HS Codes for Food and Feed Ingredients from China

Every shipment is declared under a Harmonized System (HS) code. The first six digits are set internationally by the World Customs Organization and are the same in every member country. Each country then adds its own digits: the EU uses an 8-digit Combined Nomenclature code, the United States a 10-digit HTS code, and China a 10-digit national code. The six-digit code tells you which duty rate, restrictions and licences apply; the national digits decide the final rate.

Six-digit codes for common ingredients

Ingredient group	HS heading	Examples
Vitamins	2936	Vitamin A 293621, B1 293622, B2 293623, B12 293626, E 293628, other vitamins 293629
Carboxylic acids	2915, 2917, 2918	Formic acid 291511, acetic acid 291521, propionic acid 291550, fumaric acid 291719, lactic acid 291811, citric acid 291814
Inorganic acids and salts	2809, 2827, 2836	Phosphoric acid 280920, ammonium chloride 282710, calcium chloride 282720, sodium bicarbonate 283630
Amino acids and quaternary ammonium	2923, 2930	Choline chloride 292310, betaine 292390, DL-methionine 293040
Sugars	1702	Dextrose 170230
Dextrins and modified starches	3505	Maltodextrin 350510
Enzymes	3507	Amylase, protease, phytase, xylanase 350790
Cultures of micro-organisms	3002	Live probiotic cultures 300290

Four misclassifications we see repeatedly

These come from auditing a real catalogue, not from theory. Each one either changes the duty rate or invites a customs query.

• Maltodextrin declared as a sugar (1702). Maltodextrin is a dextrin and belongs in heading 3505. The difference matters because sugar headings often carry quotas or higher duties.
• Live probiotics declared under 2102.90. That subheading covers dead single-cell micro-organisms. A live culture sold by viable count (CFU/g) is a culture of micro-organisms, heading 3002.
• Inositol declared as a vitamin (2936). Inositol is sometimes marketed as "vitamin B8", but the HS classifies it with sterols and inositols under 290613.
• Plant extracts declared as glycosides (2938). Silymarin, the milk-thistle extract, is a flavonolignan mixture rather than a glycoside, and is normally classified as a vegetable extract under 1302.

What to do before you order

Use the six-digit code as your starting point, then confirm the full national line with your customs broker. In the EU you can apply for a Binding Tariff Information decision, which fixes the classification for three years and protects you if customs later disagrees. The HS code on every Rawplex product page is the six-digit harmonised code; ask us for the Chinese export code if your broker needs it.