HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 04.08 – Birds' 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 matter
What HS 04.08 covers
HS Heading 0408 is dedicated to "Birds' 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 matter." This comprehensive heading covers a vast array of processed egg products where the shell has been removed. It encompasses whole eggs, egg whites (albumen), and egg yolks, in various forms: liquid (fresh or pasteurized), frozen, dried (powdered), cooked (e.g., scrambled egg mix, pre-cooked patties), or molded. The inclusion of "whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter" is critical, allowing for sweetened egg yolks used in confectionery. This classification is vital for the food manufacturing industry, including bakeries, confectioneries, and ready-meal producers, who utilize these forms of eggs as ingredients. The scope excludes eggs still in their shell (0407) and highly processed egg-based food preparations where eggs are no longer the primary characteristic. Accurate classification under 0408 is essential for complying with food safety regulations, cold chain logistics for frozen or liquid products, and specific labeling requirements. This heading plays a crucial role within Chapter 4, which consolidates animal products primarily for human consumption, representing the industrial and value-added segment of the egg market.
- Covers
- Liquid whole eggs
- Frozen whole eggs
- Dried whole egg powder
- Liquid egg whites
- Frozen egg whites
- Dried egg white powder (albumin)
- Liquid egg yolks
- Frozen egg yolks
- Dried egg yolk powder
- Sugared frozen egg yolks
- Salted liquid whole eggs
- Cooked scrambled egg mix (frozen)
- Egg white protein concentrate (food grade)
- Pasteurized liquid eggs
- Spray-dried egg powder
- Granulated egg yolks
- Egg albumen flakes
- Pre-cooked egg patties (frozen)
- Fortified liquid eggs
- Cholesterol-free liquid egg substitutes
- Denatured liquid egg products
- Examples
A large U.S. food ingredient supplier exports bulk quantities of frozen liquid egg whites to a major Japanese bakery chain for use in meringues and pastries, adhering to strict cold chain logistics and Japanese import regulations. An EU-based food manufacturer ships dried whole egg powder from France to several African countries for use in industrial baking and noodle production, benefiting from the extended shelf life of powdered products. An Indian company exports egg yolk powder to Southeast Asian countries like Thailand for the production of mayonnaise and sauces, requiring precise moisture content and bacterial control. A Brazilian poultry processor exports frozen liquid whole eggs to other South American nations for use in various processed food products, leveraging regional trade agreements. A Chinese confectionery producer imports sugared frozen egg yolks from Vietnam for their dessert and pastry lines, ensuring compliance with food additive regulations.
Subheadings under 04.08 4
Codes often confused with 04.08
Common mistake. A common mistake is confusing egg products under 0408 with eggs in shell (0407). Any egg product where the shell has been removed, even if it's just raw liquid egg, belongs to 0408. Another error involves misclassifying highly processed egg-based items, such as egg noodles (Chapter 19), or ready-to-eat egg dishes (Chapter 16 or 21), which are distinct from the raw or semi-processed egg forms of 0408. Furthermore, egg albumin specifically prepared for pharmaceutical uses (e.g., in vaccines or culture media) would typically fall under Chapter 30, not 0408, due to its specialized application and purity requirements.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 0408, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 0408 in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 33% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 16% 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 Netherlands $797M 33% of world exports
- 2 France $178M 7.4% of world exports
- 3 Italy $176M 7.3% of world exports
World total: $2.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $383M 16% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $215M 9.2% of world imports
- 3 France $181M 7.8% of world imports
World total: $2.3B 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 04.08
What is HS code 0408?
HS code 0408 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Birds' 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 matter. HS Heading 0408 is dedicated to "Birds' 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 matter." This comprehensive heading covers a vast array of processed egg products where the shell has been removed. It encompasses whole eggs, egg whites (albumen), and egg yolks, in various forms: liquid (fresh or pasteurized), frozen, dried (powdered), cooked (e.g., scrambled egg mix, pre-cooked patties), or molded. The inclusion of "whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter" is critical, allowing for sweetened egg yolks used in confectionery. This classification is vital for the food manufacturing industry, including bakeries, confectioneries, and ready-meal producers, who utilize these forms of eggs as ingredients. The scope excludes eggs still in their shell (0407) and highly processed egg-based food preparations where eggs are no longer the primary characteristic. Accurate classification under 0408 is essential for complying with food safety regulations, cold chain logistics for frozen or liquid products, and specific labeling requirements. This heading plays a crucial role within Chapter 4, which consolidates animal products primarily for human consumption, representing the industrial and value-added segment of the egg market.
What products fall under HS code 0408?
Liquid whole eggs, frozen whole eggs, dried whole egg powder, liquid egg whites, frozen egg whites, dried egg white powder (albumin), liquid egg yolks, frozen egg yolks, dried egg yolk powder, sugared frozen egg yolks, salted liquid whole eggs, cooked scrambled egg mix (frozen), egg white protein concentrate (food grade), pasteurized liquid eggs, spray-dried egg powder, granulated egg yolks, egg albumen flakes, pre-cooked egg patties (frozen), fortified liquid eggs, cholesterol-free liquid egg substitutes, denatured liquid egg products
What are common misclassifications for HS code 0408?
A common mistake is confusing egg products under 0408 with eggs in shell (0407). Any egg product where the shell has been removed, even if it's just raw liquid egg, belongs to 0408. Another error involves misclassifying highly processed egg-based items, such as egg noodles (Chapter 19), or ready-to-eat egg dishes (Chapter 16 or 21), which are distinct from the raw or semi-processed egg forms of 0408. Furthermore, egg albumin specifically prepared for pharmaceutical uses (e.g., in vaccines or culture media) would typically fall under Chapter 30, not 0408, due to its specialized application and purity requirements.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 0408?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 0408 in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($797M, 33% of world exports), France ($178M) and Italy ($176M). World exports came to about $2.4B, 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 0408?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 0408 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($383M, 16% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($215M) and France ($181M). World imports came to about $2.3B, 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 0408 structured?
HS code 0408 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 04 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (04) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (08) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.