Slovenia - Import Requirements and DocumentationSlovenia - Import Requirements
The European Union’s Integrated Tariff of the Community, or TARIC (Tarif Intégré de la Communauté), provides rules applying to specific products imported into the customs territory of the EU or, in some cases, when exported from it. To determine if a particular product requires a license, consult the TARIC. The TARIC may be searched by country of origin, Harmonized System (HS) Code, and product description through the interactive website of the Directorate-General for Taxation and the Customs Union at The online TARIC is updated daily. Many EU member states maintain their own lists of goods subject to import licensing. For additional information on member state import licenses, please consult the appropriate EU member states’ Country Commercial Guides.
Import Documentation
Non-agricultural Documentation
The European Union Customs Code, which defines the legal framework for customs rules and procedures in the EU customs territory, entered into force on May 1, 2016, repealing and replacing the Community Customs Code, the EU’s previous customs legislation. The Single Administrative Document (SAD) is the primary form used for customs declarations in the EU, including Slovenia. The SAD is used for trade between EU member states and non-EU countries and for the movement of non-EU goods within the EU. Traders and agents may use the SAD to declare import, export, transit, and community status declarations. Additional information on the European Union Customs Code and the Single Administrative Document.
Customs authorities may allow a period for lodging the declaration, which may not extend beyond the first working day following the day on which the goods are presented to customs. Importers may submit the ENS on a form corresponding to the model prescribed by the customs authorities, although customs authorities may also accept any commercial or official document that contains the particulars necessary for identification of the goods.
The summary declaration is to be lodged electronically by:
• 45 days from the date on which the summary declaration is lodged in the case of goods carried by sea;
• 20 days from the date on which the summary declaration is lodged in the case of goods carried other than by sea..
Where circumstances warrant, the customs authorities may set a shorter period or authorize an extension of the period. In 2013, the European Parliament and European Council approved Council Regulation 952/2013 establishing the Union Customs Code to modernize EU customs and serve as the framework regulation on customs rules and procedures throughout the EU. The UCC was intended to streamline customs legislation and procedures, provide greater legal certainty and uniformity, simplify customs rules and procedures, transition to a paperless and fully electronic and interoperable environment, and implement faster customs procedures for compliant and trustworthy importers. Although the UCC began operations on May 1, 2016, a transition period will be in place until December 31, 2020 to allow time to develop and implement the necessary IT systems to fully implement the legal requirements. More information regarding UCC..
Batteries
EU battery rules changed in September 2006 following the publication of the directive on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators (Directive 2006/66). The updated directive applies to all batteries and accumulators sold on the EU market, including automotive, industrial, and portable batteries. The directive also protects the environment by restricting the sale of batteries and accumulators containing mercury or cadmium (with exemptions for emergency and alarm systems, medical equipment, and cordless power tools) and promoting collection and recycling. Under the directive, producers are responsible for the costs associated with the collection, treatment, and recycling of used batteries and accumulators. The directive also includes provisions on the labeling of batteries and their removability from equipment.
REACH
The EU controls chemicals through its European Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) program, which entered into force in 2007 through Council Regulation 1907/2006. REACH shifts the responsibility for assessing and managing risks posed by chemicals and providing appropriate safety administration from public authorities to industry in order to protect human health and the environment. REACH requires chemicals produced or imported into the EU in amounts exceeding one ton per year to be registered in the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) central database, including information on the chemicals’ properties, uses, and safe means of handling. U.S. companies not present in Europe may not register directly with ECHA and must have their chemicals registered through their importer or an EU-based “Only Representative of non-EU manufacturer.” A list of such “Only Representatives” (ORs) is available through the U.S. Mission to the EU.
Safety data sheets must be REACH compliant.
U.S. exporters to the EU should carefully consider the REACH ‘Candidate List’ of substances of very high concern, which are subject to additional communication requirements and may require additional authorizations for the EU market. More information is available through ECHA.
WEEE & RoHS
While not requiring special customs or import paperwork, EU rules on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) may entail a financial obligation for U.S. exporters and may require U.S. exporters to register their products with a national WEEE authority directly or through a local partner. The WEEE Directive establishes the responsibilities of EEE producers for the collection and recycling of their products at the end of their lifecycles. The EU’s revised WEEE Directive, also known as the WEEE Recast Directive, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on July 24, 2012.
The EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) Directive restricts the use of certain chemicals and prohibits the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and some polybrominated flame retardants in electrical and electronic equipment. The revised ROHS Directive, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on January 7, 2011, is commonly known as the “ROHS II Directive.” By July 2019, ROHS will apply to all EEE products “dependent on electric current or electromagnetic fields for at least one intended function.”
Additional information on WEE and RoHS regulations.
Cosmetics
The EU does not assess customs duties on many cosmetic products, including hair products, manicure and pedicure products, lip and eye makeup, and many essential oils. However, U.S. exporters of cosmetic products to the EU must comply with the provisions of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EUCR), including designation of a professional “Responsible Person,” a Product Information File, registration on the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP), and appropriate labeling. By default, the EUCR designates the importer as the Responsible Person, although many U.S. exporters choose to designate a specialized consultant or law firm for strategic commercial reasons.
EU rules regulating ingredients commonly found in cosmetics may differ from those in the United States. For example, the EU requires all products including nano-scale ingredients identify such substances and prohibits the sale of any product containing ingredients tested on animals to acquire safety data if such testing occurred after March 11, 2013. Such restrictions are listed in the EUCR’s Annexes II, III, IV, V, and VI, and are often updated. Therefore, U.S. exporters should ensure they are complying with the most up-to-date provisions.
Agricultural Documentation
Goods imported into the EU must meet EU sanitary and phytosanitary requirements to protect human and animal health.
Phytosanitary Certificates: Phytosanitary certificates are required for most fresh fruits, vegetables, and other plant materials imported into the EU.
Sanitary Certificates: For commodities composed of animal products or by-products, EU countries require that shipments be accompanied by a sanitary certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country. This requirement applies regardless of whether the product is intended for human consumption, pharmaceutical use, or strictly non-human purposes (e.g., veterinary biologicals, animal feeds, fertilizers, research, etc.). Although the harmonization process is not yet complete, the vast majority of such certificates are uniform throughout the EU. During this transition period, certain member state import requirements continue to apply. In addition to the legally-required EU health certificates, a number of other certificates are used in international trade. These certificates, which may also be harmonized through EU legislation, certify product origin for customs purposes and certain quality attributes. Up-to-date information on harmonized import requirements.
Sanitary Certificates (Fisheries)
The EU is the world’s largest importer of fish, seafood, and aquaculture products, and import rules are harmonized for all EU countries. In 2006, the EU declared the U.S. seafood inspection system equivalent to its own. As a result, U.S. seafood imports into the EU must be accompanied by a public health certificate specific to the type of product. Commission Decision 2006/199/EC established the conditions on imports of fishery products from the United States.
Unlike for fishery products, the U.S. shellfish sanitation system is not equivalent to that of the EU. The EU and the United States continue to negotiate a veterinary equivalency agreement on shellfish. Until such an agreement is concluded, however, the EU bans the import of U.S. bivalve mollusks, in whatever form, into EU territory. This ban does not apply to wild roe-off scallops.
With the implementation of the EU’s second Hygiene Package, aquaculture products entering the EU from the United States must be accompanied by a public health certificate, per Commission Decision 2006/199/EC, and the animal health attestation included in the new fishery products certificate, covered by Regulation (EC) 1250/2008. This animal health attestation is not required in the case of live bivalve mollusks intended for immediate human consumption.
Since June 2009, the unique U.S. competent authority for issuing sanitary certificates for fishery and aquaculture products is the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-NMFS). In addition to sanitary certificates, all third countries wishing to export fishery products to the EU must provide a catch certificate certifying that the products in question have been caught legally.
Additional information on import documentation for seafood. Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.
Import Documentation
Non-agricultural Documentation
The European Union Customs Code, which defines the legal framework for customs rules and procedures in the EU customs territory, entered into force on May 1, 2016, repealing and replacing the Community Customs Code, the EU’s previous customs legislation. The Single Administrative Document (SAD) is the primary form used for customs declarations in the EU, including Slovenia. The SAD is used for trade between EU member states and non-EU countries and for the movement of non-EU goods within the EU. Traders and agents may use the SAD to declare import, export, transit, and community status declarations. Additional information on the European Union Customs Code and the Single Administrative Document.
Customs authorities may allow a period for lodging the declaration, which may not extend beyond the first working day following the day on which the goods are presented to customs. Importers may submit the ENS on a form corresponding to the model prescribed by the customs authorities, although customs authorities may also accept any commercial or official document that contains the particulars necessary for identification of the goods.
The summary declaration is to be lodged electronically by:
- he person who brought the goods into the customs territory of the Community or by any person who assumes responsibility for carriage of the goods following such entry; or
- the person in whose name the person referred to above acted.
• 45 days from the date on which the summary declaration is lodged in the case of goods carried by sea;
• 20 days from the date on which the summary declaration is lodged in the case of goods carried other than by sea..
Where circumstances warrant, the customs authorities may set a shorter period or authorize an extension of the period. In 2013, the European Parliament and European Council approved Council Regulation 952/2013 establishing the Union Customs Code to modernize EU customs and serve as the framework regulation on customs rules and procedures throughout the EU. The UCC was intended to streamline customs legislation and procedures, provide greater legal certainty and uniformity, simplify customs rules and procedures, transition to a paperless and fully electronic and interoperable environment, and implement faster customs procedures for compliant and trustworthy importers. Although the UCC began operations on May 1, 2016, a transition period will be in place until December 31, 2020 to allow time to develop and implement the necessary IT systems to fully implement the legal requirements. More information regarding UCC..
Batteries
EU battery rules changed in September 2006 following the publication of the directive on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators (Directive 2006/66). The updated directive applies to all batteries and accumulators sold on the EU market, including automotive, industrial, and portable batteries. The directive also protects the environment by restricting the sale of batteries and accumulators containing mercury or cadmium (with exemptions for emergency and alarm systems, medical equipment, and cordless power tools) and promoting collection and recycling. Under the directive, producers are responsible for the costs associated with the collection, treatment, and recycling of used batteries and accumulators. The directive also includes provisions on the labeling of batteries and their removability from equipment.
REACH
The EU controls chemicals through its European Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) program, which entered into force in 2007 through Council Regulation 1907/2006. REACH shifts the responsibility for assessing and managing risks posed by chemicals and providing appropriate safety administration from public authorities to industry in order to protect human health and the environment. REACH requires chemicals produced or imported into the EU in amounts exceeding one ton per year to be registered in the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) central database, including information on the chemicals’ properties, uses, and safe means of handling. U.S. companies not present in Europe may not register directly with ECHA and must have their chemicals registered through their importer or an EU-based “Only Representative of non-EU manufacturer.” A list of such “Only Representatives” (ORs) is available through the U.S. Mission to the EU.
Safety data sheets must be REACH compliant.
U.S. exporters to the EU should carefully consider the REACH ‘Candidate List’ of substances of very high concern, which are subject to additional communication requirements and may require additional authorizations for the EU market. More information is available through ECHA.
WEEE & RoHS
While not requiring special customs or import paperwork, EU rules on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) may entail a financial obligation for U.S. exporters and may require U.S. exporters to register their products with a national WEEE authority directly or through a local partner. The WEEE Directive establishes the responsibilities of EEE producers for the collection and recycling of their products at the end of their lifecycles. The EU’s revised WEEE Directive, also known as the WEEE Recast Directive, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on July 24, 2012.
The EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) Directive restricts the use of certain chemicals and prohibits the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and some polybrominated flame retardants in electrical and electronic equipment. The revised ROHS Directive, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on January 7, 2011, is commonly known as the “ROHS II Directive.” By July 2019, ROHS will apply to all EEE products “dependent on electric current or electromagnetic fields for at least one intended function.”
Additional information on WEE and RoHS regulations.
Cosmetics
The EU does not assess customs duties on many cosmetic products, including hair products, manicure and pedicure products, lip and eye makeup, and many essential oils. However, U.S. exporters of cosmetic products to the EU must comply with the provisions of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EUCR), including designation of a professional “Responsible Person,” a Product Information File, registration on the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP), and appropriate labeling. By default, the EUCR designates the importer as the Responsible Person, although many U.S. exporters choose to designate a specialized consultant or law firm for strategic commercial reasons.
EU rules regulating ingredients commonly found in cosmetics may differ from those in the United States. For example, the EU requires all products including nano-scale ingredients identify such substances and prohibits the sale of any product containing ingredients tested on animals to acquire safety data if such testing occurred after March 11, 2013. Such restrictions are listed in the EUCR’s Annexes II, III, IV, V, and VI, and are often updated. Therefore, U.S. exporters should ensure they are complying with the most up-to-date provisions.
Agricultural Documentation
Goods imported into the EU must meet EU sanitary and phytosanitary requirements to protect human and animal health.
Phytosanitary Certificates: Phytosanitary certificates are required for most fresh fruits, vegetables, and other plant materials imported into the EU.
Sanitary Certificates: For commodities composed of animal products or by-products, EU countries require that shipments be accompanied by a sanitary certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country. This requirement applies regardless of whether the product is intended for human consumption, pharmaceutical use, or strictly non-human purposes (e.g., veterinary biologicals, animal feeds, fertilizers, research, etc.). Although the harmonization process is not yet complete, the vast majority of such certificates are uniform throughout the EU. During this transition period, certain member state import requirements continue to apply. In addition to the legally-required EU health certificates, a number of other certificates are used in international trade. These certificates, which may also be harmonized through EU legislation, certify product origin for customs purposes and certain quality attributes. Up-to-date information on harmonized import requirements.
Sanitary Certificates (Fisheries)
The EU is the world’s largest importer of fish, seafood, and aquaculture products, and import rules are harmonized for all EU countries. In 2006, the EU declared the U.S. seafood inspection system equivalent to its own. As a result, U.S. seafood imports into the EU must be accompanied by a public health certificate specific to the type of product. Commission Decision 2006/199/EC established the conditions on imports of fishery products from the United States.
Unlike for fishery products, the U.S. shellfish sanitation system is not equivalent to that of the EU. The EU and the United States continue to negotiate a veterinary equivalency agreement on shellfish. Until such an agreement is concluded, however, the EU bans the import of U.S. bivalve mollusks, in whatever form, into EU territory. This ban does not apply to wild roe-off scallops.
With the implementation of the EU’s second Hygiene Package, aquaculture products entering the EU from the United States must be accompanied by a public health certificate, per Commission Decision 2006/199/EC, and the animal health attestation included in the new fishery products certificate, covered by Regulation (EC) 1250/2008. This animal health attestation is not required in the case of live bivalve mollusks intended for immediate human consumption.
Since June 2009, the unique U.S. competent authority for issuing sanitary certificates for fishery and aquaculture products is the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-NMFS). In addition to sanitary certificates, all third countries wishing to export fishery products to the EU must provide a catch certificate certifying that the products in question have been caught legally.
Additional information on import documentation for seafood. Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.