TSB logo

Trade Statistics Knowledgebase

Welcome Guest ( Login )
Latest Additions Most Popular
Home » Knowledgebase » UN Merchandise Trade » Methodology » Classifications and correspondence table » Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding Systems (HS)

Harmonized Commodity Description and...

Expand / Collapse
 

Harmonized Commodity Description and...


Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding Systems (HS)

The Harmonized System is an international nomenclature for the classification of products. It allows participating countries to classify traded goods on a common basis for customs purposes. At the international level, the Harmonized System (HS) for classifying goods is a six-digit code system.

The HS comprises approximately 5,300 article/product descriptions that appear as headings and subheadings, arranged in 99 chapters, grouped in 21 sections. The six digits can be broken down into three parts. The first two digits (HS-2) identify the chapter the goods are classified in, e.g. 09 = Coffee, Tea, Maté and Spices. The next two digits (HS-4) identify groupings within that chapter, e.g. 09.02 = Tea, whether or not flavoured. The next two digits (HS-6) are even more specific, e.g. 09.02.10 Green tea (not fermented)... Up to the HS-6 digit level, all countries classify products in the same way (a few exceptions exist where some countries apply old versions of the HS).

The Harmonized System was introduced in 1988 and has been adopted by most of the countries worldwide. It has undergone several changes in the classification of products. These changes are called revisions and happened in 1996, 2002 and 2007.

Information on Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding Systems  (HS) can be found at the World Customs Organization website at: http://www.wcoomd.org/home_wco_topics_hsoverviewboxes.htm

By entering key words or HS code, you can search list of products and commodities with their 6 digit, 4 digit, or 2 digit - HS codes at the online database below:
http://www.foreign-trade.com/reference/hscode.htm


Rate this Article:

Related Links



Add Your Comments


Name: *
Email Address:
Web Address:
   
 
 
 
 
   
Verification Code:
*
 

Details
Last Modified:Friday, January 29, 2010
Last Modified By: comtrade_admin
Type: INFO
Rated 4 stars based on 1 vote
Article has been viewed 41,984 times.
Options