HS code · 2-digit chapter

HS Code 04 – Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included

What HS 04 covers

HS Chapter 04 encompasses a vital category of primary edible animal products crucial for global food supply chains: dairy produce, birds' eggs, natural honey, and other edible products of animal origin not specified elsewhere. This chapter acts as a cornerstone for classifying relatively unprocessed foodstuffs derived directly from animals, excluding meat (Chapter 02), fish (Chapter 03), or highly processed preparations (Chapter 16 or 21). Its scope includes a wide array of dairy products, ranging from fresh and concentrated milk and cream to butter, cheese, yogurt, and whey. It also covers birds' eggs, both in shell and not in shell (e.g., liquid egg products), and all forms of natural honey. The residual heading, 0410, captures unique edible animal products like silkworm pupae or ants' eggs, provided they are not otherwise specified or prepared. Accurate classification under Chapter 04 is paramount for trade compliance due to stringent Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, specific import quotas, and varying tariff structures worldwide. These products are highly sensitive politically and economically, often subject to complex agricultural policies and trade agreements. Historically, dairy, eggs, and honey have been fundamental components of human diets and trade for millennia, with modern trade involving sophisticated processing, global distribution networks, and rigorous quality control. Misclassification can lead to significant delays, penalties, and even product rejection at borders, making a thorough understanding of this chapter essential for importers, exporters, and customs professionals navigating international food trade regulations.

Covers
  • Fresh whole milk
  • Skim milk powder
  • Ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk
  • Heavy cream
  • Whipping cream
  • Unsalted butter
  • Clarified butter (ghee)
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Greek yogurt
  • Plain yogurt
  • Sour cream
  • Buttermilk
  • Liquid egg whites
  • Dried whole egg powder
  • Fresh hen eggs
  • Quail eggs
  • Natural wildflower honey
  • Acacia honey
  • Propolis
  • Royal jelly
  • Silkworm pupae (edible)
  • Ants' eggs (edible)
Examples

A French dairy cooperative regularly exports premium AOC Roquefort cheese and traditional salted butter to high-end supermarkets in Japan and South Korea. These shipments utilize specialized refrigerated shipping containers via sea routes from Le Havre to Yokohama and Busan, requiring stringent veterinary certificates and adherence to Japanese and Korean import quotas and food safety standards. Another scenario involves a German distributor importing organic acacia honey and multiflora honey in bulk from Ethiopia and Zambia. The honey is shipped to Hamburg, undergoing rigorous quality checks for purity and origin before being packaged for retail, benefiting from preferential tariffs under EU trade schemes with African nations, but requiring extensive testing for contaminants. Furthermore, a major U.S. egg producer exports liquid pasteurized egg yolks and dried egg powder to food manufacturers in Mexico for use in baking and confectionery. These products typically move by refrigerated trucks across the U.S.-Mexico border, leveraging the USMCA agreement for tariff-free access, but still necessitating specific health certifications from USDA and compliance with Mexican health regulations (SENASICA). Lastly, New Zealand dairy companies export vast quantities of whole milk powder and infant formula base to China, a high-value trade relying on efficient sea freight from Auckland to major Chinese ports like Shanghai and Tianjin, subject to strict Chinese food safety regulations (e.g., GACC registration) and often benefiting from the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement.

Headings in chapter 04 10

04.01Milk and cream; not concentrated, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter04.02Milk and cream; concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter04.03Yogurt; buttermilk, curdled milk and cream, kephir and other fermented or acidified milk and cream, whether or not concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured or containing added fruit, nuts or cocoa.04.04Whey and products consisting of natural milk constituents; whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, not elsewhere specified or included04.05Butter and other fats and oils derived from milk; dairy spreads04.06Cheese and curd04.07Birds' eggs, in shell; fresh, preserved or cooked04.08Birds' eggs, not in shell; egg yolks, fresh, dried, cooked by steaming or boiling in water, moulded, frozen or otherwise preserved, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter04.09Honey; natural04.10Animal products; insects and other edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included

49 Brazil NCM codes in chapter 04 →

Codes often confused with 04

Common mistake. Traders often misclassify products under Chapter 04, leading to compliance issues. A common mistake is confusing Chapter 04 with Chapter 16 (Preparations of meat, fish or crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or of insects). While 0410 covers *unprepared* edible animal products (e.g., silkworm pupae), Chapter 16 covers *prepared* or *preserved* versions (e.g., canned prepared silkworm pupae would fall under 1605). Another frequent error involves dairy-based preparations. Highly processed dairy desserts with significant non-dairy ingredients might be misclassified under 0403 (Yogurt) or 0404 (Whey products) when they should properly fall under Chapter 21 (Miscellaneous edible preparations), specifically 2106 (Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included), due to the degree of processing and ingredient complexity. Lastly, distinguishing between Chapter 04 and Chapter 02 (Meat and edible meat offal) is crucial; Chapter 04 explicitly excludes meat, focusing solely on dairy, eggs, and honey, and other specified animal products.

04.10Animal products; insects and other edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included16.05Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved04.03Yogurt; buttermilk, curdled milk and cream, kephir and other fermented or acidified milk and cream, whether or not concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured or containing added fruit, nuts or cocoa.04.04Whey and products consisting of natural milk constituents; whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, not elsewhere specified or included21.06Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included

Top exporters and importers of HS code 04, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 04 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 11% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 11% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $14.8B
  2. 2 Netherlands $14.6B
  3. 3 New Zealand $14.3B

World total: $128.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Germany $14.1B
  2. 2 China $8.1B
  3. 3 France $8.0B

World total: $129.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

How these figures are built

109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).

Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.

Questions about HS 04

What is HS code 04?

HS code 04 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included. HS Chapter 04 encompasses a vital category of primary edible animal products crucial for global food supply chains: dairy produce, birds' eggs, natural honey, and other edible products of animal origin not specified elsewhere. This chapter acts as a cornerstone for classifying relatively unprocessed foodstuffs derived directly from animals, excluding meat (Chapter 02), fish (Chapter 03), or highly processed preparations (Chapter 16 or 21). Its scope includes a wide array of dairy products, ranging from fresh and concentrated milk and cream to butter, cheese, yogurt, and whey. It also covers birds' eggs, both in shell and not in shell (e.g., liquid egg products), and all forms of natural honey. The residual heading, 0410, captures unique edible animal products like silkworm pupae or ants' eggs, provided they are not otherwise specified or prepared. Accurate classification under Chapter 04 is paramount for trade compliance due to stringent Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, specific import quotas, and varying tariff structures worldwide. These products are highly sensitive politically and economically, often subject to complex agricultural policies and trade agreements. Historically, dairy, eggs, and honey have been fundamental components of human diets and trade for millennia, with modern trade involving sophisticated processing, global distribution networks, and rigorous quality control. Misclassification can lead to significant delays, penalties, and even product rejection at borders, making a thorough understanding of this chapter essential for importers, exporters, and customs professionals navigating international food trade regulations.

What products fall under HS code 04?

Fresh whole milk, skim milk powder, ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk, heavy cream, whipping cream, unsalted butter, clarified butter (ghee), cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, Greek yogurt, plain yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, liquid egg whites, dried whole egg powder, fresh hen eggs, quail eggs, natural wildflower honey, acacia honey, propolis, royal jelly, silkworm pupae (edible), ants' eggs (edible)

What are common misclassifications for HS code 04?

Traders often misclassify products under Chapter 04, leading to compliance issues. A common mistake is confusing Chapter 04 with Chapter 16 (Preparations of meat, fish or crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or of insects). While 0410 covers *unprepared* edible animal products (e.g., silkworm pupae), Chapter 16 covers *prepared* or *preserved* versions (e.g., canned prepared silkworm pupae would fall under 1605). Another frequent error involves dairy-based preparations. Highly processed dairy desserts with significant non-dairy ingredients might be misclassified under 0403 (Yogurt) or 0404 (Whey products) when they should properly fall under Chapter 21 (Miscellaneous edible preparations), specifically 2106 (Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included), due to the degree of processing and ingredient complexity. Lastly, distinguishing between Chapter 04 and Chapter 02 (Meat and edible meat offal) is crucial; Chapter 04 explicitly excludes meat, focusing solely on dairy, eggs, and honey, and other specified animal products.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 04?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 04 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($14.8B, 11% of world exports), the Netherlands ($14.6B) and New Zealand ($14.3B). World exports came to about $128.9B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 04?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 04 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($14.1B, 11% of world imports), China ($8.1B) and France ($8.0B). World imports came to about $129.6B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

How is HS code 04 structured?

HS code 04 is a 2-digit chapter code in the Harmonized System maintained by the World Customs Organization. It represents a broad category of goods and contains multiple 4-digit headings and 6-digit subheadings for more specific classifications.