Import rules and HS codes for licorice root

Updated

Customs authorities classify goods by the Harmonized System (HS). Its first six digits are the same in every country that uses it; each country or customs union then adds digits of its own. This chapter lists the codes for licorice root and licorice extract, and the import rules buyers ask us about most. Your customs authority decides the classification of each shipment.

The HS codes

CodeWhat it coversWhere it applies
1211.90Licorice root, whole, cut, crushed or powdered: heading 12.11 covers it, under "Other", since licorice has no subheading of its ownEvery country that uses the HS (6 digits)
1211 90 860 1"Корни солодки" (liquorice roots), a line of its own since 1 January 2017Eurasian Economic Union
1211 90 860 8Raw licorice root in Uzbekistan's export rules since 2019 (before that, 1211 90 850 0)Uzbekistan
1302.12Saps and extracts of liquoriceEvery country that uses the HS (6 digits)
1211.10 (deleted)"Liquorice roots": a subheading of its own up to the 2002 edition of the HS, deleted in 2007. Old documents may still show itNo longer in use

Why root goes under 1211.90: Note 4 to Chapter 12 of the HS names licorice among the plants of heading 12.11 ("Heading 1211 applies inter alia to the following plants or parts thereof: basil, borage, ginseng, hyssop, liquorice, all species of mint, rosemary, rue, sage and wormwood"). The 2002 edition gave liquorice roots their own subheading, 1211.10; the 2007 edition deleted it, so since then the root has been classified under 1211.90, "Other".

Licorice extract, which our partner makes, has its own subheading in Chapter 13: 1302.12, "Of liquorice".

National lines

After the first six digits, each tariff goes its own way: the EU's Combined Nomenclature and TARIC, the UK Trade Tariff, Korea's HSK and the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule each add their own digits. The 8- and 10-digit import line differs by country. Confirm it with your customs broker.

Two national lines name licorice root directly:

  • Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia): 1211 90 860 1, "корни солодки", in force since 1 January 2017.
  • Uzbekistan: 1211 90 860 8 for raw licorice root, the code in the country's rules on permits for using wild plants. A 2019 Cabinet of Ministers resolution replaced the earlier 1211 90 850 0 with it.

European Union

Labelling. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information requires a statement on foods containing glycyrrhizinic acid, the sweet compound of licorice, when it comes from added liquorice or the substance itself (Annex III, point 3):

  • confectionery or beverages with 100 mg/kg or 10 mg/l or more must say "contains liquorice", unless the word "liquorice" is already in the list of ingredients or the name of the food;
  • confectionery with 4 g/kg or more, and beverages with 50 mg/l or more (300 mg/l for beverages above 1.2 % alcohol), must say "contains liquorice – people suffering from hypertension should avoid excessive consumption".

Ochratoxin A. Since 1 January 2023 the EU has set maximum levels of ochratoxin A, a mould toxin, for certain liquorice products. They were introduced by Regulation (EU) 2022/1370 and now sit in Regulation (EU) 2023/915, Annex I, entry 1.2.19: 20 µg/kg for dried liquorice root, including as an ingredient in herbal infusions, and 80 µg/kg for liquorice extract for use in food. The levels for liquorice confectionery are on our food page.

Pesticide residues. Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 sets the maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin. A maximum residue level is the highest level of a pesticide residue legally tolerated in or on food or feed when pesticides are applied correctly.

United States

Use in food. Under 21 CFR 184.1408, licorice and licorice derivatives are affirmed as generally recognised as safe (GRAS), within limits for each category of food. The limits are set as the glycyrrhizin content of the food as served: 0.1 % for most foods, for example, and 16 % for hard candy. The rule defines licorice root as "the dried and ground rhizome and root portions of Glycyrrhiza glabra or other species of Glycyrrhiza".

Supplier verification. Under the Foreign Supplier Verification Program rule (21 CFR part 1, subpart L), importers of food must carry out risk-based checks on their foreign suppliers. The checks confirm that the food meets the US safety standards that apply to it and is not adulterated. Ask us for the documents your supplier file needs.

United Kingdom

Ochratoxin A. The UK keeps the limits of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as assimilated law (Annex, point 2.2.12):

ProductMaximum level of ochratoxin A
Liquorice root, ingredient for herbal infusion20 µg/kg
Liquorice extract, for use in food, in particular beverages and confectionery80 µg/kg

The UK Trade Tariff follows the same HS notes; the national digits after 1211.90 are a question for your broker.

Eurasian Economic Union

Imports into the EAEU use line 1211 90 860 1. Every load we ship travels with a phytosanitary certificate and a certificate of origin; the full list of documents is on our shipping page. For the current import duty and charges, check the EAEU Common Customs Tariff with your broker.

Who decides

Your customs authority decides the classification of each shipment, and your broker files the import declaration. For Incoterms, loads and documents, see Shipping, Incoterms and documents. To ask for a quote or a sample, use the button below.

Sources