How to Import Organic Japanese Tea to the Netherlands?
The people of the Netherlands are the utmost fans of tea, and not even a single day goes by when they don’t drink tea. Their love for tea can be calculated by the fact that about 3.5 liters are getting consumed by the people. That means that the people of the Netherlands consume about 3 cups of tea each day. Talking about a year, this number goes higher than 100 liters per day. Now, you know how competitive the tea market of the Netherlands is. So, how can you inculcate yourself in this market? It’s simple. Get your hands on organic Japanese tea.
Out of all the teas present in the world, why should you go with Organic Japanese Tea?
Organic Japanese tea provides you with the taste and flavor that you can’t find anywhere else. Japanese tea has been produced since the 8th century, and it has been winning the hearts of the people since then. There aren’t very many varieties available for Japanese tea, and that is why each cup of this tea is quite specialized and rich in flavor.
The main reason behind its massive success is its manufacturing process. In this process, all the tea leaves are passed through an oxidation stage where these leaves are steamed to retain the color and flavor. As we said earlier, the tea market of the Netherlands is quite competitive. Thus, if you want to give neck-to-neck competition to each one of the teas, you need to start importing organic Japanese tea to the Netherlands. But, how can you do that?
How to import organic Japanese tea to the Netherlands?
If you want to freely trade goods in the Dutch market, you will need to follow certain rules and regulations. The first thing you need to make sure of is whether your imported goods are protected or not. This means that you need to assure that the product you’re going to introduce in the Dutch market has been made subject to copyright, design, and trademark laws. In the case of organic Japanese tea, this product is manufactured outside the country, which means that you will have to check the trademark and design.
The next thing you need to do is make sure that your imported products comply with the Commodities Act (Warenwet) of the Netherlands. This act provides the basic rules on the fairness of trade, product safety, public health, etc.
All the goods that pass the requirements of the EU are also allowed to enter the Netherlands. However, the Dutch customs officials may check the safety and health jurisdictions on the import of organic Japanese tea. Also, if the product passes the EU requirements, it will get a CE (Conformitè Europëenne) Marking. Then, comes the point where you will declare your goods to the customs officials of the Netherlands.
Now, if you’re ordering a large number of goods, you’ll need to present the certificate of origin along with a couple of other important documents to the customs officials of the country. Other than the documents, you will also need to pay all the import duties and taxes incurred on your imported goods.
Customs or Import Duty Tax in the Netherlands
The import duty tax is applied to the total cost of your imported goods along with shipment and insurance costs.
Let’s see how much taxes apply to the import of organic Japanese tea to the Netherlands.
Business Number Registration
In the Netherlands, a business number is a set of unique numbers that are also referred to as KvK nummer. This number can prove to be extremely helpful when it comes to tax deductions on your investments and other business goals. This number must be written on all the outgoing posts and invoices.
Once your business is up and running in the country, you need to register it with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce also known asKvK (Kamer van Koophandel) in the native language. The entire process of registration will take up to a week. You will need to provide a name for your new business along with a thorough description of all your business activities.
There are several legal forms of Dutch businesses that you can choose from.
In the case of unincorporated business structures, you can choose any of the following:
- Sole trader/One person business (Eenmanszaak)
- Professional/Commercial partnership (Maatschap)
- General Partnership (VOF – Vennootschap onder firma)
- Limited Partnership (CV – Commanditaire vennootschap)
In the case of incorporated business structures, you can choose any of the following:
- Private Limited Company (BV – Besloten vennootschap )
- Cooperatives and Mutual Insurance Societies (Coöperatie en onderlinge waarborgmaatschappij)
- Association (Vereniging)
- Public Limited Company (NV – Naamloze vennootschap)
- Foundation (Stichting)
No matter which business structure you go for, you will be able to receive all kinds of perks. Once you get registered yourself with the Chamber, it is now time to register your business with the Dutch Tax Office (Belastingdienst). This will enable you to get VAT deductions as soon as possible.
FAQs
Which documents should be presented to the customs officials of the Netherlands at the time of arrival of goods?
All the shipments to the Netherlands must contain at least one copy of:
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of lading (or airway bill)
How to calculate the duty tax on your imported goods?
In order to calculate the import duty tax, you need to know the HS-CODE of the product. The HS-CODE for tea is 63-2-93-90-0.
Now, imagine you import organic Japanese tea in bulk. The total cost of the products comes out to be €15,000 with the insurance cost of €7,000. Now, this amount is so much more than the threshold value. So, all the taxes will be applied—first, the general duty tax, which is 12% of the total value of the goods. The value of the general duty tax on the total value of goods comes out to be 0.12 x 22,000 = €2,640. Second, the average duty tax, which is 20% of the total value of the goods. Calculating the average duty tax, we get 0.2 x 22,000 = €4,400. The total amount that you will pay to the government of the Netherlands will be €22,000 + €2,640 + €4,400 = €29,040.
Also, 21% VAT applies to the total cost of goods.
What is the process of registering your business in the Netherlands?
When it comes to registering your business in the Netherlands, you need to do the following things.
- You need to fill a registration form for KvK. This form is available in both languages, Dutch and English. You will need to enter the chosen form of your business structure along with several other details. Once the form is completed, you can print it out. However, if you can fluently read and write in Dutch, you can fill the KvK online registration form (inschrijven bij de KvK). You will need to fill out all the details regarding your “cooperation or enterprise” in Dutch.
- Once you’re done with your form, you need to book an appointment to visit the nearest KvK branch. You can do this from the appointment page on the website.
- At the time of your appointment, don’t forget to take these essentials with you:
- Your fully-completed registration form
- A payment of about 50 euros
- Valid ID (it can be your Dutch driving license, passport, or residence permit)
- Your contact details and business address
- A rental contract (if your new business isn’t in the same location as your home)
Conclusion
Although there has been tough competition going on in the Dutch tea market, you can still shoot your shot and succeed. But, this would only be possible if you enter the market with a hot cup of organic Japanese tea. This tea has the perfect balance of taste, beauty, and flavor that will certainly leave everyone spell-bound.
Organic Japanese tea will become one of the most sought-after teas in the entire Dutch market. So, it’s high time that you should start importing organic Japanese tea to the Netherlands. But, if you want to freely sell and consume this tea, make sure you follow all the rules and regulations portrayed by the Dutch government.
Need Assistance on Japanese Tea Importation?
This shipping and importation of Japanese tea in your country have been a long-standing service that we offer. Therefore, if you are interested in Japanese Tea importation either as a business or you simply want to have a taste of quality, authentic Japanese tea, you may contact us through this website, and we are more than happy to assist you. Click here to contact Green Tea Merchant.
Importing Organic Japanese Tea to Netherlands — FAQ
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About the author
Kei Nishida
Author, CEO Dream of Japan
Certification: PMP, BS in Computer Science
Education: Western Washington University