How to Import Incense Charcoal (Bakhoor Charcoal) to the EU – A Complete B2B Guide

1. Confirm the Product Scope & Keywords Before you search for suppliers, clarify which type of charcoal you need. All of the following terms are used in RFQs and should be in your RFQ wording:• incense charcoal / bakhoor charcoal / hookah charcoal / colored incense charcoal / 33 mm charcoal tablets / quick-light charcoal / low-ash charcoal / bamboo charcoal / coconut shell charcoal / odorless charcoal discs / EN1860 charcoal / REACH-compliant charcoal / OEM charcoal / private-label charcoal.

1. Check EU Import Requirements & Regulations 2.1 HS Code & Duty• HS 4402.90.00 – “Bamboo charcoal, incl. shell or nut charcoal, whether or not agglomerated (excl. activated charcoal)”.• EU MFN duty: 0 % (August 2025). VAT is payable on arrival—standard domestic VAT rate of the member state (17–27 %).
2. 2.2 Chemical & Safety Rules
   • REACH (Regulation (EC) 1907/2006) – importer must register or rely on the non-EU manufacturer’s registration (≥ 1 t/y). All accelerants (e.g., nitrates) must be declared.
   • EN1860-1 – solid fuels for barbecues & firelighters; most EU customs offices now ask for EN1860 test reports for charcoal tablets.
   • CLP (Regulation (EC) 1272/2008) – charcoal must carry CLP labelling if shipped in consumer packs.
   • RAPEX / RASFF – check past alerts on “charcoal tablets” or “bakhoor charcoal” to avoid seizure .
   • Fumigation – not mandatory for charcoal, but some ports (e.g., Hamburg) request heat-treatment certificates for wooden pallets (ISPM-15).
3. 2.3 Restricted or Prohibited?
   Charcoal is not on the EU “sensitive list”, but if you ship > 100 kg of oxidising agents you may need an Explosives Precursors licence (Regulation 98/2013).  Quick-light products with > 16 % sodium nitrate require special attention.

1. Supplier Due-Diligence ChecklistUse these questions in your first email or Alibaba inquiry:
2. Can you provide EN1860 test report and REACH SVHC declaration?
3. What is the sodium nitrate %? (≤ 12 % is safest for EU customs.)
4. Do you have OEM / private-label packaging with bar-code printing?
5. MOQ and FOB price per 1,000 tablets (black vs coloured).
6. Factory audit (BSCI, ISO 9001, Sedex).
7. HS code confirmation on proforma invoice.

1. Documents You MUST Collect Before Shipment• Commercial Invoice (shows HS 4402.90.00, FOB USD value)• Packing List (carton dimensions, net/gross weight)• Bill of Lading or AWB• Certificate of Origin (Form A or RCEP if applicable)• EN1860 Test Report (issued by SGS, Intertek, TÜV)• REACH Compliance Letter / SDS• Phytosanitary Certificate (only if using wooden trays)• Insurance policy (CIF terms)

1. Shipping Modes & Cost Benchmarks (August 2025) Mode | Transit | Typical Rate | Pallet Qty | NotesOcean FCL 20’ | 25–32 d | USD 1,400–1,900 Shenzhen–Rotterdam | 10 pallets / ~1.2 M tablets | Cheapest per unitOcean LCL | 30–38 d | USD 95–110 / m³ | 1–2 pallets | Higher risk of damageAir Freight | 5–7 d | USD 4.5–6.0 / kg | < 500 kg | Only for urgent samplesRail (Yiwu–Duisburg) | 18–22 d | USD 2,100 / 40 HC | 20 pallets | Good middle ground
2. Tip: Place pallets on slip-sheets to avoid ISPM-15 pallet delays.

1. Customs Clearance Workflow in the EUStep 1: Obtain EORI number from your national customs authority .Step 2: File Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) via your forwarder 24 h before arrival.Step 3: Submit Single Administrative Document (SAD) – Box 33 must show 4402.90.00.00.Step 4: Pay VAT and any duty (currently 0 %). VAT can be deferred under Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) in most countries.Step 5: Goods released for free circulation and can be sold anywhere in the EU.

1. Labelling & Retail-Pack Rules for EU Market• Language: Mandatory consumer info in the language of the destination country.• CLP pictograms: Flame symbol + “Warning! Contains oxidising substances.”• Ventilation warning: “Use only in well-ventilated areas.”• Batch number & best-before date (shelf life 36 months).• EAN-13 barcode if selling to supermarkets or Amazon EU.

1. Cost Breakdown Example – 1 x 20’ FCLItem USD100 cartons (1.2 M tablets) FOB 20,400Ocean freight Shenzhen–Antwerp 1,650Insurance (0.15 %) 33Import clearance & THC 450EU VAT 21 % (on CIF) 4,680Total landed cost 27,213Landed cost per 1,000 tablets ≈ 22.7 USD

1. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them• High nitrate levels → Rejected at border. Specify ≤ 12 % NaNO₃ in PO.• Wrong HS code → Delays & penalties. Use 4402.90.00.00.• Missing EN1860 report → Physical inspection & extra fees. Request PDF copy before shipment.• Wooden pallets without ISPM-15 → Fumigation charge (€150–250). Use plastic pallets or treated wood.

1. Ready-to-Use RFQ Template (copy & paste)Subject: RFQ – 33 mm Incense Charcoal to EU• Product: 33 mm quick-light charcoal tablets, black + 6 colours.• Specs: burn 45 min, ash ≤ 3 %, NaNO₃ ≤ 12 %, EN1860 passed.• Quantity: 2 x 20’ FCL per quarter.• Packaging: 10 tablets/roll, 100 rolls/carton, private-label colour box.• Terms: FOB Shenzhen, T/T 30 % / 70 %, target price USD 0.017 / pc.• Docs: COA, EN1860, REACH, MSDS.Please send proforma invoice and SGS report within 48 h.

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