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Customs Clearance Textile and Apparel

We clear apparel, footwear, home textiles and technical textiles from Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Vietnam, Turkey and Morocco - tariff-precise across HS 50-64. We screen anti-dumping codes on CN fabrics and footwear, secure preferences under GSP+ and EU FTAs, halt counterfeit suspicion before seizure, verify REACH Annex XVII limits and deliver supply chain data for LkSG and CSDDD. You send us invoice, packing list and statement on origin - we collect your container by T1 from Rotterdam or Antwerp to Emmerich am Rhein.

AEOAEO-certified
decadesindustry expertise
EU+NL/BE/DE access

What textile and fashion clients get from us

We do not classify your textile shipment as a flat HS 50-64 lump - we decide each line by material composition, processing step, intended use and make-up. We apply GSP+ on T-shirts from Bangladesh (duty-free) and file the same shipment from China correctly under third-country duty. We set the manufacturer-specific TARIC additional code on polyester bed linen - so you pay the manufacturer-specific rate, not the maximum of up to 70 percent. We complete the tariff and preference work before import so your container does not get stuck at the port and post-clearance recovery does not hit you three years later.

Trust anchors at a glance

Origin
EU-FTA preference verified
Anti-Forced-Labor
Supply-chain compliance
AEO-C
Authorised Economic Operator

Typical textile customs scenarios

  • We handle bulk apparel imports from Asia (Bangladesh and Pakistan under GSP+, Vietnam under EVFTA, China at third-country duty) - T1 from Rotterdam and Antwerp to Emmerich, ATLAS bulk filing per container.
  • We set the manufacturer-specific TARIC additional code on footwear from China and Vietnam and check material groups leather/synthetic - including anti-dumping history and ongoing reviews.
  • We classify home textiles (bed linen, towels, curtains) from China and Pakistan and identify CN anti-dumping hits in the specific subgroups.
  • We classify technical textiles (nonwovens, geotextiles, filter media) cleanly in HS 56-59 - critical at high value density.
  • We screen EUDR exposure on leather goods and footwear with natural-rubber soles via rubber and wood derivatives (viscose).
  • We clear e-commerce B2C fashion (Shein, Temu, Asos) by container bulk into fulfilment centres or by cross-border direct with ICS2 data - from July 2026 without the EUR 150 threshold.

Anti-dumping on fabrics, bed linen and footwear

We track the active EU anti-dumping measures on Chinese textile and footwear products: polyester staple fibres (extended several times), certain cotton bed linen, glass fibre fabrics and industrial yarns. On footwear with leather or textile uppers from China and Vietnam we monitor the regular reviews that follow expiry of the historic measures. Before each import we screen the TARIC list, read the regulation text for the exact TARIC subgroup covered and set the manufacturer-specific TARIC additional code. You send us the supplier and manufacturer identification - we assign the correct code and flag the rate. On relocations to Vietnam or Morocco we verify origin substance, not just the 'Made in' label.

Preferences GSP+ and EU FTAs

We apply the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences GSP+ (Regulation 978/2012) to secure duty-free or reduced access for apparel and textiles from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Mongolia, Bolivia, Cabo Verde, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Uzbekistan. We verify rules of origin (RoO) under the strict 'from yarn forward' standard - spinning, weaving and making-up must all take place in the preferential country. We hold and audit supplier REX statements before each import declaration. You send us the REX statement and your supplier's origin declaration - we verify, flag gaps and secure the preference. We apply the same documentation audit for EU FTAs with Vietnam (EVFTA), Singapore, UK and Canada. If preference is later withdrawn, the liability falls on the importer - we reduce that risk at source.

Trademark review and counterfeit suspicion

Under Reg. (EU) 608/2013, customs may stop consignments on suspicion of trademark or design rights infringement, notify the rights holder and seize the goods. Risk arises not only with obvious counterfeits but also with no-name assortments showing logo similarities or promotional goods carrying claimed licences. We check before every import whether you are a registered licensee, whether trademark use is authorised and whether your supplier has documented central trademark approvals. You send us your licence agreement and trademark release - we attach them to the declaration. If seizure is escalated, we accompany the procedure at the Generalzolldirektion and, where needed, coordinate with a trademark lawyer.

REACH Annex XVII and heavy metals

  • We check Annex XVII entries 51-52: phthalates in textiles for small children.
  • We check entry 43: azo dyes releasing carcinogenic aromatic amines - prohibited in textiles and leather.
  • We check entry 47: chromium VI in leather products.
  • We check entry 50: PAH in plastic and rubber parts of clothing.
  • We check POP Regulation 2019/1021: PFOS, PFOA in outdoor and functional textiles.
  • You send us supplier SDS and test reports - we align values against Annex XVII limits before declaration and block imports that do not meet the thresholds.

BCI, supply chains and LkSG/CSDDD

We know Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Fairtrade and comparable standards - private in nature but in practice prerequisites for access to German vertical retail chains. We also know where they overlap with the documentation requirements of LkSG (from 1,000 employees, stepwise into the mid-market since 2024) and CSDDD from 2027. You receive from us per TARIC position and per non-EU manufacturing site the import statistics with origin, supplier, quantities and values - the data foundation for your risk assessment and reporting obligation.

Pitfalls we avoid

  • We prevent under-classification as 'other apparel' - which triggers post-clearance recovery of duty and import VAT differentials up to three years back.
  • We verify GSP+ origin substance to 'from yarn forward' standard before import - without that proof, preference is withdrawn on post-clearance audit.
  • We set the correct manufacturer-specific anti-dumping code - a wrong or missing code automatically triggers the maximum rate of up to 75 percent.
  • We lodge licence evidence before the declaration - without it, seizure and destruction at the importer's cost.
  • We block REACH non-compliant shipments - azo dye or PFAS violations result in a market ban, recall and damages liability.
Request textile clearance Talk to us: 02828 9039920

Frequently asked questions

We first check whether your supplier is registered in the REX system - mandatory for all GSP+ suppliers since 2017 - and whether the statement on origin with a valid REX number appears on the invoice. We then verify origin substance: for apparel, 'from yarn forward' applies, meaning spinning, weaving or knitting and making-up must all take place in the preferential country. You send us the supplier's REX statement and origin declaration - we audit it before filing. If a supplier uses pure cut-and-sew with fabric sourced from China, the preference does not hold and we flag that to you before import, not after.
We check that per manufacturer. Polyester staple fibres from China, India, Korea, Taiwan and Belarus are subject to anti-dumping or anti-subsidy measures with rates that vary by manufacturer; for Chinese goods (CN 5503.20.00) typically 4.9 to 9.7 percent. We set the manufacturer-specific TARIC additional code for cooperating manufacturers and distinguish it clearly from the 'all others' code, which triggers the maximum rate. You send us the manufacturer identification - we assign the correct code. A wrong or missing code results in automatic application of the maximum rate, with no correction after release.
Vietnam has been a preferred relocation country for Chinese footwear production since 2007. We verify origin on the bill of materials (BOM): we check whether upper, sole and bonding are actually produced in Vietnam or whether only end assembly takes place there. EU origin rules require substantial transformation - mere assembly from Chinese uppers and soles does not qualify. You send us the BOM and supplier file - we assess origin substance before requesting preference. Where circumvention is suspected, we also review production photos and factory certificates before we file.
We lodge the licence evidence before the declaration for every trademarked or logoed shipment. For no-name assortments with logos similar to known marks, we flag the design-rights risk before you place the order. You send us your licence agreement and distribution contract - we attach them to the filing. If the port escalates, we work directly with the rights holder - some holders withdraw the seizure when presented with a valid distribution agreement. We accompany the process from the first customs notification through to release.
We require from your supplier test reports from an accredited laboratory (EU or Asia) for the relevant substances and align the values stated in the safety data sheet against the Annex XVII limits. Annex XVII covers for textiles, among other things, prohibited azo dyes (entry 43), phthalates in children's clothing, PFAS, NPE, cadmium and chromium VI in leather. You send us the test reports and SDS - we check them before the declaration. If a substance exceeds its limit, the goods cannot be placed on the market; the consignment is returned or destroyed.
Yes. We clear container bulk into your fulfilment centres and handle cross-border direct shipments with IOSS and ICS2 data. From 1 July 2026 the EUR 150 customs threshold is abolished - we restructure your import processes before that date so you are not caught off guard. We also flag the anti-dumping risks relevant to this segment: footwear, faux fur and home textiles. You receive the anti-dumping exposure assessment as part of the pre-import review.
We charge a flat fee per container or per declaration, with transparent add-ons for GSP+ preference review, anti-dumping code research, REACH audit and trademark escalation. For seasonal importers with high volume, we agree all-in flat fees that include a prompt response commitment. You receive a non-binding quote as soon as possible after your enquiry.