Key figures (free to quote)
| Item | Reference figure |
|---|---|
| China HS heading (filing side) | 0703.20 — Garlic, fresh or chilled |
| Indonesia 8-digit · seed garlic | 0703.20.10 — Bulbs for propagation |
| Indonesia 8-digit · table garlic | 0703.20.90 — Other |
| BM import duty (MFN) · seed garlic | 0% |
| BM import duty (MFN) · table garlic | 5% |
| PPN (VAT) | 0% read at both subheadings (agricultural line — still confirm against the rules in force) |
| PPh 22 · with / without API | 2.5% / 7.5% (identical at both subheadings) |
| Indonesian statutory unit | Metric ton (1,000 kg), code TNE — file in tonnes, not kilograms |
| Border control · seed garlic | Plant quarantine 940 only (KT-2 / KT-9 / SP-5 / KT-13) |
| Border control · table garlic | Plant quarantine 940 plus 958 LS Impor Bawang Putih and 959 PI Bawang Putih |
| Lookup date | 2026-10-01 (INSW, code by code, readings kept verbatim) |
Readings above come from our INSW lookup on the date shown. Duty rates and restrictions change with new regulations, so the licensed PPJK must re-check each shipment in INSW and CEISA 4.0 against the rules in force before filing.
1. Why "seed garlic or table garlic" is the first question
- The code is the first link in the chain. Both sit under 6-digit heading 0703.20, but Indonesia splits it into two 8-digit subheadings — and which one you pick sets the duty, the restriction list and the licence route.
- Five points of duty. Seed garlic reads 0%, table garlic 5% on an MFN basis. That is not a rounding difference; it is the tax bill on the whole shipment.
- Two different ministries. Table garlic runs through the Ministry of Trade (PI + LS); seed garlic runs through the Ministry of Agriculture's seed-import permit. Neither substitutes for the other.
- The documents change with it. Seed garlic travels with the exporting country's seed certificate and variety description; table garlic follows whatever PI / LS issuance requires. It is not the same checklist.
- One wrong call cascades. Pick the wrong subheading and you apply for the wrong licence, compute the wrong duty and prepare the wrong documents. Fixing it after arrival almost always costs more than confirming it before shipment.
2. The two subheadings side by side
| Point of comparison | 0703.20.10 — Seed garlic | 0703.20.90 — Table garlic |
|---|---|---|
| BM import duty (MFN) | 0% | 5% |
| PPN (VAT), as read | 0% | 0% |
| Border control (at clearance) | Plant quarantine 940 | Plant quarantine 940 + LS 958 + PI 959 |
| Post-border control (after release) | none | LS 958 + PI 959 |
| Competent ministry | Ministry of Agriculture — seed-import track | Ministry of Trade — import-licence track |
| Core document | Izin Pemasukan Benih (seed import permit) | PI (import approval) + LS (import letter) |
| Exporting-country documents | seed quality and grade file, exporting-country seed certificate, variety description, crop development plan | as required for PI / LS issuance |
| Typical use | planting and propagation (quantity must match the crop development plan) | direct entry into the food chain |
| Indonesian statutory unit | metric ton (TNE) | metric ton (TNE) |
Compiled from our INSW readings of 2026-10-01. Applicability follows the regulations and the restriction list in force.
3. Duty and the tax elements
| Element | Reading |
|---|---|
| BM import duty (MFN) · seed garlic | 0% |
| BM import duty (MFN) · table garlic | 5% |
| PPN (VAT) | 0% |
| PPh 22 · with API import licence | 2.5% |
| PPh 22 · without API | 7.5% |
| PPnBM (luxury goods tax) | N/A (not applicable) |
| Indonesian statutory unit | metric ton (TNE) |
| DHE-SDA export FX obligation | N/A (export-side item) |
- BM differs by 5 percentage points between the two subheadings — the largest single gap under this heading. Classification decides the tax bill.
- PPh 22 differs by a factor of three depending on whether the importer holds an API-U (2.5% vs 7.5%). Settle the importer's standing early.
- PPN read 0% in our lookup, which is the agricultural line — still confirm against the rules in force; nothing on this page is a substitute for that.
- The statutory unit is the tonne. If the paperwork only carries kilograms, convert at filing so the weight fields reconcile.
4. Lartas — the restriction documents
- Border (must be complete at clearance): plant quarantine 940, under PP 14 Tahun 2002, evidenced by a phytosanitary-type certificate. Both subheadings carry it.
- Table garlic also carries: 958 LS Impor Bawang Putih and 959 PI Bawang Putih, under Permendag 16/2025 jo. 18/2026 and Permendag 18/2025 jo. 11/2026. These apply at the border and after release.
- Seed garlic carries neither 958 nor 959: only 940 appeared in the lookup. That is not an exemption — seed imports are administered on a separate track by the Ministry of Agriculture (next section).
- The list has to be read at 8 digits. Two subheadings under one heading carry completely different restrictions. Do not reason from the product category.
5. Two licence tracks: table garlic on one, seed garlic on the other
The table garlic track (0703.20.90). Competent authority: the Indonesian Ministry of Trade. A PI (import approval) must be obtained before shipment, together with an LS (import letter); both apply at the border and after release. Basis: Permendag 16/2025 jo. 18/2026 and Permendag 18/2025 jo. 11/2026.
The seed garlic track (0703.20.10). Competent authority: the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture. An Izin Pemasukan Benih (seed import permit) is required, under Permentan No. 14 Tahun 2026 (in force 2026-07-31, replacing Permentan 15/2017 and 26/2018). The application normally carries four documents from the exporting country: ① seed quality and grade file; ② exporting-country seed certificate (certified seed quality standard); ③ variety description; ④ crop development plan — and the quantity applied for must match that plan.
Scope — do not generalise this to all seeds. Permentan 14/2026 covers horticultural seed. Garlic, other Allium, vegetables, fruit and flowers sit inside it. Seed import into Indonesia is not governed by one regulation end to end — food crops, estate crops, forestry and livestock breeding stock each have their own rules and their own directorate. In the official agricultural licensing catalogue, "benih tanaman" (plant seed) and "benih/bibit ternak" (livestock breeding stock) are two separate licences. There is movement upstream as well: PP 7/2026 (in force 2026-02-09) has repealed PP 44/1995 on plant seed and brings seed production and trade under mandatory SNI certification, with implementing rules still in transition — follow the current notice from the competent authority.
They do not interchange. Obligations attached to domestic planting of table garlic do not apply on the seed route, and a seed import permit does not cover table garlic. Pick the wrong track and the whole document set is wasted.
Also note: fresh Allium bulbs have a dedicated phytosanitary line (Permentan 43/Permentan/OT.140/6/2012), and the port of entry has to be a permitted one — port eligibility follows the notice in force.
Legal sources
- PP 14/2002 — plant quarantine
- Permendag 16/2025 · Permendag 18/2026 · Permendag 18/2025 · Permendag 11/2026
- Permentan 14/2026 — seed import (horticultural)
- PP 7/2026 — plant seed
- Permentan 43/2012 — Allium bulbs
- PMK 50/2026
Verification note (2026-10-01)
Our own code-by-code readings at INSW (insw.go.id), kept verbatim for traceability:
- 0703.20.10 (Bulbs for propagation): BM 0%, PPN 0%, PPh 22 2.5% with API / 7.5% without; border control 940 only (KT-2 / KT-9 / SP-5 / KT-13, under PP 14 Tahun 2002 plant quarantine); post-border list empty.
- 0703.20.90 (Other): BM 5%, PPN 0%, PPh 22 2.5% with API / 7.5% without; border control 940 + 958 LS Impor Bawang Putih + 959 PI Bawang Putih; post-border the same 958 + 959, under Permendag 16/2025 jo. 18/2026 and Permendag 18/2025 jo. 11/2026.
- Both subheadings read the statutory unit Metric ton (1,000 kg), code TNE.
- Both pages show a DHE-SDA reporting obligation — that is an export-side item and does not apply to imports.
- The ACFTA preferential rate displayed on INSW is a historical value: verify against the schedule in force, do not promise from it.
Data source
Our own code-by-code INSW lookup (0703.20.10 / 0703.20.90). Working file version 2026-10-01 · source: INSW national trade repository insw.go.id/intr
Related pages
Garlic seed (0703.20.10) now sits in the seed guide: BM 0%, Ministry of Agriculture permit track Table garlic (0703.20.90) now sits in the agriproducts guide: BM 5% plus PI and LSNote for this page: the underlying verification note was recorded in Chinese at the time of the lookup and can be shared on request. Readings are snapshots from a specific lookup date — not a filing guarantee.
This page summarizes field practice and publicly available Indonesian import rules for general business reference only—it is not legal, customs, or pricing advice. Customs provisions, tariff rates, and licensing requirements keep changing, so the rules in force at the time and the official processing result always prevail. Wuhan Freedom International Logistics Co., Ltd. · Licensed PPJK in Indonesia · Jakarta / Semarang / Wuhan.
Frequently asked questions
Does importing garlic into Indonesia require an import licence?
It depends on the classification. Filed as table garlic (0703.20.90) the shipment needs both a PI (Persetujuan Impor) Bawang Putih and an LS Impor Bawang Putih. Filed as seed garlic (0703.20.10) those two do not apply — but the shipment moves onto the Ministry of Agriculture's seed-import track instead. Filing as seed garlic is not an exemption; it is a different licence.
Are seed garlic and table garlic different codes in Indonesia?
Yes. Under the same 6-digit heading 0703.20, Indonesia has 0703.20.10 for bulbs for propagation and 0703.20.90 for other (table garlic). The duty and the restrictions differ between them.
What is the import duty on garlic in Indonesia?
On an MFN basis, seed garlic 0703.20.10 reads 0% and table garlic 0703.20.90 reads 5%. PPN read 0% at both subheadings in our lookup; PPh 22 is 2.5% with an API and 7.5% without.
In what unit is garlic declared?
The Indonesian statutory unit is the metric ton (1,000 kg, code TNE). 3,500 kg is declared as 3.5 TNE — do not file kilograms.
Does a FORM E remove the duty?
It may bring BM down to 0%, but only against the ACFTA schedule in force, subheading by subheading. The preferential rate displayed on an INSW page can be a historical value and is not something to promise a client from.
What else tends to hold up garlic shipments?
Three things: an importer identity that does not match across the licence, the pre-shipment notice and the B/L consignee; package counts that disagree between the phytosanitary certificate and the invoice / packing list / B/L; and a declared value below the Indonesian reference price, which is then assessed at the reference price.
Key questions on this page, free to quote.
Official sources
Independently verifiable channels below. Rates, restrictions and lead times follow each agency's latest publication.
- INSW national trade repository (Indonesia) — Official lookup for BTKI codes, BM/PPN/PPh and Lartas flags
- Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Bea Cukai) — Clearance process, PIB filing and customs rules
- Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) — Import licensing, Lartas restrictions and trade rules
- Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) — Seed import permits, plant quarantine and crop development plans
- Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) — Plant and animal quarantine, port-of-entry requirements
- Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) — Official fiscal and tax policy releases