Importing handmade rugs from India to the EU

General information, not legal or customs advice. This page summarises public official sources we opened on 30 October 2026. Tariffs, taxes and product rules change. Your customs broker or compliance adviser decides the classification, duty and labelling for your shipment.

The EU tariff is built on the Harmonized System (WCO HS Nomenclature 2022, Chapter 57, checked 30 October 2026). The headings for handmade rugs are:

The European Commission says goods are classified into Combined Nomenclature codes, the Common Customs Tariff sets the rates, and duty is normally a percentage of the customs value (EU Taxation and Customs Union, calculation of customs duties, checked 30 October 2026). Look up your exact code in TARIC or Access2Markets. Your broker decides the code for your rug.

Duty rates. We do not quote a rate. Rates depend on the code and origin and can change, so check TARIC for your exact code.

As standard we provide the commercial invoice, packing list, Certificate of Origin. We do not issue a phytosanitary certificate; a buyer who needs one for jute or seagrass should check the destination's rules with their broker. Additional compliance declarations and material-composition documents are prepared based on your market and requirements. We confirm the full document set for your order before production begins. See export and logistics and our standards.

We do not issue fire-test, flammability or other test certificates unless they are arranged for a specific order and confirmed on your quote.

The Commission's import guide says imported goods must meet the same requirements as EU-made goods, and that packaging and labelling rules are set by member states (Access2Markets, guide to import of goods, checked 30 October 2026). Rules you should ask your adviser about include Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and labelling and Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety. We could not open the full text of these on 30 October 2026, so we do not summarise what they require of a rug; do not rely on this page for that.

On request from us: your own woven or sewn-in label, a barcode or QR sticker (you supply the numbers), your own packaging or polybag, and country of origin and fibre content on the label. Tell us the languages and details your market needs before sampling is approved. See OEM and private label.

The Commission says one import tariff applies at the point of entry irrespective of the member state, and that the importer often pays it, though the sales contract decides who bears the cost. Imported goods face VAT like EU-made goods; the rate varies by member state, the importer usually pays it, and VAT-registered firms can usually reclaim it as input tax (Access2Markets, guide to import of goods, checked 30 October 2026). For trade orders the buyer is the importer of record; confirm duty and VAT with a customs broker. We do not state figures.

For retail orders on RS Living, import duties and taxes, if any, are paid by the customer to the carrier or customs on delivery. We do not collect or refund them. See RS Living shipping to the European Union.

The usual default for this route is FOB Nhava Sheva (JNPT, Mumbai). Under FOB we clear the goods for export and load them on board at the Indian port; from that point cost and risk pass to you, and you arrange the ocean freight, destination clearance and delivery. We work to all Incoterms 2020 terms, and the term, named place and cost breakdown are confirmed on your quote before production. See export and logistics for the full list.

Retail orders are different. For orders placed through RS Living shipping to the European Union, import duties and taxes, if any, are paid by the customer to the carrier or customs on delivery, and RS Living does not collect or refund them.

1. NDA and brief. We sign an NDA as standard before designs are shared, then you send construction, material, size and quantity.
2. Sample. 5 to 20 days. The sampling cost is credited against your order. See the sampling process.
3. Approval and PO. The approved sample becomes the reference for bulk. Label, barcode or QR sticker and packaging choices are confirmed here (OEM and private label).
4. Bulk production. 8 to 16 weeks.
5. Export documents and loading. We prepare the document set and clear the goods for export at Nhava Sheva under FOB.
6. Ocean freight and import clearance. Arranged by you or your forwarder and broker. Transit time depends on the carrier and service you book.
7. Air freight. Air freight for samples and urgent small orders is typically around Rs 1,000 per kg door to door (indicative, owner estimate; varies by route, weight and season).

Constructions and materials are listed in rug specifications. For ordering see how to order and wholesale rugs. New to importing? Read how to start a rug brand.

Archived with a DOI: Importing handmade rugs from India: HS headings 5701, 5702, 5703 (Zenodo, CC BY 4.0).

Core references: OEM and private label, rug specifications, how to order, wholesale rugs and the sample program.

See also: Export and logistics · OEM and private label · Rug specifications · Rug sampling process · Wholesale rugs · Importing to Germany · Importing to France · Importing to Canada · Importing to Australia · Importing to the UAE · RS Living shipping to the EU · Importing to the UK