How to Import Shea Butter into the European Union
Tariff line, regulator, documents, transit from Lagos and clearance for the European Union — every fact sourced and dated.
Summary
- Customs authority
- The European Commission TARIC consultation is the Union tariff database used by Member State customs to retrieve measures by goods code and origin.
- Cosmetics authority
- The cosmetic products notification portal (CPNP) is a free of charge online notification system created for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. When a product has been notified in the CPNP, there is no need for any further notification at national level within the EU.
- Food authority
- Shea is named in Directive 2000/36/EC as one of the vegetable fats that may be used in chocolate, obtained from Butyrospermum parkii.
- National tariff line
- 1515 Other fixed vegetable or microbial fats and oils (including jojoba oil) and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. 1515 90 - Other. 1515 90 99 - - - - - Solid, other; fluid. 1515 90 91 - - - - - Solid, in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg.
- Product notification
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Article 13) requires that the responsible persons and, under certain circumstances, the distributors of cosmetic products submit some information about the products they place or make available on the European market through the CPNP.
- Ports of discharge
- Hamburg, Le Havre
- Transit from Lagos
- 18–28 days
- Certification priority
- EU Organic (EOS), COSMOS
- Labelling language
- Member-state official language of the market of sale
- Specific to European Union
- TARIC line 1515 90 99 is described as Solid, other; fluid in the Combined Nomenclature.
- Specific to European Union (2)
- The Responsible Person notifies finished cosmetics in CPNP before placing them on the Union market.
- Specific to European Union (3)
- Nigeria-origin preference is claimed with a REX statement on origin under the EU GSP.
Nigerian shea butter for the European Union
the EU does not grow shea. The butter on a the EU COA is West African — EMI Agro presses it in Ibadan from wild-collected nuts. CPNP and the Responsible Person sit at Union level; VAT and the clearance office sit in the Member State of entry. EMI Agro works with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi. Hamburg is the usual discharge.
Ask for a batch COA on a NIS 571:2013 basis: free fatty acid, peroxide value, moisture, colour and melting point. Reject lots that smell sharply rancid or pour like liquid oil at room temperature. CPNP filings sit with the the EU importer — they do not replace a COA.
Trial lots start at 5 tonnes; standard orders start at 20 tonnes. Send the request even if you need less — EMI Agro reviews every European Union enquiry against current production of 40 tonnes per week of finished shea butter and can schedule rolling shipments. Lead time is Ibadan production plus ocean time to Hamburg. Quotes are EXW, FOB or CIF; each term prices different services beyond the butter.
Two questions. We show the grade, the documents that usually apply and the next step — we do not invent a price.
- 1
Step 1 — Classify & tariff
Shea butter is classified under HS heading 1515.90 worldwide; the European Union extends it to the national line below.
Tariff classification for shea butter in the European Union (sources and dates in References) Item Value Source HS heading 1515.90 — global Harmonized System National tariff line 1515 Other fixed vegetable or microbial fats and oils (including jojoba oil) and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified. 1515 90 - Other. 1515 90 99 - - - - - Solid, other; fluid. 1515 90 91 - - - - - Solid, in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg. eur-lex.europa.eu Duty and tax note Conventional rate of duty: 1515 90 99 Solid, other; fluid — 9,6 %; 1515 90 91 Solid, in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg — 12,8 %. eur-lex.europa.eu Preference scheme and proof of origin Nigeria is listed as NG Nigeria among beneficiary countries of the general GSP arrangement in Regulation (EU) No 978/2012. After 30 June 2020, the proof of origin to claim preferential tariff treatment under the GSP is a statement on origin issued by exporters who are registered in the beneficiary country in the Registered Exporter System (REX). This note does not state a calculated GSP percentage for 1515 90 99. eur-lex.europa.eu Conventional rate of duty: 1515 90 99 Solid, other; fluid — 9,6 %; 1515 90 91 Solid, in immediate packings of a net content not exceeding 1 kg — 12,8 %. Nigeria is listed as NG Nigeria among beneficiary countries of the general GSP arrangement in Regulation (EU) No 978/2012. After 30 June 2020, the proof of origin to claim preferential tariff treatment under the GSP is a statement on origin issued by exporters who are registered in the beneficiary country in the Registered Exporter System (REX). This note does not state a calculated GSP percentage for 1515 90 99.
Import VAT in the European Union is set by each member state — see the member-state guides below.
Why the first six digits are the same everywhere is explained in the exporting and importing shea butter guide.
- 2
Step 2 — Regulatory registration
In the European Union, cosmetic-grade shea butter falls under CPNP; food-grade under the food authority.
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Article 13) requires that the responsible persons and, under certain circumstances, the distributors of cosmetic products submit some information about the products they place or make available on the European market through the CPNP.
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Article 13) requires that the responsible persons and, under certain circumstances, the distributors of cosmetic products submit some information about the products they place or make available on the European market through the CPNP.
Usual name of vegetable fat: Shea. Scientific name of the plants from which the fats listed can be obtained: Butyrospermum parkii. (Directive 2000/36/EC, list of vegetable fats that may be used in chocolate.)
When a product has been notified in the CPNP, there is no need for any further notification at national level within the EU. Label language is set by each Member State.
Buyers in the EU most often ask for EU Organic (EOS) and COSMOS; status is on our certifications page. See EU Organic (EOS), COSMOS and our certifications page.
- 3
Step 3 — Required documents
The documents below are those CPNP lists for a shea butter consignment; EMI Agro issues the ones marked as ours.
Documents for importing shea butter into the European Union (sources and dates in References) Document Issued by When Commercial invoice EMI Agro At booking Packing list EMI Agro At stuffing Bill of lading Carrier On vessel departure Certificate of Analysis (per batch) EMI Agro With shipping documents REX statement on origin Nigerian agency On the commercial document Form NXP Nigerian agency Before shipment EORI number of the importer Buyer / importer Before the customs declaration Nigerian export-side documents are explained in how to import shea butter from Nigeria; the COA format is on the certificate of analysis page.
- 4
Step 4 — Shipping & Incoterms
EMI Agro loads at Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos) for the European Union discharge at the ports below.
Typical sea transit from Lagos to the European Union (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking) Port UN/LOCODE Transit (days) Schedules read on Hamburg DEHAM 18–28 September 2026 Bremerhaven DEBRV 18–28 September 2026 Le Havre FRLEH 18–28 September 2026 Marseille FRMRS 16–26 September 2026 Rotterdam NLRTM 18–28 September 2026 Valencia ESVLC 16–26 September 2026 Barcelona ESBCN 16–26 September 2026 Algeciras ESALG 16–26 September 2026 Genoa ITGOA 16–26 September 2026 Gioia Tauro ITGIT 16–26 September 2026 Antwerp BEANR 18–28 September 2026 Gdansk PLGDN 18–28 September 2026 Gothenburg SEGOT 18–28 September 2026 Dublin IEDUB 18–28 September 2026 Lisbon PTLIS 18–28 September 2026 Sines PTSIE 18–28 September 2026 - EXW: buyer arranges collection, freight and insurance from the factory.
- FOB: EMI Agro delivers on board at the named Lagos port; buyer arranges ocean freight.
- CIF: EMI Agro arranges freight and insurance to the named discharge port.
Container configuration is calculated separately — use the shea export container calculator and the container notes on the export overview.
- 5
Step 5 — Customs clearance & inspection
Clearance in the European Union is handled through CPNP.
Union customs declarations are lodged electronically by an importer or representative identified by an EORI number. TARIC measures for the declared CN code and origin are applied by the Member State of entry.
Working with EMI Agro
- MOQ
- Standard orders start at 20 tonnes. Trial lots start at 5 tonnes. Smaller volumes can still be requested — we review every enquiry against current production.
- Lead time
- Lead time is Ibadan production time plus ocean time to the named port. EMI Agro produces 40 tonnes per week of finished shea butter and can schedule rolling shipments. Exact weeks depend on the quantity on the purchase order.
- Incoterms
- EXW, FOB, CIF
- Samples
- Trial lots start at 5 tonnes of the named grade. Send the request even if you need less — we review whether we can supply.
- Load ports
- Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos)
For the European Union buyers our supplier page covers MOQ, price basis, packaging and lead time in detail. Shea butter supplier in the European Union.
For commodity background see the complete guide to shea butter.
Member-state import guides
Related pages
How to import shea butter into Germany
How to import shea butter into France
How to import shea butter into the United Kingdom
How to import shea butter into the Netherlands
How to import shea butter from Nigeria
Nigerian export-side procedure before the container sails.
Shea export container calculator
How many drums fit a container.
Exporting shea butter from Nigeria
HS heading, load ports and the country-guide hub.
Certificate of Analysis
How a batch COA is reported.
Frequently asked questions
References & standards
- ec.europa.eu (accessed 13 September 2026)
- single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu (accessed 13 September 2026)
- eur-lex.europa.eu (accessed 13 September 2026)
- eur-lex.europa.eu (accessed 13 September 2026)
- trade.ec.europa.eu (accessed 13 September 2026)
- maersk.com (accessed 13 September 2026)
Last reviewed September 2026 by EMI Agro Industries QC team.
Manufacturer-direct from Ibadan, Nigeria
Get an export quote for the European Union
Tell us grade, volume and your port of discharge in the European Union; we reply with pricing, the document set and a current COA.
You have just read How to Import Shea Butter into the European Union. The next step is a real lot from the factory that produces it — EMI Agro, with factory-direct pricing and a batch Certificate of Analysis.
Trusted manufacturer
EMI Agro Industries Limited (RC 9364495) presses the butter in Ibadan — we are not a trading company.
Competitive factory-direct prices
Quoted EXW, FOB or CIF — the buyer chooses. You pay the factory, not a chain of middlemen.
Export-ready supply
We ship to European Union, United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Southeast Asia, China, India, Middle East, Latin America. Load ports: Apapa (Lagos) or Tin Can Island (Lagos).
Documented lots
40 tonnes per week of finished shea butter, a Certificate of Analysis on every batch, NAFDAC registered and SON approved.