6912 00Select TARIC subcode
Ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles, other than of porcelain or china
Available TARIC subcodes: 12
6912 002111
Tableware and kitchenware, excluding condiment or spice mills and their ceramic grinding parts, coffee mills, knife sharpeners, sharpeners, kitchen tools to be used for cutting, grinding, grating, slicing, scraping and peeling, cordierite ceramic pizza-stones of a kind used for baking pizza or bread
Duty 0-5%VAT 23%
6912 002119
Other
Duty 0-5%VAT 23%
6912 002191
Tableware and kitchenware, excluding condiment or spice mills and their ceramic grinding parts, coffee mills, knife sharpeners, sharpeners, kitchen tools to be used for cutting, grinding, grating, slicing, scraping and peeling, cordierite ceramic pizza-stones of a kind used for baking pizza or bread
Duty 0-5%VAT 23%
6912 002199
Other
Duty 0-5%VAT 23%
6912 002310
Tableware and kitchenware, excluding condiment or spice mills and their ceramic grinding parts, coffee mills, knife sharpeners, sharpeners, kitchen tools to be used for cutting, grinding, grating, slicing, scraping and peeling, cordierite ceramic pizza-stones of a kind used for baking pizza or bread
Duty 0-5,5%VAT 23%
6912 002390
Other
Duty 0-5,5%VAT 23%
6912 002510
Tableware and kitchenware, excluding condiment or spice mills and their ceramic grinding parts, coffee mills, knife sharpeners, sharpeners, kitchen tools to be used for cutting, grinding, grating, slicing, scraping and peeling, cordierite ceramic pizza-stones of a kind used for baking pizza or bread
Duty 0-9%VAT 23%
6912 002590
Other
Duty 0-9%VAT 23%
6912 002910
Tableware and kitchenware, excluding condiment or spice mills and their ceramic grinding parts, coffee mills, knife sharpeners, sharpeners, kitchen tools to be used for cutting, grinding, grating, slicing, scraping and peeling, cordierite ceramic pizza-stones of a kind used for baking pizza or bread
Duty 0-7%VAT 23%
6912 002990
Other
Duty 0-7%VAT 23%
6912 008110
Hand-made
Duty 0-5%VAT 23%
6912 008190
Other
Duty 0-5%VAT 23%
Scope of classification — subheading 691200 non-porcelain ceramic tableware
CN subheading 691200 covers tableware and kitchenware made of ceramics other than porcelain: stoneware, earthenware, terracotta and other ceramic bodies. This includes plates, bowls, cups, mugs, salad bowls, jugs, teapots, sugar bowls, sauce boats and similar articles intended for serving or consuming food and beverages. The key classification criterion distinguishing subheading 691200 from heading 6911 is the material: tableware of porcelain is classified under heading 6911 (subheadings 691110 or 691190), whereas all articles of vitrified ceramics with water absorption above 0.5% or of other glazed non-porcelain ceramics fall under subheading 691200. Vitrified stoneware is the most common material in this group — its dense, watertight structure is sometimes confused with porcelain, but water absorption above 0.5% is decisive for classification under heading 6912. Earthenware is a porous ceramic covered with an opaque glaze, widely used for tableware production. Terracotta and unglazed red-clay articles such as cooking pots and bowls also fall within the scope of subheading 691200. Importers should hold manufacturer technical documentation confirming the type of ceramic and its water absorption. Classification is performed in accordance with the General Rules for the Interpretation of the CN (GRI), primarily rules 1 and 6, and the Notes to Chapter 69. In case of doubt, a Binding Tariff Information (BTI) ruling from the competent customs authority is recommended.
Product safety and regulatory requirements for ceramic tableware under subheading 691200
Imports of tableware and kitchenware under subheading 691200 into the European Union must comply with the Union Customs Code (Regulation (EU) No 952/2013). The importer must hold an EORI number and submit an electronic customs declaration. Required documents include a commercial invoice with the product description and ceramic type, a transport document (CMR, B/L or AWB) and the manufacturer's technical specification. Tableware intended for contact with food is subject to Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on food contact materials. Directive 84/500/EEC as amended by Regulation (EU) 2021/1965 establishes strict migration limits for lead and cadmium from ceramic tableware into food — importers must hold laboratory test results confirming compliance with these limits. REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 applies to SVHC substances in pigments and glazes. The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), Regulation (EU) 2023/988, applicable from 13 December 2024, requires importers to carry out a product risk assessment, maintain technical documentation for at least 10 years and designate a responsible person in the EU. Where articles may be accessible to children, importers must assess whether the Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC) may apply. Current MFN duty rates and trade measures must be verified in the EU TARIC database before each import transaction.
Duty rates and anti-dumping measures for ceramic tableware under subheading 691200
MFN duty rates for ceramic tableware and kitchenware under subheading 691200 must be verified in the current EU TARIC database, as they are subject to change. A critical commercial aspect is that the European Union applies anti-dumping duties on ceramic tableware and kitchenware originating from China and classified under heading 6912 — importers must always verify in TARIC the current status of anti-dumping measures for the precise CN code 6912 00 and country of origin China, as regulations may change following reviews. Accurate identification of the material composition (stoneware, earthenware) directly determines the scope of applicable trade defence measures. Preferential duty rates may be available under EU free trade agreements, including EVFTA with Vietnam, the EU-Japan EPA, CETA with Canada, the EU-Korea FTA and others, as well as under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) for developing countries, subject to compliance with rules of origin and presentation of a valid EUR.1 certificate or REX declaration. Importers should verify in TARIC whether additional anti-dumping or countervailing measures apply for the specific CN code and country of origin. Imports from Russia and Belarus may be subject to EU sanctions. VAT applies to imports according to the applicable national rate. All duty rates and trade measures must be verified in the EU TARIC database.
Frequently asked questions
Are ceramic tableware articles from China classified under subheading 691200 subject to anti-dumping duties?
The European Union applies anti-dumping duties on ceramic tableware and kitchenware imported from China and classified under heading 6912 of the Combined Nomenclature. Subheading 691200 corresponds to heading 6912 for non-porcelain ceramics — importers must always verify in the EU TARIC database the current status of anti-dumping measures for the precise CN code and country of origin China, as regulations may change following reviews. Accurate confirmation of the ceramic type (stoneware, earthenware) and country of origin is an absolute prerequisite for correctly determining all applicable customs duties.
What lead and cadmium migration limits apply to ceramic tableware under subheading 691200?
Ceramic tableware intended for contact with food must comply with migration limits for lead and cadmium set by Directive 84/500/EEC as amended by Regulation (EU) 2021/1965. Importers must hold laboratory test documentation confirming compliance with those limits. Articles not meeting the limits cannot legally be placed on the EU market. The GPSR, Regulation (EU) 2023/988, applicable from 13 December 2024, additionally requires a product risk assessment and designation of a responsible person in the EU. Current requirements must be verified in the TARIC database.
How can tableware in subheading 691200 be distinguished from porcelain articles under heading 6911?
The distinguishing criterion is the material: heading 6911 covers only tableware and kitchenware of porcelain — fully vitrified ceramics with water absorption below 0.5%, typically white and impermeable. Subheading 691200 covers stoneware, earthenware, terracotta and other ceramics with water absorption above 0.5% or other non-porcelain glazed ceramics. Manufacturer documentation confirming water absorption and raw material composition (e.g. test results per ISO 10545-3) is essential for correct tariff classification. In case of doubt, a BTI ruling is recommended. Duty rates must be verified in TARIC.