Indonesian Vegetables HS Codes & EU Tariffs: 2025 Guide

A practical, step-by-step playbook for classifying Indonesian fresh chili peppers under HS/CN 0709.60 and checking the exact 2025 EU duty in TARIC—plus a worked duty/VAT example and the common mistakes we see importers make.

If you’ve ever had a fresh chili shipment held because the CN code didn’t match the customs officer’s view, you know how expensive “almost right” can be. We export Indonesian chilies every week, and the system below is the one we use to get the HS/CN right first time and confirm the 2025 EU duty in minutes. Let’s keep this focused on fresh or chilled chili peppers from Indonesia, not dried or processed.

The 3 pillars of getting EU chili classification right

Identify the product precisely. Customs classifies what the product is, not what we call it. Is it a sweet bell pepper or a hot chili? Fresh or dried? Pods intact or processed? Small details move you between CN subheadings and, sometimes, into seasonal/entry‑price territory.
Map to HS/CN with the correct split. HS 0709.60 is “Fruits of the genus Capsicum or Pimenta, fresh or chilled.” The EU CN then splits this line. In 2025 the split remains:

0709 60 10: Sweet peppers.
0709 60 99: Other. This is where hot chilies like cayenne, bird’s eye, and similar types land.

Confirm the duty in TARIC for your exact lane. Country of origin, EU Member State of import, and date all matter. Sweet peppers face the entry‑price system in certain periods. Hot chilies under 0709 60 99 generally don’t. Always verify.

What is the HS/CN code for Indonesian fresh chili peppers entering the EU?

For hot chilies (e.g., bird’s eye, cayenne, Thai chili) that are fresh or chilled and not “sweet peppers,” use CN 0709 60 99. If you’re shipping bell peppers (capsicum annuum var. grossum) that are sweet, use 0709 60 10, which is the line exposed to entry‑price rules.

In our experience, an accurate product description on the invoice and packing list helps keep things smooth: “Fresh hot chili peppers, Capsicum frutescens/Capsicum annuum, not sweet peppers, chilled, pods intact.” Add the Latin name if known. Photos and grading specs can help when customs requests evidence.

Step‑by‑step: how to check the 2025 EU duty for HS 0709.60 in TARIC

You can do this in under three minutes.

Open the EU’s TARIC interface. Search “EU TARIC 070960” or access via the official Access2Markets portal and choose the “Tariff” section.
Enter code 0709 60 and select the correct CN subheading:
- 0709 60 10 for sweet peppers.
- 0709 60 99 for other peppers (hot chilies).
Set the destination EU Member State. Rates of customs duty are EU‑wide, but VAT and national measures vary by country.
Set the origin as Indonesia.
Set the date to your intended import date in 2025.
Review “Measures.” You’ll see the third‑country duty and, if relevant, any preferential duty and special systems like entry price.
Check “National measures” for import VAT. Many Member States apply reduced VAT on vegetables, but the percentage differs.

What you’ll typically see in 2025 for hot chilies under 0709 60 99: third‑country duty at 0%. No entry‑price measure. For sweet peppers under 0709 60 10: the entry‑price system appears in defined seasonal windows. That’s why the subheading decision matters.

Need help verifying your exact CN code and TARIC printout for your lane? We can sanity‑check it with you. If you want a quick answer, Contact us on whatsapp.

Are there seasonal or entry‑price duties on fresh capsicum in the EU?

For hot chilies classified under 0709 60 99, no entry price applies in practice. For sweet peppers under 0709 60 10, yes, the entry‑price mechanism is present within specified seasonal periods. TARIC will show a table with either an ad valorem duty or a specific duty depending on your declared import price. When import prices fall below the entry price, duties can jump, and that catches new importers off guard.

Practical takeaway: If your product is truly a hot chili, make sure your description and documentation support 0709 60 99. Mislabeling hot chilies as “sweet peppers” can invite entry‑price you don’t owe. The reverse is also dangerous, because customs can reclassify sweet peppers to 0709 60 10 and assess duties retroactively.

Do Indonesian chili imports qualify for any preferential tariff?

For hot chilies 0709 60 99, the third‑country duty is typically 0%. Preference won’t improve on zero. TARIC will still display any preferential arrangements for which Indonesia may be eligible, but when the MFN rate is already 0%, you don’t need to chase a preferential certificate of origin just for duty. We usually advise clients to save the paperwork unless there’s another reason to document origin.

Which CN subheading applies to bird’s eye chili vs bell peppers?

Side-by-side comparison: a tray of small slender red hot chilies versus a tray of large glossy sweet bell peppers in red, green, and yellow.

Bird’s eye, cayenne, Thai chili, and similar hot types: 0709 60 99.
Bell peppers and other sweet peppers: 0709 60 10.

What matters is the product’s characteristics, not the variety name alone. If your supply is mixed, split your invoice lines to avoid blanket classification.

What’s the difference between classifying chili as Capsicum vs Pimenta in the HS?

The heading text says “Capsicum or Pimenta” because it follows botanical genera. Chili peppers are Capsicum. “Pimenta” here does not mean “pimenta” in a generic sense. It’s the botanical genus Pimenta, like allspice. Fresh Pimenta fruits rarely show up in the veg trade. Almost all fresh chili imports are Capsicum and stay in 0709 60, with the split described above.

Worked example: calculate customs duty and VAT on fresh chilies

Scenario: 5,000 kg of fresh red cayenne from Indonesia under 0709 60 99. CIF Rotterdam price is 2.20 EUR/kg. Shipment value is 11,000 EUR.

Customs value: 11,000 EUR (assuming freight and insurance already included in CIF).
Customs duty: 0% under 0709 60 99. Duty = 0 EUR.
Import VAT: VAT rates vary by Member State. If the Netherlands at 9% applies, VAT base is customs value + duty + any other taxable costs up to first EU destination.
- VAT = 11,000 x 9% = 990 EUR.
Total to budget at border: 990 EUR VAT. Your customs broker may add service fees, but those aren’t customs or VAT amounts.

If you imported the same consignment into Germany at 7% VAT, border VAT would be 770 EUR. Into Italy at 4%, it would be 440 EUR. Always use the exact VAT rate shown for your Member State in TARIC’s national measures.

Common mistakes that get chili shipments stuck (and how to avoid them)

Soft descriptions. “Fresh chili peppers” without “not sweet peppers” or the Latin name invites questions. We add “hot chili peppers, Capsicum spp., not sweet peppers, fresh” on commercial docs. If you’re shipping our Red Cayenne Pepper (Fresh Red Cayenne Chili), we include the grading sheet and photos on request for the file.
Assuming preference is required. When MFN is 0%, a certificate of origin won’t lower duty. Don’t delay a shipment waiting for preference if it doesn’t change the cash outcome.
Mixing SKUs in one line. If your pallet has both bell peppers and chilies, declare separate lines: 0709 60 10 vs 0709 60 99. We see brokers re‑work entries at the last minute because of mixed lines.
Ignoring country‑specific VAT. The tariff is EU‑wide but VAT is not. A 2–5% VAT difference can dwarf your broking fee. Model your landed cost by Member State.
Forgetting seasonality for sweet peppers. If you actually have sweet peppers, check the entry‑price table for your week of arrival. It can materially change your landed cost.

When this advice applies (and when it doesn’t)

Applies to: fresh or chilled whole chili peppers shipped from Indonesia into the EU in 2025 under Chapter 7. Doesn’t cover dried chilies, crushed/ground, frozen, or processed peppers. If you’re dealing with sweet peppers or other vegetables like cucumbers or tomatoes, you may face entry‑price rules and different CN splits. We export fresh chilies and other veg, including Japanese Cucumber (Kyuri) and Tomatoes, but this guide is intentionally one‑product and tariff‑only.

Resources and next steps

Your checklist for every shipment: product ID confirmed in writing, CN subheading selected, TARIC screenshot saved for your date, Member State VAT verified, commercial description aligned with the CN logic.
CN 2025 update cadence: Combined Nomenclature updates annually. As of early 2025, the 0709.60 split remains unchanged, but we still recheck TARIC before each booking. Small text edits happen and brokers appreciate a current printout attached to the file.
Need a quick second opinion on 0709 60 99 vs 0709 60 10, or a landed‑cost calc for your lane? Contact us on whatsapp. If you’re ready to source, you can also View our products.

What’s interesting is how often the simplest move pays off. Classify precisely. Check TARIC for the lane and date. Save the screenshot. We’ve found that doing those three things consistently turns customs from a black box into a predictable step in your schedule. And that’s what you want when your product is as perishable as fresh Indonesian chilies.