ABOUT HS CODES The HS code is a worldwide terminology for the classification of items. It helps customs in various countries to make sure that they are talking about the same product and the HS code of a product also determines the import duties. Worldwide it is a six-digit code framework for grouping and categories different merchandise and goods being exported. Some countries even specify further with an eight-digit code. There are approximately in circulation 5,300 HS codes that identify export goods that are broken down into headings along with subheadings. They are also arranged into 99 different chapters around with being grouped into 21 sections. The HS code is broken into the following three different parts: • • •
The first two digits give a rough indication of the product an refer to the various chapters of the list (HS-2). The following two digits within the code help to further identity the product category (HS-4). The final two digits within the code are extremely specific to the goods that are exported (HS-6).
There are only a couple of countries who do not follow the current version of the 3 for the HS-6 level. They apply the old version of Harmonized System rather than the new updated version.
HS Code
4 Digit Categories
Description
1
0101 – 0106
Live animals
2 3
0201 – 0210 0301 – 0307
4
0401 – 0410
5
0501 – 0511
6
0601 – 0604
Meat and edible meat offal Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates Dairy produce; birds’ eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage
7 8 9 10 11
0701 – 0714 0801 – 0814 0901 – 0910 1001 – 1008 1101 – 1109
12
1201 – 1214
13 14
1301 – 1302 1401 – 1404
15
1501 – 1522
16
1601 – 1605
17
1701 – 1704
Page 10
Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons Coffee, tea, mate and spices Cereals Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants ; straw and fodder Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates Sugars and sugar confectionery
