HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 0504.00 – Animal products; guts, bladders and stomachs of animals (other than fish), whole and pieces thereof, fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried or smoked
HS code 0504.00 is the 6-digit subheading for animal products, guts, bladders and stomachs of animals (other than fish), whole and pieces thereof, fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried or smoked. It is used for natural hog casings, sheep casings, beef casings, tripe (for food processing) and animal bladders (for specific uses).
What HS 0504.00 covers
This category encompasses guts, bladders, and stomachs of animals (excluding fish), in various preserved forms such as fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried, or smoked. These animal by-products are primarily traded for use as natural sausage casings in the food industry, but also find niche applications. Major importers are food processing companies, particularly in countries with strong traditions of sausage production. Exporters are typically large meat-producing nations with efficient slaughterhouse operations. Key aspects of this trade include stringent hygiene standards, effective preservation methods to maintain quality, and compliance with international food safety regulations. The material is often traded in bulk, requiring careful handling and storage.
- Covers
- Natural hog casings
- Sheep casings
- Beef casings
- Tripe (for food processing)
- Animal bladders (for specific uses)
- Salted guts
- Examples
- Natural sausage casings used by artisanal butchers
- large-scale food processors like Johnsonville
- specific animal bladders for traditional crafts
Codes often confused with 0504.00
Common mistake. This code can be confused with 0206 (edible offal) if the parts are not specifically prepared as guts/bladders, or 0506 (bones) if other animal parts are included. The key is the specific anatomical parts and their preparation.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 050400, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 050400 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 19% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 15% 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 China $955M 19% of world exports
- 2 United States $560M 11% of world exports
- 3 Germany $415M 8.4% of world exports
World total: $4.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $705M 15% of world imports
- 2 Germany $564M 12% of world imports
- 3 Mexico $320M 6.6% of world imports
World total: $4.8B 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.
Brazil NCM codes for 0504.00 5
Brazil splits HS 0504.00 into 5 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 0504.00.1 GutsTripas Group
- 0504.00.11 Bovine gutsDe bovinos
- 0504.00.12 Sheep gutsDe ovinos
- 0504.00.13 Swine gutsDe suínos
- 0504.00.19 Guts of other animals, excluding fishOutras
- 0504.00.90 Animal bladders and stomachs, excluding fishOutros
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 05.04 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 0504.00
What is HS code 050400?
HS code 050400 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Animal products; guts, bladders and stomachs of animals (other than fish), whole and pieces thereof, fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried or smoked. This category encompasses guts, bladders, and stomachs of animals (excluding fish), in various preserved forms such as fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, in brine, dried, or smoked. These animal by-products are primarily traded for use as natural sausage casings in the food industry, but also find niche applications. Major importers are food processing companies, particularly in countries with strong traditions of sausage production. Exporters are typically large meat-producing nations with efficient slaughterhouse operations. Key aspects of this trade include stringent hygiene standards, effective preservation methods to maintain quality, and compliance with international food safety regulations. The material is often traded in bulk, requiring careful handling and storage.
What products fall under HS code 050400?
Natural hog casings, sheep casings, beef casings, tripe (for food processing), animal bladders (for specific uses), salted guts
What are common misclassifications for HS code 050400?
This code can be confused with 0206 (edible offal) if the parts are not specifically prepared as guts/bladders, or 0506 (bones) if other animal parts are included. The key is the specific anatomical parts and their preparation.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 050400?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 050400 in UN Comtrade data were China ($955M, 19% of world exports), the United States ($560M) and Germany ($415M). World exports came to about $4.9B, 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 050400?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 050400 in UN Comtrade data were China ($705M, 15% of world imports), Germany ($564M) and Mexico ($320M). World imports came to about $4.8B, 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 050400 structured?
HS code 050400 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (05) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (04) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (00) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 050400?
Brazil splits HS code 050400 into 5 NCM codes: 0504.00.11 (Bovine guts), 0504.00.12 (Sheep guts), 0504.00.13 (Swine guts), 0504.00.19 (Guts of other animals, excluding fish), 0504.00.90 (Animal bladders and stomachs, excluding fish). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.