You would have seen this terminology called HS Code across many trade documentation or correspondences..
What does this HS Code mean, who uses it and what is it used for..??
HS Code stands for Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System..
This is the common standard worldwide for describing the type of commodity..
Every commodity that enters or crosses most international borders have to be declared to customs by means of a HS code.. This helps in standardizing the commodity codes worldwide..
Here is the definition of the HS Code according to WCO website,
The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System generally referred to as “Harmonized System” or simply “HS” is a multipurpose international product nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO).
It comprises about 5,000 commodity groups; each identified by a six digit code, arranged in a legal and logical structure and is supported by well-defined rules to achieve uniform classification.
The system is used by more than 200 countries and economies as a basis for their Customs tariffs and for the collection of international trade statistics. Over 98 % of the merchandise in international trade is classified in terms of the HS.
The HS Code contributes to the harmonization of Customs and trade procedures, and the non-documentary trade data interchange in connection with such procedures, thus reducing the costs related to international trade.
It is also extensively used by governments, international organizations and the private sector for many other purposes such as internal taxes, trade policies, monitoring of controlled goods, rules of origin, freight tariffs, transport statistics, price monitoring, quota controls, compilation of national accounts, and economic research and analysis. The HS is thus a universal economic language and code for goods, and an indispensable tool for international trade.
The Harmonized System is governed by “The International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System”. The official interpretation of the HS is given in the Explanatory Notes (5 volumes in English and French) published by the WCO. The Explanatory Notes are also available on online and on CD-ROM, as part of a database which groups all the available HS Tools, by adding to the information on the Nomenclature, the Compendium of Classification Opinions and the Explanatory Notes, that relating to the Alphabetical Index and the Brochure on Classification Decisions taken by the Harmonized System Committee.
The maintenance of the HS is a WCO priority. This activity includes measures to secure uniform interpretation of the HS and its periodic updating in light of developments in technology and changes in trade patterns. The WCO manages this process through the Harmonized System Committee (representing the Contracting Parties to the HS Convention), which examines policy matters, takes decisions on classification questions, settles disputes and prepares amendments to the Explanatory Notes. The HS Committee also prepares amendments updating the HS every 5 – 6 years.
Decisions concerning the interpretation and application of the Harmonized System, such as classification decisions and amendments to the Explanatory Notes or to the Compendium of Classification Opinions, become effective two months after the approval by the HS Committee. These are reflected in the amending supplements of the relevant WCO Publications.
Below is the listing of all the relevant sections of the HS Code and the list of commodities under each Section..
Chapter 2 – Meat and edible meat offal
Chapter 3 – Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
Chapter 4 – Dairy produce; birds eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
Chapter 5 – Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included
Chapter 7 – Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers
Chapter 8 – Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons
Chapter 9 – Coffee, tea, maté and spices
Chapter 10 – Cereals
Chapter 11 – Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten
Chapter 12 – Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder
Chapter 13 – Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts
Chapter 14 – Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included
Chapter 17 – Sugars and sugar confectionery
Chapter 18 – Cocoa and cocoa preparations
Chapter 19 – Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares
Chapter 20 – Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants
Chapter 21 – Miscellaneous edible preparations
Chapter 22 – Beverages, spirits and vinegar
Chapter 23 – Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed
Chapter 24 – Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes
Chapter 26 – Ores, slag and ash
Chapter 27 – Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes
Chapter 29 – Organic chemicals
Chapter 30 – Pharmaceutical products
Chapter 31 – Fertilizers
Chapter 32 – Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics
Chapter 33 – Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations
Chapter 34 – Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modeling pastes, “dental waxes” and dental preparations with a basis of plaster
Chapter 35 – Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes
Chapter 36 – Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations
Chapter 37 – Photographic or cinematographic goods
Chapter 38 – Miscellaneous chemical products
Chapter 40 – Rubber and articles thereof
Chapter 42 – Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut)
Chapter 43 – Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof
Chapter 45 – Cork and articles of cork
Chapter 46 – Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork
Chapter 48 – Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard
Chapter 49 – Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans
Chapter 51 – Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric
Chapter 52 – Cotton
Chapter 53 – Other vegetable textile fibers; paper yarn and woven fabric of paper yarn
Chapter 54 – Man-made filaments
Chapter 55 – Man-made staple fibers
Chapter 56 – Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof
Chapter 57 – Carpets and other textile floor coverings
Chapter 58 – Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery
Chapter 59 – Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use
Chapter 60 – Knitted or crocheted fabrics
Chapter 61 – Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted
Chapter 62 – Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted
Chapter 63 – Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags
Chapter 65 – Headgear and parts thereof
Chapter 66 – Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking sticks, seatsticks, whips, riding-crops and parts thereof
Chapter 67 – Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair
Chapter 69 – Ceramic products
Chapter 70 – Glass and glassware
Chapter 73 – Articles of iron or steel
Chapter 74 – Copper and articles thereof
Chapter 75 – Nickel and articles thereof
Chapter 76 – Aluminium and articles thereof
Chapter 77 – (Reserved for possible future use)
Chapter 78 – Lead and articles thereof
Chapter 79 – Zinc and articles thereof
Chapter 80 – Tin and articles thereof
Chapter 81 – Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof
Chapter 82 – Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal
Chapter 83 – Miscellaneous articles of base metal
Chapter 85 – Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
Chapter 87 – Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof
Chapter 88 – Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof
Chapter 89 – Ships, boats and floating structures
Chapter 91 – Clocks and watches and parts thereof
Chapter 92 – Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles
Chapter 95 – Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof
Chapter 96 – Miscellaneous manufactured articles
HS 2022, which is the seventh edition of the Harmonized System (HS) nomenclature used for the uniform classification of goods traded internationally all over the world, has been accepted by the all Contracting Parties to the Harmonized System Convention and shall come into force on 1 January 2022..
The new HS2022 edition makes some major changes to the Harmonized System with a total of 351 sets of amendments covering a wide range of goods moving across borders and you can read about the highlights this edition here..
 HS Code to international trade and also explains the classifications..){kind=link}
anyone can possibly explain. how to import the electronics good from china, what is the formalities, with payment detail & registration details
I have t-shirts made in Egypt 95/5 Poly/lycra need to know HS code to Export to UK
Thank you for sharing grate information. this information is helpful to us
Who is responsible to organise the HSCode ? Is it the shippers responsibility? And what does it cost ?
Thank for the awareness and knowledge about hs code. Is there is any difference between hs and hsn code?
I have with me, Bill of Lading with a HS code 1518009595 and Vietnam’s custom Form A with a HS code 15180060.
The question are : It is for the same shipment, and both are HS code, why they are not the same? Is this normal? It is very confusing sharing the same name i.e. HS code.
first 6 digits are international use. everything after are country specific.
Can somebody help me and tell me what is the HS code for a Perfume pls ?
Hi. I can´t find the Hs code for Cbd oils. Anyone know?
I will export readymade garments cloth to Algeria . what is the HS code
FindHS.Codes is a thematic search engine developed for assisting importers/exporters to easily learn the correct customs tariff classification for the goods they intend to import or export..
What is the HS code for shipping contact lenses to Vietnam?
What is the hs code of Liberia on various commodities?
Hi, I want to know more about shipping and freight
HS Code is used to classify the product in import export business. It is called by different names in different countries like HSN Code in India, HTS Code in USA, NCM Code in Brazil and BTKI in Indonesia.
For more export import data related to all different HS CODE. you can visit eximdata.in/hs-code
Hi sir
Now i will start the business …now i must get hs code sir????
Can 2 HS codes be used for one product?
HS Code is Harmonized System Code, which is used around the world for defining a product in import export business. Find HS Code a product right here @ http://www.exportgenius.in/blog/what-is-hs-code-how-to-find-hts-or-hsn-code-2017-113.php
Hi,
very informative article and thankyou for the updated list . I would like to know how can we calculate duty for multiple items , say I have 2 items one is showing according to the HS that it has a duty of 1% and the other is 2% .. the total duty how much shall it be on the declared value invoice by the clearing agent ? 3% or 2% or 1.5% or how much ?
Hi Ali, depending on the country where you are from regulations on such calculations might vary.. Best option would be for you to discuss with customs or a certified clearing agent to understand more..
Is it mandatory to show the HS code on Bill of Lading for shipment to Karachi from Singapore ?
J.K
Singapore
Hi Jason, best option would be to check with Singapore Customs.. Different countries have different requirements/regulations..
W What is the HSN CODE FOR TRANSPORTATION OR FREIGHT CHARGES
Good day,
What is the HS Code for the Furniture made of MDF board, Solid Wood, Acrylic, Duratrans, Aluminium, Corian.
Hello, I want to know more about the effect due changes that UN has recently made on the multiple CPC products of cotton and plastics that the various HS codes have been transformed to one HS code of 96190090.
How do I get a ha code for my profuct
What is the HS code for musical instrument cleaners, Cymbal cleaner, drum polish?
Why is it that One Country use different HS Code from the other?
Which must be followed to avoid custom charges?
Regards
What is the actual harmonized code of 4 ply offset printing blanket (in roll, not cut to shape)
Regards
Nd. Hazrat ali
Hi,
Actually i want to know all process about import and export and what is HS code or etc. so could you please share me the same what i want.
regards,
rahul kumar
i wand hs code automobile spare parts please send me
Hi Musthak,
HS Code List of Parts And Accessories Of The Motor Vehicles @ http://www.exportgenius.in/hs-code/india/parts-accessories-motor-vehicles-headings-heading-8708
What is the HS Code for High Speed Diesel?
what is HS Code for igh Speed Diesel
hi, how can i download all chapters of HS code for your above mentioned? could you pls share to me. thanks in advance.
What is the HS code for industrial turbine like the GE LM2500?
will it not fall under chapter 84? the chapters are vague, aren’t they? like chapters 84 and 85, how can we really differentiate. confusing.
Oh i think i found it. here is the site http://www.hscode.org/ and according to it, the HS code could be 8406, 8410 or 8411, depending on what type of turbine.
First class meaningful harmonized system
Its realy very good site for meaning for any word .
is the Turkish GTIP code the same HS code with 6 zeros added to make it the 12 digit number they use? I’ve got my products HS code, I’m just wondering if that’s what the Turkish Customs Dept does to get 12 digits?
Please treat this very urgent.
I want to take one order for export , But the coustmer is asking for HS Code.
I have no idea regarding this codes and all.
Please help me.
The material description is as follow :-
Steel Round Bar
Quality :- C 45 N
Your early and positive reply in this regards will be highly appreciated.
Shrenik, if you visit the link in the above post, you can search for the HS code..
Please treat it very urgently. I am about to import artificial jewelry from US and i want to know that what is there HS code. I have asked the importer/whole seller but they are not providing me the required information. Please help me.
Dear sir,i would. like. to know the. H s Code for our various. specialty. sugars like. Castor. sugar , demerara. sugar , Light. Brown. Sugar ,Icing. Sugar ,Lump. Sugar, Pharma. sugar used. for manufacturing various. pharma. products . Sir. l want to know when Sugar is banned in India. then our above. all specialty products are. banned by Govt. of India for exports. Whereas our quantity is very small & fetches. value. addition but still. this is a problem. how we should. be exumpeted from this problem. of ban? pl. answer & guide us how to proceed further. Awaiting. ur soonest reply. with. Regards ……. Samyak Lodha. +91-93261-92191.
Hello – Iam from Egypt –
I have urgent shipment and need to know what’s HS CODE for the Egyptian Marble
Please note that it’s cut and polished
Neeed help,
Regards,
Hi I’m kausar from bangladesh and i want to import rubber shoes from china so please tell me the hs code of rubber shoes.waiting for your reply.thanks.
Hi what is the HS Code for exporting ship spares to ZONE PORTUAIRE DEGRAD DES CANNES
Regards
Eric
Please explain to me what is the HS Code for mineral supplements, either in a liquid concentrate or enteric-coated tablet form
Hi Stephen, please visit http://www.cargoinfo.co.za/customs/customstree.asp where you will find the required information..
We are in the business of animal health and there has been lot of confusion on Pure vitamins and formulated vitamins, formulated vitamins with minerals, and also somtimes with antibiotics. Kindly explain in with HS code do they fall in and why.
Let us assume I have feedsupplement of vitamins contains formulated with number of vitamins, with or without minerals and antibiotics, kindly explain where does it falls in HScode
What is H. S. Code for Plates made of Porous Silicon Carbide? These are to be used as setter plates in Kiln or Sintering Press.
We are a furniture removal company wanting to send a consignment of used household and personal effects by sea to Luanda. Please advise what HS Code to use for this mixed load.
Regards,
John
What is the HS Code for exporting Aluminum Used Can Beverages to Thailand ? i would like to have the Code asap please .
Thanks & appriciated for your effort & useful web site.
Best Regards..,
Salem Mandour
any one can possible to explain. how to import the electronics good from the china, what is the formalities, with payment detail & registration details?
how to apply the HS code? , how many days to get the number? , how much we want to pay?. can i import the electronics from china?
Kindly forward me the HS Code for South Africa. (for surgical spirits )
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards
Lindy Van Zyl
Electronic Technology
What is the HS Code for importing Make-up?
Good day:
What is the HS Code for import/exporting vitamin supplements please?
T + R
Stuart
Please what is HS code in Inda for copper lamp if I send from Egypt ?