Customs Clearance for Flowers & Plants to and from United States
Aircargo.nl handles the complete customs clearance for Flowers & Plants to and from United States. AEO-F certified, experienced with specific permits, certificates, and origin documents for this combination.
Shipments of Flowers & Plants between NL and United States have specific customs considerations. On one side are the product-specific rules for Flowers & Plants (HS codes, certificates, possibly DGR). On the other side: the trade regime between the EU and United States (Derde land zonder akkoord) determines which import duties and origin documents apply.
Below you will read the combination: what specifically applies to Flowers & Plants, plus what specifically applies to United States, plus how Aircargo.nl handles this combination daily.
Specific Rules for Flowers & Plants
Flowers and plants are phytosanitary sensitive. For every shipment from a third country, Dutch Customs plus the NVWA require a valid phytosanitary certificate. For CITES species (orchids, certain cycas varieties) a CITES permit is additionally required. Inspections are consistently more stringent than for ordinary goods due to strict visual inspection protocols.
HS Code Examples:
Cut flowers — chapter 06: 0603.11 roses, 0603.12 carnations, 0603.19 other fresh cut flowers. Live plants: 0602.90 other live plants. Bulbs and tubers: 0601.10. For export use 8-digit CN codes, for import 10-digit TARIC codes.
Specific Rules for United States
Major trading partner of the EU without a free trade agreement. From the US to the EU: standard MFN tariffs plus possible anti-dumping duties on steel and aluminum. Sanctions on specific entities via OFAC. For exports to the US, specific US Customs requirements apply: AES filing for shipments over $2,500 or license-controlled goods, ITAR for military and dual-use items.
Typical Documents:
Commercial invoice, packing list, Air Waybill, EORI on the EU side, ITN (Internal Transaction Number) for export to the US, AES filing where applicable, dual-use export license if relevant.
Import Duties and Fees for Flowers & Plants from United States
Import duties on cut flowers from non-EU countries generally range from 5-12% depending on type and season. Under free trade agreements (Kenya under EBA, Israel, Morocco) duties are often 0%. On top of import duties there is 9% VAT for fresh flowers in the Netherlands.
Under which regime: United States falls under the “Derde land zonder akkoord”. Origin document for preferential tariff: factuurverklaring. We calculate exactly what you owe in advance and prepare the correct origin document.
Our ACE license (Authorized Consignor) allows flower shipments to come directly from Schiphol to our facility in Aalsmeer — crucial due to the short shelf life. With our DPO license (Deferred Payment), we invoice import duties grouped instead of per shipment.
Key Figures for Flowers & Plants United States
FAQ on Flowers & Plants United States
How long does customs clearance take for Flowers & Plants from United States?
With correct documentation, release usually follows within a few hours at Schiphol. For United States shipments, we expect 4-6 hours at Schiphol; export AES filing 2-24 hours before departure. Additional inspections (phytosanitary, veterinary, NVWA) may require extra time for Flowers & Plants — we notify you in advance to minimize waiting times.
What documents do I need for Flowers & Plants United States?
For Flowers & Plants: see the product-specific certificates above. For United States: see typical documents above. The combination means we gather both sets and coordinate them. You provide the commercial invoice, packing list, and any certificates — we validate and file the declaration.
Can I pay import duties for this flow on a grouped basis?
Yes. Under our DPO permit (Deferred Payment), you can pay import duties and VAT for Flowers & Plants from United States on a grouped basis — monthly instead of per shipment.
Which origin document do I use for a preferential tariff?
factuurverklaring. We prepare this document under our authorization as customs broker, provided the origin rules (including product-specific rules for Flowers & Plants) are met.
How does your service work in practice?
We provide complete handling: pre-lodgement, import declaration (DMS), any NVWA notifications for Flowers & Plants, and payment processing under DPO if desired. You get one point of contact for the entire process.
Start customs clearance of Flowers & Plants United States?
Request a quote for customs clearance of Flowers & Plants from United States. We respond within 4 hours with a fixed price.