Code 3402 42 00 · Subheading 3402 42

Final code reached

Nonionic organic surfactants, including retail packs, excluding soap

This is a complete 8-digit customs code. There is no further code choice to make below it.

This covers organic surfactants whose activity is nonionic, including products packed for retail sale. Soap is excluded.

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See the official tariff text

Official tariff text

Non-ionic organic surface-active agents, whether or not put up for retail sale (excl. soap)

The path to this code

Every level is settled. Open an earlier step if you need to change a choice.

Step 5 of 5 · Complete

Step 1 · Section VI Products of the chemical or allied industries
Is it an inorganic or organic chemical; a pharmaceutical product; a fertilizer; a tanning or dye extract, pigment, paint, varnish, filler or printing ink; an essential oil, perfume, cosmetic or toilet product; soap, a surface-active, washing, cleaning, polishing or wax product; a protein, modified starch, glue or enzyme; an explosive, pyrotechnic article, match or other specified combustible material; a photographic or cinematographic product; or another chemical product?
✓
Step 2 · Chapter 34 Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing prepar… 7 of 11 chapters in section VI
Is it soap or a skin-washing product in liquid or cream form for retail sale; another organic surfactant, washing or cleaning product; a prepared lubricant; synthetic or prepared wax; a polishing or scouring product; a stearin, paraffin or wax candle or similar product; or modelling paste, dental wax, dental impression material or another dental preparation based on gypsum, burnt gypsum or calcium sulphate?
✓
Step 3 · Heading 3402 Organic surface-active agents (excl. soap); surface… 2 of 7 headings under chapter 34
What kind of product is it: linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid or a salt, another anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, another organic surfactant, or a prepared detergent, washing aid or cleaning agent—and, for the last group, is it in retail packaging?
✓
Step 4 · Subheading 3402 42 Non-ionic organic surface-active agents, whether or… 4 of 7 subheadings under heading 3402
Is the product soap, a nonionic, anionic, cationic or other organic surfactant, or a prepared surfactant, detergent or cleaning product—and, if it is anionic, is it a linear alkylbenzene sulphonic acid or one of its salts?
✓
Step 5 · Full code 3402 42 00 Non-ionic organic surface-active agents, whether or… 1 of 1 code under subheading 3402 42

Classification complete

3402 42 00

Nonionic organic surfactants, including retail packs, excluding soap

The spaces only make the code easier to read. Customs declarations normally use the unspaced form, 34024200.

See how EU customs ruled on similar products

Trade measures to be aware of

Besides the ordinary duty, the EU records these kinds of measure against this code. They are listed as signals only: whether one applies to your goods can depend on where they come from, who produced them, the exact product and the documents you present. No amounts are worked out here.

Lower duty for goods from some countries

Preferential rates exist for goods originating in Andorra; San Marino; Türkiye; European Union; Economic Partnership Agreements; CARIFORUM except Haiti; Comoros (excluding Mayotte), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and dependencies and Zimbabwe; Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique and Namibia; 52 more origins. Whether you can use one depends on the origin rules for the goods and on the documentation you can show.
Check this code in the official EU TARIC database
Restrictions and paperwork

Import restrictions are recorded for goods originating in Ukraine; Belarus; Russian Federation; any country.

Document or certificate conditions are recorded. Customs may ask for:
- Movement certificate EUR.1
- Goods not originating from or destined to Crimea or Sevastopol (Articles 2 and 2b.1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2014)
- Invoice declaration or origin declaration made out by any exporter on invoice or any other commercial document
- Goods not originating from or not destined for the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine in the oblasts of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia
- The prohibitions defined in article 1ra paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 765/2006 do not apply (see exemptions in article 1ra paragraph 4)
- The prohibitions defined in article 1ra paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 765/2006 do not apply (see exemptions in article 1ra paragraph 3)
Show all 19 document conditions
- Goods entered the territory of the customs union of the EU and presented to customs authorities prior to the entry into force or to applicability date of the present sanction, whichever is latest (see Article 8f of Regulation (EU) No 765/2006)
- Import authorisation by virtue of article 1ra paragraph 10 of Council Regulation (EU) 765/2006
- The prohibitions defined in article 3i.1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 do not apply (see exemptions in article 3i.3aa)
- Import authorisation by virtue of article 12b.2 of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014
- Goods entered the territory of the customs union of the EU and presented to customs authorities prior to the entry into force or to applicability date of the present sanction, whichever is latest (see Article 12e of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014)
- Import authorisation by virtue of article 3i paragraph 3c of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014
- Information document accompanying shipments of waste as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 18 and Annex VII
- Movement document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 5 and Annex IB
- Product not subjected to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157
- Notification document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 - Article 5 and Annex IA
- Compliance with the REACH restrictions defined in Column 2 of Annex XVII of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006
- Exemption from REACH restrictions by virtue of Article 67(1) and 67(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006
- Substance/mixture not subjected to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (Annex XVII)
Check this code in the official EU TARIC database

EU tariff measure data version 2026-08-03-tullverket.

Export to Norway

What Norwegian customs charges when goods like these are imported into Norway.

34.02.4200

Non-ionic

Ordinary duty

Duty free

Goods of EU origin

Duty free You need documentation of EU origin to use this rate.

Norwegian tariff data version 1.5/1.2, last checked Aug. 3, 2026.

Contains data from Norwegian Customs (data.toll.no), licensed under CC BY 4.0, adapted for display.

Export to the United Kingdom

What UK customs charges when goods like these are imported into the UK.

All 3 UK lines under this code

They all have the same duty rates shown here.

Ordinary duty

4.0%

Goods of EU origin

Duty free You need documentation of EU preferential origin to use this rate.

These rates apply in Great Britain. Different rules may apply for goods entering Northern Ireland.

UK tariff data version v4.0.1576, last checked Aug. 3, 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Source: UK Department for Business and Trade (data.api.trade.gov.uk).

Before you use the code

Check the facts that sit outside the code

The code can be right while what you pay still changes, because of where the goods come from, when they arrive, or extra EU measures.

Classify your own product, free Look up the current rates and rules

The product and its form Check that your product really matches this description, including what it is made of and the form it arrives in.
Country of origin Trade agreements, sanctions and extra measures can change the treatment of the very same code.
Current tariff measures Check today's rate, any restrictions or licences, and the quantity customs asks for, with SKAT or TARIC.

Worth comparing

Codes that sit close to this one, for when the material itself could be different.

Browse chapter 34

Often confused with

3401 11 00 Soap and organic surface-active products and preparations, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, for toilet use, incl. medicated products Duty free
That code names soap and soap-use preparations in bars, blocks, moulded pieces or figures, whereas this code covers nonionic organic surfactants and excludes soap.
3401 20 90 Soap in paste form "soft soap" or in aqueous solution "liquid soap" No rate on file
That code names soap, including liquid soap and soft soap, whereas this code excludes soap.
3401 30 00 Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap 4.0%
That code names liquid or cream products for washing the skin in retail packaging, whereas this code names nonionic organic surfactants.

Duty rates shown here are estimates, read from official EU / Danish, Norwegian and UK tariff data for orientation only. Confirm the current rate with SKAT, TARIC, Norwegian Customs or the UK Online Trade Tariff before you file. The rate you pay can also depend on the country of origin. These are base customs duties only: import VAT, excise duties, anti-dumping duties and safeguard or quota measures are not included.

Nonionic organic surfactants, including retail packs, excluding soap

Nonionic organic surfactants, including retail packs, excluding soap

Trade measures to be aware of

Lower duty for goods from some countries

Restrictions and paperwork

Export to Norway

Export to the United Kingdom

Check the facts that sit outside the code

Similar products elsewhere in the tariff

Often confused with

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