Purolator International TradeAssist Zone™
Harmonized Codes
Classify the Harmonized System (HS) code associated with your product.
According to "Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia" The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) of tariff nomenclature is an internationally standardized system of names and numbers for classifying traded products developed and maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO) (formerly the Customs Co-operation Council), an independent intergovernmental organization with over 170 member countries based in Brussels, Belgium.
The HS is based on a six-digit nomenclature. First four digits are referred to as the heading. The next 6-digits are known as the subheading. Countries utilizing the Harmonized System are strictly not permitted to alter in any way the descriptions associated to a heading or a subheading nor can the numerical codes at the four or six digit level be altered. This rule ensures the integrity of the Harmonized System harmonized.
In certain countries the Harmonized System number may be extended to eight or ten digits for customs purposes, and to eight or ten digits for export purposes. "Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia" also estimated, more than 200 countries, customs and economic unions, representing more than 98% of world trade, use the HS as a basis for:
The Harmonized Product Description and Coding System (HS) are used to describe products for customs purposes. Harmonized tariff codes are the universal customs standard that you must use to conduct trade efficiently on a global scale. Defined by customs authorities internationally, tariff codes are used to classify products for trade statistics, duty calculation, tariff assessments, and documentation filings. This coding system ensures that customs officials all around the world are referring to the same item when classifying a product and applying a tariff rate.
The HS assigns six-digit codes that represent general categories of goods. All participating countries utilizing the HS use the same six-digit code for each product. A country can assign its own additional four numbers, making the entire code 10 digits. If you ship or receive goods internationally, your company can benefit from easier access to these harmonized tariff codes. You can find the HS code for your product online using Statistics Canada website or the United States International Trade Commission website (for US imports). Remember the first 6 digits of the HS code are recognized by all countries under the WCO (World Customs Organization). Codes have been revised through the years. So if it's necessary to reference a code related to a trade issue from even a few years ago, one has to make sure the definition set being used matches the code.
Proper use of tariff codes enhances your company's ability to get shipments processed through customs with minimal delays and accurate duty assessments. The Harmonized Product Database enables you to store, add, delete and update product tariff code for major destination countries around the world.