HS code (HS, CN, TARIC): the information you need to determine it

HS, CN, TARIC: what's the difference?

The first six digits are therefore the same from one country to another; the following digits depend on the rules of the country of destination.

• HS (Harmonized System): 6 digits, shared by most countries in the world.
• CN (Combined Nomenclature): 8 digits, used in the European Union, notably for exports and intra-EU trade statistics.
• TARIC: 10 digits, required in the EU for imports to apply duties and specific measures.

The information needed to classify a product

• What the product is and what it is used for.
• Its composition: materials and proportions (textile, metal, plastic…).
• How it is made and its condition (raw, processed, assembled, in kit form).
• Its presentation: sold alone, as a set, with or without accessories.
• For machines and appliances: the main function and power source.
• For food or chemical products: the detailed composition.

Common mistakes

• Reusing the code given by the supplier without checking it.
• Using an 8-digit code for an import into the EU, where 10 digits are required.
• Classifying by trade name rather than by the product's characteristics.
• Keeping a code after the product or the nomenclature has changed.

How to be certain

If in doubt, consult the European Commission's TARIC database, the Harmonized System explanatory notes, or apply to the customs authorities for a Binding Tariff Information (BTI) decision: it commits the authorities to the classification of your product.

Our checker verifies the code format and its consistency with the operation, but never confirms that a classification is right: a well-formed code is still flagged “to review”.