How to Import Shea Butter into France
Tariff line, regulator, documents, transit from Lagos and clearance for France — every fact sourced and dated.
Summary
- Customs authority
- DELTA IE (I pour Import, E pour Export) est le nouveau service en ligne de dédouanement développé par la douane française. Il permet le dépôt et le traitement dématérialisé des déclarations en douane. DELTA IE remplace les systèmes de dédouanement actuels DELTA G et DELTA X.
- Cosmetics authority
- ANSM is the French national competent authority named for cosmetic products. Union rules in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 apply directly; ANSM and the DGCCRF share market-surveillance tasks on French territory.
- Food authority
- The Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes (DGCCRF) enforces food-law controls on edible fats placed on the French market.
- National tariff line
- 1515 90 99
- Product notification
- Finished cosmetics are notified once in CPNP. There is no second national notification inside the Union.
- Ports of discharge
- Le Havre, Marseille
- Transit from Lagos
- 16–28 days
- Certification priority
- EU Organic (EOS), COSMOS
- Labelling language
- Labelling in French
- Specific to France
- French Customs accepts import declarations in the DELTA IE service.
- Specific to France (2)
- Discharge ports are Le Havre (FRLEH) and Marseille (FRMRS).
- Specific to France (3)
- DELTA IE import declarations deposited in France use language code FR.
Nigerian shea butter for France
France does not grow shea. The butter on a France COA is West African — EMI Agro presses it in Ibadan from wild-collected nuts. French cosmetics briefs still say beurre de karité; Le Havre feeds Paris, Marseille feeds the Mediterranean plants. EMI Agro works with 5,000+ women collectors in Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi. Lyon buyers usually take the inland haul from Le Havre.
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. ANSM filings sit with the France 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 France 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 Le Havre. 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.
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Step 1 — Classify & tariff
Shea butter is classified under HS heading 1515.90 worldwide; France extends it to the national line below.
Tariff classification for shea butter in France (sources and dates in References) Item Value Source HS heading 1515.90 — global Harmonized System National tariff line 1515 90 99 — Solid, other; fluid (Combined Nomenclature / TARIC, applied by the douane). eur-lex.europa.eu Duty and tax note Conventional rate of duty for 1515 90 99 is 9,6 %. eur-lex.europa.eu Preference scheme and proof of origin French import TVA is charged in addition to the Union duty on the DELTA IE entry. Nigeria remains a standard GSP beneficiary; preference is claimed with a REX statement on origin. eur-lex.europa.eu Conventional rate of duty for 1515 90 99 is 9,6 %. French import TVA is charged in addition to the Union duty on the DELTA IE entry. Nigeria remains a standard GSP beneficiary; preference is claimed with a REX statement on origin.
Why the first six digits are the same everywhere is explained in the exporting and importing shea butter guide.
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Step 2 — Regulatory registration
In France, cosmetic-grade shea butter falls under ANSM; food-grade under the food authority.
Le règlement (UE) n° 952/2013 du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 9 octobre 2013 établissant le code des douanes de l'Union prévoit la dématérialisation des échanges d’informations entre opérateurs économiques et autorités douanières, notamment les déclarations en douane. Cosmetic products placed on the French market remain subject to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Finished cosmetics are notified once in CPNP. There is no second national notification inside the Union.
Edible vegetable fats entered for food use are subject to official controls under Union food law as enforced in France by the DGCCRF.
Pour une déclaration déposée dans DELTA IE, indiquer « FR ». Finished cosmetics sold to consumers in France must carry French-language particulars required by national consumer-labelling rules. (locally beurre de karité)
Buyers in France most often ask for EU Organic (EOS) and COSMOS; status is on our certifications page. See EU Organic (EOS), COSMOS and our certifications page.
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Step 3 — Required documents
The documents below are those ANSM lists for a shea butter consignment; EMI Agro issues the ones marked as ours.
Documents for importing shea butter into France (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 DELTA IE import declaration Buyer / importer Before release to free circulation EORI number Buyer / importer On the DELTA IE 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.
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Step 4 — Shipping & Incoterms
EMI Agro loads at Apapa (Lagos) and Tin Can Island (Lagos) for France discharge at the ports below.
Typical sea transit from Lagos to France (port-to-port days; confirm on the booking) Port UN/LOCODE Transit (days) Schedules read on Le Havre FRLEH 18–28 September 2026 Marseille FRMRS 16–26 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 France is handled through ANSM.
Les déclarations en douane sont communiquées au bureau de douane au moyen de l’applicatif DELTA IE via les guichets DTI ou EDI. L’applicatif est ouvert 24 heures sur 24, 7 jours sur 7. Type de déclaration: choix entre IM ou CO.
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 France buyers our supplier page covers MOQ, price basis, packaging and lead time in detail. Shea butter supplier in France.
For commodity background see the complete guide to shea butter.
Related pages
How to import shea butter into the European Union
How to import shea butter into Germany
How to import shea butter into the United Kingdom
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
- douane.gouv.fr (accessed 13 September 2026)
- ansm.sante.fr (accessed 13 September 2026)
- economie.gouv.fr (accessed 13 September 2026)
- eur-lex.europa.eu (accessed 13 September 2026)
- douane.gouv.fr (accessed 13 September 2026)
- single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu (accessed 13 September 2026)
- douane.gouv.fr (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 France
Tell us grade, volume and your port of discharge in France; we reply with pricing, the document set and a current COA.
You have just read How to Import Shea Butter into France. 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.