap footwear of rubber/plastic under CN 6402 20 carries a 16.9% EU duty. REACH compliance required. Import VAT applies.