HS Code Chapter Reference

The Harmonized System organises every traded product into 99 chapters grouped under 21 sections. This reference lets you search those chapters by keyword or number so you can find where a product sits before drilling into the full 6-digit tariff code.

How an HS code is structured

An HS code reads from chapter down to national detail:

0 9 0 1 . 2 1
^^         chapter 09  (Coffee, tea, mate, spices)
^^^^       heading 0901 (Coffee)
^^^^.^^    subheading 0901.21 (Roasted, not decaffeinated)

This tool covers the first level — the 2-digit chapter — and shows the section it belongs to (sections group related chapters, e.g. Section IV covers prepared foodstuffs and beverages in chapters 16-24). From the right chapter you extend to the 6-digit subheading in the full tariff schedule.

The first six digits are internationally standardized and identical in all 200+ signatory countries. Beyond six digits, each country adds its own additional digits for tariff and statistical purposes — so a UK commodity code is 10 digits, a US HTS code is 10 digits, and a EU CN code is 8 digits, all sharing the same first six with differing national extensions.

The 21 sections and their scope

The 99 chapters sit inside 21 broader sections that group products by material, origin, or function:

Understanding the section structure helps when a product could plausibly fit multiple chapters — the sections signal the system’s organizing logic.

The General Rules of Interpretation

Classification is governed by six General Rules of Interpretation (GRI), applied in order:

1. GRI 1: Classify by the terms of the heading and any section or chapter notes first
2. GRI 2: Unfinished or unassembled goods are classified as complete; mixtures are classified as in GRI 3
3. GRI 3: When two headings could apply, prefer the most specific; if equally specific, the heading that comes last numerically
4. GRI 6: Applies the same logic at subheading level

In practice, GRI 1 resolves most classifications. You read the chapter heading text and any legal notes — which exclude or include specific products — and match your product to the most specific applicable description.

Common classification pitfalls

Processing changes the chapter: raw coffee (chapter 09), roasted coffee (still chapter 09 at heading 0901), instant coffee (chapter 21, heading 2101). The same ingredient moves chapters as it is processed or combined.

Parts and accessories: machine parts generally classify with the machine they are made for, not by their own material composition. A plastic gear for an industrial motor goes in chapter 84, not chapter 39 (plastics).

Composite goods: a product combining two materials (for example, a wooden handle with a steel blade) classifies by the material giving it its essential character — in most cases the blade’s material, since that is what makes it useful as a tool.

Tips and examples

• Classification uses the General Rules of Interpretation: pick the most specific heading, and when a product is a mix, the material giving its essential character usually decides.
• Chapter 77 is deliberately empty (reserved); chapters 98-99 are for each country’s own special uses.
• Live animals are chapter 01, their meat is chapter 02, and prepared meat is chapter 16 — the same input moves chapters as it is processed.
• Always verify the full 6-digit (or national) code against the current official tariff schedule before declaring goods — tariff schedules are updated annually and the chapter reference here is a navigation starting point, not a customs declaration.