Tariffs, regulations and customs
The EU has a harmonised trade system. Common Customs Tariff (CCT) is applicable to goods from non-EU countries, including Australia. Most duties are ad valorem (%), based on the GATT Valuation Code (approximate CIF value).
Before shipping any goods to Europe, you should obtain a written customs duty ruling from the local customs service. These rulings are called Binding Tariff Information (BTI). Getting a BTI is free and will prevent any conflict over customs or excise duty.
Consignments of textiles and apparel imported into Germany require a certificate of origin because certain quotas apply to low labour-cost countries.
Import duty ranges from 6.9 per cent to 13.8 per cent depending on the type of product. An import turnover tax, similar to the Value Added Tax levied on domestically produced goods, of 19 per cent applies.
For further information on import duties please visit http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/tarhome_en.htm
Standardisation
The Textiles and Textile Machinery Standards Committee (Textilnorm) is in charge of establishing DIN standards for textiles, clothing as well as textile machinery. The different DIN standards define the requirements, dimensions, technical terminology as well as testing standards for special areas in the textile industry. Foreign companies must ensure that their textile products conform to all relevant standards in Germany. The latest standards can be found on the EU website. (Source: German Business Portal: Textile industry – a large market for fashionable goods)
Labelling
The German Textile Labelling Law lays the foundation for the labelling of textiles on the market. All textiles manufactured, imported and sold in Germany must bear a label indicating their raw materials composition. According to the law which applies to all textile products on the supply chain, textiles may only be sold if they possess the appropriate specification of the fibre contents, care and washing instructions as well as size in metric measurements. The Textile Labelling Law harmonises with the EU Directive 96/74/EC in order to make sure that the labelling for textile fibres and other terms used on labels and relevant documents are uniform throughout the EU.
Even though care labelling symbols are not mandatory in Germany, the National Association for Textile Care Labelling, GINETEX, has defined an internationally recognised care labelling system for textiles based on trademark symbols. These care symbols provide traders, consumers and companies with the correct information about taking care of textile products.
(Source: German Business Portal: Textile industry – a large market for fashionable goods)
Import regulations
In order to import textile products into Germany, companies must make sure that they present a certificate of origin (Ursprungszeugnis). Textiles coming from countries that have no bilateral agreements with the EU require an import license (Einfuhrgenehmigung) in order to enter Germany. Import licenses can be obtained from the Federal Office for Economics and Export Control.
Furthermore, according to the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of chemical products (REACH) Regulation of the European Union (1907/2006/EC), manufacturers and importers of textiles containing potentially dangerous chemicals must register these substances to the European Chemicals Agency and ensure the appropriate communication along the supply chain. The main goal of REACH is to control the safety of chemicals in consumer products, including textiles.
(Source: German Business Portal: Textile industry – a large market for fashionable goods)
Certification
The most widely used and recognised certificate of quality for textiles in Germany and the EU is the Oeko-Tex Standard 100. This voluntary certificate provides the textile and clothing industry a uniform standard for consumers who specifically aim to buy textiles that are free of harmful substances. All raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production are tested and certified for compliance with the standard.
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