Importing Books from China to the EU: Duty-Free Guide

Nowadays, there is a trend going analog. Reading books fits perfectly into this movement. If you want to start importing books from China to the European Union, there are things you should keep in mind.

Importing books from China to the European Union

Where in China are books manufactured?

• As for paper manufacturers, they are mostly located in Shandong and Guangdong provinces.  
• Major printing houses are in Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Henan. A large number of printing houses are also located in Beijing and Shanghai. 

Custom duties on books from China

When you import a product into the EU, you must pay customs duties. You can check the value of it in the TARIC database, where rules for specific products imported into the EU are published.

In the TARIC system, books are located in section X – Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard; paper and paperboard and articles thereof, chapter 49 – Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans.

The value of customs duty for books imported from China is 0%.

Importing books into the EU – regulations

When importing into the EU, it is the importer’s responsibility to ensure that the product that is put into the European market complies with the EU’s regulations.

For books, major law regulations are:

• The REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) directive regulates the amount of chemicals that are labeled as unsafe that may be used in products.
• Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation that allows imported products to be put into European market only if they are:  deforestation-free, have been produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of the country of production and are covered by a due diligence statement.

Importing from China – what you should remember about

• Look for producers with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification – the FSC sets standards for forest management and therefore plays an important role in the paper sector.
• Look for manufacturers with ISO9001 (Quality Management System) or ISO14001 (Environmental Management System) certification – that way, you can know that your Chinese partner is using methods that are effective and good for the environment.
• Ask for samples – before you put in your full order, ask the producer to send you a sample so that you can be sure that their products meet your requirements.
• Verify your potential Chinese supplier – before you decide to start cooperation, verify your Chinese manufacturer to ensure that you won’t get scammed. At the beginning of your cooperation, sign a commercial contract to protect your interests and, along the progression of production – conduct quality control.

Importing books from China to the European Union – summary

• In China, most of the paper and publishing industry is located in the eastern part of the country.
• The custom duty for books within the EU has a value of 0%.
• When importing books to the EU, the importer has to ensure that the product complies with European requirements.
• Remember to choose your Chinese supplier carefully.