Glossary:Harmonized commodity description and coding system
The Harmonized commodity description and coding system is a multi-purpose international product nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO).It is often simply called Harmonized System and abbreviated as HS.
The HS 2007 is made up of about 5,000 commodity groups defined at a six-digit level (with an additional two digits if eight-digit sub-divisions are required), in a legal and logical structure and based on well-defined rules, in order to achieve a uniform classification.
More than 200 countries and economies make use of the system as a basis for their national customs tariffs and for the collection of economic statistical data. Over 98 % of merchandise in international trade is classified in terms of the HS.
Example
Section II Vegetable products
- 0207 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers.
- 07.01 Potatoes, fresh or chilled.
- 0701.10 - Seed
- 0701.90 - Other
- 07.02 Tomatoes, fresh or chilled.
- 0702.00 Tomatoes, fresh or chilled.
- 07.03 Onions, shallots, garlic, leeks and other alliaceous vegetables, fresh or chilled.
- 0703.10 - Onions and shallots
- 0703.20 - Garlic
- 0703.90 - Leeks and other alliaceous vegetables
- 07.01 Potatoes, fresh or chilled.
Further information
- European Commission - Harmonized System
- Different versions of the commodity description and coding system