HS Code 7013.99 — Other glassware | South Africa Import & Export

The South African import duty on other glassware (decorative and ornamental, not tableware/kitchenware/drinking glasses) under HS code 7013.99 is 20% MFN, with 15% VAT charged on the ATV (FOB customs value × 1.10 + duty). Preferential rates under SADC and the EU-SADC EPA can reduce the duty to 0% with valid origin certification. ITAC anti-dumping determinations on Chinese-origin glass items have historically applied additional duties and must be checked at clearance.

Customs Duty Rate

The customs duty rate for HS Code 7013.99 is 5%. Duty is calculated on the FOB customs value (the goods value at the point of loading onto the carrier; international freight and insurance are not part of the duty base). Import VAT is then 15% of the Added Tax Value (ATV) — customs value + 10% uplift (for non-SACU origin; nil for BLNS countries) + non-rebated duty.

Product description — what HS 7013.99 actually covers

HS 7013.99 is the “other glassware” residual within 7013 — glassware of a kind used for table, kitchen, toilet, office, indoor decoration or similar purposes that is not specifically named elsewhere in 7013. In practice this is the line for decorative and ornamental glass:

• Murano art glass — vases, sculptures, decorative bowls, paperweights, single-edition pieces from Venini, Barovier & Toso, Salviati
• French art glass — Lalique frosted-glass figures, Daum pâte-de-verre, Baccarat decorative objects (where the decorative element rather than the drinking-vessel function is paramount)
• Czech and Bohemian decorative crystal — Moser, Preciosa decorative pieces
• Scandinavian art glass — Orrefors, Kosta Boda decorative ranges
• Studio glass from contemporary glass artists
• Decorative vases, candle holders, mantel ornaments, decorative bowls
• Glass paperweights, decorative spheres, sun-catchers
• Ornamental glass jewellery components (where not classified under chapter 71)

What 7013.99 does NOT cover: drinking glasses (7013.22/28/33/41 etc.), tableware and kitchenware glass (7013.49 — plates, bowls, jugs for food service), lighting glassware (chapter 94), laboratory glassware (chapter 70 different headings), mirrors (7009), or stained-glass panels for architectural use (7016 typically). Glass jewellery beads are chapter 70 or 71 depending on construction; glass mosaic tiles are 7016.

The 20% MFN headline rate plus the typical high CIF on art glass means decorative glass imports carry a substantial duty cost — but unlike utility glassware, the buyer demographic and resale price absorb it.

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SA importer profile

The 7013.99 traffic into South Africa concentrates in four buyer-types:

• High-end decor and gift retailers — Crema Design, OKHA, Weylandts, Yuppiechef, and the SA showroom arms of Lalique, Baccarat, Daum and Murano specialists — importing branded decorative glass for residential sell-through.
• Interior designers specifying single-piece Murano sculptures and Lalique vases for high-end residential, lodge and hotel projects.
• Galleries representing studio-glass artists importing single-edition contemporary works for exhibitions and resale to SA collectors.
• Specialty gift retailers and corporate-gift suppliers importing branded decorative pieces (Swarovski crystal figures, Lladró ceramic-glass hybrids, Lalique paperweights) for retail and corporate-incentive markets.

The freight profile is dominated by air for high-value single pieces (a R250,000 Murano sculpture is air-only) and sea LCL for retail and gift-stock volume. Crating for Murano and similar Italian art glass typically uses bespoke timber crates with closed-cell foam interior — a R5,000 crating cost on a R15,000 vase is normal.

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Import procedure — step by step

1. Confirm the line classification. 7013.99 is the residual decorative glassware line. Drinking glasses route to 7013.2-series, tableware to 7013.49, lighting to chapter 94, mirrors to 7009. Get the supplier’s product description showing decorative-not-functional intent.
2. Origin certificate for preferential entry. EUR.1 or REX for EU origin (Murano, Lalique, Daum, Baccarat, Orrefors, Moser all qualify ex-EU). SADC for member state. SACU for intra-SACU. Chinese origin stays at full 20% MFN.
3. ITAC anti-dumping check. Chinese-origin glassware has been subject to ADD determinations historically; check the active register for the 7013.99 sub-line and country of origin at clearance.
4. SARS Importer Code (CCN) in place.
5. Provenance and authenticity documentation for branded pieces. For Murano (which now carries a “Vetro Artistico Murano” trademark protected under Italian law), the supplier’s certificate is the SARS-side proof of value. For Lalique, Daum, Baccarat — the manufacturer’s certificate of authenticity. SARS valuation defence on branded decorative glass is a frequent post-entry adjustment trigger; the certificate is the protection.
6. Book specialist freight. Air for high-value singles in custom timber crates. LCL with double-walled cartons and edge protection for retail-stock orders. Murano factory packing is good but designed for European LCL — SA route conditions warrant over-pack at origin or transit consolidation.
7. File the SAD500. Box 33: 7013.99 (or applicable sub-line). Box 31: “Decorative glass [vase / sculpture / bowl], manufacturer [Murano / Lalique / Daum etc.], pattern [name], unit count [N]”. Attach commercial invoice, origin certificate, manufacturer’s certificate of authenticity, packing list, freight invoice.
8. Pay duty (0–20% plus any active ITAC ADD) and 15% VAT. VAT-registered retailers reclaim VAT.
9. Archive the audit pack for SARS (3-year) and insurance documentation.

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SAD500 worked example — a Murano art glass vase from Venice

Scenario: a SA decor retailer imports one Venini Murano “Battuto” art glass vase from Venice. Invoice value EUR 4,200, freight EUR 380 (air freight Cape Town with custom timber crate), insurance EUR 65. At R20.40 per EUR the CIF lands at R94,758. EU-SADC EPA preferential origin claimed with valid EUR.1.

For a comparable decorative vase from a Chinese supplier with an illustrative 25% active ITAC anti-dumping determination (assume CIF R94,758 for like-for-like comparison):

The EU EPA cost advantage on a single Murano vs a Chinese-origin like-priced decorative vase is ~R48,000 — meaningful at unit level, transformative at multi-unit volume.

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SARS pitfalls — what gets the decorative-glass importer audit-trailed

Valuation challenge — “the price is a brand premium, not a customs value”. SARS Customs values goods on transaction value. When a SA retailer pays Lalique list price minus a wholesale discount, SARS sometimes argues the brand premium is a post-import royalty rather than customs value, and tries to back-strip the brand-licence component. The defence: the supplier’s commercial invoice showing the actual transaction price including the brand, plus the manufacturer’s certificate of authenticity demonstrating the genuine product.

Classification creep — 7013.99 vs adjacent chapters. A glass-and-metal candleholder is borderline between 7013.99 (glass dominant), chapter 83 (base metal table articles), or 7616 (aluminium articles) depending on which material gives the essential character. A glass-topped wooden box is borderline between 7013.99 (glass), 4420 (wood) or even 9403 (furniture if the form is functionally a piece of furniture). Get the supplier’s bill of materials and a clear product description.

Origin-certificate technical failures. Same risk profile as other chapter-70 lines. EUR.1 invalidations on technical defects, particularly for Italian Murano workshops which sometimes operate without the full export-document infrastructure of larger manufacturers.

ITAC anti-dumping creep on Chinese-origin decorative glass. Determinations on chapter-70 finished glassware have been issued; the active register changes. The country-and-exporter granularity of ADD determinations applies.

Counterfeit and grey-import risk on premium brands. Murano (“Vetro Artistico Murano” trademark), Lalique, Baccarat are heavily counterfeited. SARS Customs co-operates with brand-owner anti-counterfeit registrations under the Counterfeit Goods Act — a held shipment can be referred to the brand owner for authenticity verification. Unauthorised parallel imports are legal in SA but must hold genuine certificate of authenticity, genuine origin papers and authentic invoicing.

Breakage and post-entry valuation. Murano and other art-glass breakage in transit is a high-frequency event. SARS does not provide automatic post-entry duty refunds for in-transit damage; the importer’s insurance handles the cost, and duty is paid on the full CIF as declared. Some specialist clearing agents file with a pre-clearance physical examination to declare on surviving units — uncommon but procedurally possible.

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Ready to import? What to do next

JLog runs dedicated art-glass and decorative-objects freight desks with custom timber crating, climate-controlled hold space for high-value pieces, EUR.1 origin coordination, ITAC anti-dumping pre-check, and white-glove delivery into showrooms, galleries and private residences. For Murano single-edition imports, we coordinate with the workshop on origin-export paperwork and operate consolidation routes ex-Venice and ex-Milan.

Get a JLog Decorative Glass Logistics quote — custom timber crating, climate-controlled hold, EUR.1 origin paperwork, ITAC anti-dumping pre-check, white-glove showroom or residence delivery. → https://jlog.co.za/get-a-quote/?hs=7013.99&service=fine-art-logistics

Calculate your import duty & VAT — free JLog calculator

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the import duty on decorative glassware into South Africa?

The import duty on other glassware (decorative and ornamental) under HS 7013.99 is 20% MFN per SARS Schedule No. 1, Part 1. Preferential rates of 0% apply under SADC and the EU-SADC EPA with valid origin certification. Import VAT is 15% on ATV (FOB customs value × 1.10 + duty).

Does anti-dumping apply to Chinese-origin decorative glassware?

ITAC has issued anti-dumping determinations on chapter-70 glassware historically; check the active register at clearance time for the 7013.99 sub-line and country of origin. The country-and-exporter granularity matters — named exporters and residual rates differ.

My decorative piece is glass-on-metal — is it 7013.99 or chapter 83?

The classification follows the material giving essential character. A glass-and-metal candleholder where the metal is the structural element and the glass is a shade routes to chapter 83 (base metal table articles); where the glass is the visual and decorative dominant routes to 7013.99. Get the supplier’s bill of materials.

Does Murano art glass need a special certificate?

For SARS purposes: the manufacturer’s commercial invoice and any certificate of authenticity. For commercial credibility: the Vetro Artistico Murano trademark certificate (regulated by the Veneto regional law) is the in-Italy authenticity proof and supports SA-side resale claims.

Can I claim back the VAT on imported decorative glass for my home?

Only if you are VAT-registered and using the goods in a VAT-able enterprise. Private personal-use imports cannot reclaim; VAT-registered retailers do.

What documents does SARS need to clear decorative glassware at 7013.99?

Commercial invoice (with manufacturer, pattern, unit count and unit price), origin certificate (EUR.1 / SADC / SACU) if claiming preferential entry, manufacturer’s certificate of authenticity for branded pieces, packing list, freight invoice, SAD500.