Harmonized System Code Classification: Section, Chapter, Heading

HS Code 2024: The Harmonized System (HS) Code is an internationally standardized system code developed by WCO (World Customs Organization) and used by customs authorities to identify products worldwide.

The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as Customs Co-operation Council (CCC), is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and today represents 183 Customs administrations.

History of Harmonized System

Meaning of HS Code: The “Harmonized System” is a numerical method for classifying goods at international level. For uniform classification, the HS coding system is made up of six-digit globally recognized standard codes.

History of HS Code: The HS code was first introduced in the early 1970’s by the WCO as an international nomenclature to systematize traded products.

On the first day of January 1988, the new international Harmonized Tariff was adopted by most members of the WTO (World Trade Organization).

Now, the HS code is used by more than 211 countries and updated every five years. There are several revisions have been made in the Harmonized System in the year 1988, 1996, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. The latest 2022 edition is issued for the year 2022-2026 and the next one is planned for 2027.

Structure of HS Code

Harmonised System (HS) Composition: The HS codes are formed of 6 digits. The six digits can be broken down into the following three parts:

• Chapters (First 2 digit);
• Headings (Next 2 digit); and
• Sub-headings (Last 2 digit).

The HS codes are further subdivided into 7 to 13 digit tariff item level depending on the country.

For Example: 10-digit US HS Tariff Code 0813.40.30.10 meaning

Complete structure of 10-digit HS Code:

• Chapter-08: Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons.
  • Heading-13: Fruit, dried, other than that of headings 0801 to 0806; mixtures of nuts or dried fruits of this chapter.
    • Sub-heading-40: Other fruit:
      • Tariff Item-30: Cherries;
        • Statistical Suffix-10: Tart varieties (Prunus cerasus).

International

Universal HS Code upto six digit i.e. 0813.40.3010

• Chapter-08: Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons.
  • Heading-13: Fruit, dried, other than that of headings 0801 to 0806; mixtures of nuts or dried fruits of this chapter.
    • Sub-heading-40: Other fruit.

National

HS Code subdivision for national purpose beyond 6-digit i.e. 0813.40.30.10

• Tariff Item-30: Cherries;
  • Statistical Suffix-10: Tart varieties (Prunus cerasus).

Country wise HS Code

As of day, there are more than 200 countries, territories or customs or economic unions are applying the Harmonized System.

Question: How many digits are there in HS code? Is HS code same for all countries or are different for each country?

Answer: The HS codes may contain 2-digit, 4 digits, 6 digits, 8 digits, 10 digits or 12 digits. But only up to 6-digit HS codes are administered by the WTO.

Therefore, the first 6 digits of the HS Code are same for all the countries. However, each country may create 8, 10, and sometimes 12 digits Harmonized Systems code without violating common code (six digits) issued by the WCO.

Number of Digits in HS Code

India HS Code

In India HS codes are known as Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) Codes. With effect from 1st April, 2021, India has implemented 8-digit HSN code for export and import of Goods.

A registered person shall mention the following specified digits of Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) Codes in a tax invoice:

Aggregate Turnover in the preceding Financial Year	Number of Digits of HSN Code
Up to rupees five crores	4
more than rupees five crores	6
All 8-digits HSN code are mandatory in case of export and imports transactions	8

US HS Code

The United States applying 10-digit HS code usually called HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) Code or HTS numbers or HTSUS code.

Chinese HS Code

With effect from 1st August 2018, China is using 13-digit HS code.

• The first 8-digit is the Commodity HS code of “Import and Export Tariff of the People’s Republic of China“;
• Next 2-digit are customs supervisory additional numbers; and
• Last 3-digits are additional numbers for inspection and quarantine.

Following are the list of countries, territories or customs or economic unions applying the Harmonized System (HS) Code.

Contracting Parties A-K

Contracting Parties L-Z

Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo (Republic of the) Costa Rica Côte d’Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran (Islamic Republic of) Ireland Israel Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Korea (Republic of) Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan

Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Mauritius Mauritania Mexico Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Niger Nigeria North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine Union of Myanmar (Republic of the) United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe European Union (EU)

Chapter wise HS Code

HS Code full form is Harmonised System code. We have already discussed above in detail about different name of HS code used by all countries.

Section-I: Chapters 1-5

Click on the respective chapter to find HSN code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Live Animals and Animal Products.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-1	Live animals
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.

Section-II Chapters 6-14

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Vegetable Products.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-6	Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage
Chapter-7	Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers
Chapter-8	Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruits or melons
Chapter-9	Coffee, tea, mate 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 fruit; 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.

Section-III Chapter 15

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils and their cleavage products; Prepared Edible Fats; animal or vegetble waxes.

Name of Chapter	Description of Goods
Chapter-15	Animal or vegetable fats and oil and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes

Section-IV Chapters 16-24

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Prepared Foodstuffs, Beverages, Spirits and Vinegar, Tobacco and Manufactured Tobacco Substitutes.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-16	Preparation of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates
Chapter-17	Sugars and sugar confectionery
Chapter-18	Cocoa and cocoa preparations
Chapter-19	Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastry cooks’ products
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 fodder
Chapter-24	Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes

Section-V Chapters 25-27

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Mineral Products.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-25	Salt; sulphur, earths and stones; plastering materials, lime and cement
Chapter-26	Ores, slag and ash
Chapter-27	Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes

Section-VI Chapters 28-38

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Product of the chemicals or allied Industries.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-28	Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of; isotopes
Chapter-29	Organic chemicals
Chapter-30	Pharmaceutical products
Chapter-31	Fertilisers
Chapter-32	Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter, paints and varnishes; putty and other mastics; inks.
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, modelling 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

Section-VII Chapters 39-40

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Plastics and articles thereof, Rubber and articles thereof.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-39	Plastics and articles thereof
Chapter-40	Rubber and articles thereof

Section-VIII Chapters 41-43

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Raw hides and skins, Leather, Furskins and articles thereof, saddlery and harness, travel goods, handbags and similar containers, articles of animal gut ( other than silk-worm gut ).

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-41	Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather
Chapter-42	Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)
Chapter-43	Furskins and artificial fur, manufactures thereof

Section-IX Chapters 44-46

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Wood and articles of wood, Wood charcoal, Cork and articles of cork, Manufacturers of straw, of Esparto or of other Plaiting Materials, Basketwork and Wickerwork.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-44	Wood and Articles of wood; wood charcoal
Chapter-45	Cork and articles of cork
Chapter-46	Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork.

Section-X Chapters 47-49

Respective chapter will provide you the HSN/HTS/HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Pulp of wood or of other Fibrous Cellulosic Material, Recovered ( Waste and scrap ) paper or paperboard, paper and paperboard and articles thereof.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-47	Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard.
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.

Section-XI Chapters 50-63

Click the respective chapters to find out HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Textile and textile articles.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-50	Silk
Chapter-51	Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horse hair yarn and woven fabric
Chapter-52	Cotton
Chapter-53	Other vegetable textile fibres; paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn
Chapter-54	Man-made filaments
Chapter-55	Man-made staple fibres
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

Section-XII Chapters 64-67

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Footwear, Headgear, Umbrellas, Sun Umbrellas, Walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-crops and parts thereof, Prepared feathers and articles made therewith, Artificial flowers, Articles of human hair.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-64	Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles
Chapter-65	Headgear and parts thereof
Chapter-66	Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, 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

Section-XIII Chapters 68-70

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica, or similar materials, ceramic products, glass and glassware.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-68	Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials
Chapter-69	Ceramic products
Chapter-70	Glass and glassware

Section-XIV Chapter 71

Click on the respective chapter to get HS/ HTS/ HSN code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Natural or cultured pearls, Precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, Metal clad with precious metal, and articles thereof, Imitation Jewellery, Coins.

Name of Chapter	Description of Goods
Chapter-71	Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin

Section-XV Chapters 72-83

Click on the following chapter to get Harmonised System (HS) codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Base Metals and articles of Base Metal.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-72	Iron and steel
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

Section-XVI Chapters 84-85

Respective chapter reveal the HS code or HTS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment, parts thereof, sound recorders and reproducers, television image and souch recorders and reproducers, and Parts and Accessories of such article.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-84	Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof
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

Section-XVII Chapters 86-89

Click on the respective chapter to get HS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels and Associated Transport Equipment.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-86	Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signaling equipment of all kinds
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

Section-XVIII Chapters 90-92

Click on the respective chapter text link for HS code or Harmonised System code finder with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus, clocks and watches, musical instruments, parts and accessories thereof.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-90	Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof
Chapter-91	Clocks and watches and parts thereof
Chapter-92	Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles

Section-XIX Chapter 93

Click on the following chapter to find HS code or HSN code or Harmonised System code with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Arms and ammunition, parts and accessories thereof.

Name of Chapter	Description of Goods
Chapter-93	Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof

Section-XX Chapters 94-96

The following chapters are providing HS/HTS code or Harmonised System codes with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-94	Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings
Chapter-95	Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof
Chapter-96	Miscellaneous manufactured articles

Section-XXI Chapters 97-98

Respective chapters are describing the HSN codes or Harmonised System code with GST rates of Goods/ Products/Commodities related to Works of art, Collectors’ Pieces and antiques.

Name of Chapters	Description of Goods
Chapter-97	Works of art, collectors’ pieces and antiques
Chapter-98	Project imports, Laboratory chemicals, passenger’s baggage, personal importation by air or post; ship stores
Chapter-99	Temporary legislation; temporary modifications established pursuant to trade legislation; additional import restrictions established pursuant to section 22 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, as amended