What products are included in HS Chapter 19?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
HS-2 · Chapter 19
HS chapter 19: Preparations of cereals, flour
Section III — Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes
Chapter 19 of the Harmonized System covers a diverse range of products related to the preparations of cereals, flour, starch, and milk, as well as various pastrycooks' products. This chapter is crucial for importers and exporters dealing with food items that fall under these categories, ensuring compliance with international trade regulations.
Within this chapter, you will find detailed classifications under HS-4 headings, which help to specify the exact nature of the goods. For instance, products like malt extract, pasta, and prepared foods made from cereals are categorized distinctly, allowing traders to identify the appropriate codes for their shipments.
When navigating this chapter, it is important to drill down from the HS-2 level to HS-4 and then to HS-6. Each level provides more specificity, which is essential for accurate tariff classification, duty assessment, and compliance with national regulations. Understanding these classifications can prevent costly errors in customs declarations.
If you're unsure about which specific code applies to your products, consulting with a customs broker or referring to national customs rulings can provide clarity. This chapter is designed to facilitate the smooth import and export of food products, making it easier for businesses to engage in international trade.
Terms & reference phrasing
These are common trade terms used for this chapter. Use them as context, not as a substitute for legal wording.
preparations of cereals · flour products · starch preparations · milk products · pastrycooks' products · malt extract · pasta classification · tapioca products · prepared cereals · baked goods · HS-4 headings · customs classification · food preparations · international trade · tariff codes · customs rulings · import/export compliance
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Related topics
Longer phrases that come up when you're comparing codes or talking to a broker.
- how to classify food products under HS Chapter 19
- understanding HS-4 headings for cereal preparations
- requirements for exporting pasta and baked goods
- navigating customs regulations for malt extract
- importance of accurate HS coding for trade compliance
- guidelines for importing prepared cereal products
- common issues with HS classifications in food trade
- consulting with brokers for HS Chapter 19 products
Examples & common questions
Example products reflect typical trade descriptions. The questions below mirror practical doubts teams raise during filing.
Example products
- Malt extract used in brewing and food production
- Various types of pasta, including spaghetti and ravioli
- Tapioca pearls for desserts and culinary applications
- Corn flakes and other roasted cereal products
- Assorted baked goods such as biscuits and cakes
- Couscous, both prepared and unprepared
- Rice paper for culinary use in Asian cuisine
- Empty cachets for pharmaceutical applications
Common classification questions
How do I classify pasta for export?
Confirm composition, processing stage, and end-use in your documents before mapping to country digits.
What is the HS code for malt extract?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
Are there specific regulations for baked goods?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
How do I determine the correct HS-6 code?
Pick the chapter first, then compare heading wording and exclusions before choosing an HS-6 line.
What are the requirements for importing tapioca?
Confirm composition, processing stage, and end-use in your documents before mapping to country digits.
Questions & answers
For orientation only—the binding text is your national tariff and the WCO nomenclature your country uses.
- What types of products are classified under HS Chapter 19?
- HS Chapter 19 includes preparations of cereals, flour, starch, milk, and various pastry products, such as malt extract, pasta, and baked goods.
- How can I find the specific HS code for my product?
- You can find the specific HS code by drilling down from HS-2 to HS-4 and then HS-6, which provides more detailed classifications for your products.
- Do I need to consult a customs broker for HS Chapter 19 products?
- It is advisable to consult a customs broker to ensure accurate classification and compliance with regulations when importing or exporting products under this chapter.
- What are the implications of incorrect HS classification?
- Incorrect HS classification can lead to delays in customs clearance, potential fines, and issues with compliance, making accurate coding essential.
- Are there any special regulations for importing baked goods?
- Yes, baked goods may be subject to specific health and safety regulations, so it's important to check national requirements before importing.
- What is the significance of the term 'n.e.c.' in HS codes?
- 'N.e.c.' stands for 'not elsewhere classified,' indicating that the product does not fit into a more specific category within the HS code structure.
- Can I use HS Chapter 19 for all types of cereal products?
- HS Chapter 19 is specific to certain preparations of cereals and related products, so it's important to verify if your product fits within the defined categories.
All HS-4 headings in chapter 19 (5)
Each HS-4 links to a dedicated page with plain-English explanation, HS-6 subheadings, and FAQs. Use Browse to open the lookup in heading mode for that line.
1901
Malt extract; flour/groats/meal/starch/malt extract products, no cocoa (or less than 40% by weight) and food preparations of goods of headings 04.01 to 04.04, no cocoa (or less than 5% by weight), weights calculated on a totally defatted basis, n.e.c.
1902
Pasta; whether or not cooked or stuffed with meat or other substance, or otherwise prepared, egg spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, lasagne, gnocchi, ravioli, cannelloni; couscous, whether or not prepared
1903
Tapioca and substitutes therefor prepared from starch; in the form of flakes, grains, pearls, siftings or similar forms
1904
Prepared foods obtained by swelling or roasting cereals or cereal products (e.g. corn flakes); cereals (other than maize (corn)) in grain form or in the form of flakes or other worked grains (not flour and meal), pre-cooked or otherwise prepared, n.e.c.
1905
Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, other bakers' wares, whether or not containing cocoa; communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice paper and similar products
Browse first heading (HS-4 1901)
Opens the lookup in heading browse for the first HS-4 block in this chapter (1901). Prefer the table above for a specific HS-4 page with full copy.
Before you file customs documents
Chapter pages on TradeTools are educational summaries, not legal classification determinations. Cross-check candidate codes with official notes, advance rulings where available, and your broker for high-value or borderline goods.
How we classify products explains what TradeTools does (and does not) automate.