HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 05.05 – Skins and other parts of birds with feathers, down; feathers, down and parts thereof; not further worked than cleaned, disinfected, treated for preservation; powder, waste and parts of feathers
What HS 05.05 covers
Heading 0505 encompasses skins and other parts of birds with feathers or down, as well as loose feathers, down, and parts thereof, provided they are not further worked than cleaned, disinfected, or treated for preservation. This also includes feather powder and waste. The crucial boundary for this heading is the extent of processing: if the feathers or down are dyed, cut to shape, arranged, or assembled into articles (e.g., feather boas, fishing flies), they are excluded and typically fall under HS 6701. Key sub-categories include raw bird skins with feathers (e.g., for fly-tying), cleaned goose down (for bedding), disinfected duck feathers (for apparel insulation), and various forms of feather waste used in agriculture or industrial applications. Accurate classification is vital for trade compliance due to strict biosecurity regulations, animal health certificates, and potential CITES restrictions for certain bird species. Historically, feathers and down have been prized for insulation, decoration, and ceremonial purposes. Modern trade is heavily linked to the poultry industry, providing a large-scale source for these materials. This heading exemplifies Chapter 5's focus on raw or minimally processed animal products, specifying the exact types of treatments allowed while maintaining their raw material status.
- Covers
- Raw duck skins with feathers
- Cleaned goose down
- Disinfected chicken feathers
- Treated pigeon skins with feathers
- Feather powder from poultry
- Waste feathers from processing plants
- Parts of ostrich feathers (unworked)
- Eiderdown (unprocessed)
- White duck feathers for pillows (cleaned)
- Grey goose down for jackets (disinfected)
- Turkey feathers for fletching (preserved)
- Decorative bird skins (unworked)
- Feather meal (waste product)
- Down clusters (unprocessed)
- Feathers for crafting (unworked)
- Pheasant skins with feathers (treated)
- Peacock feathers (unworked)
- Cleaned swan down
- Disinfected poultry feathers
- Unworked raven feathers.
- Examples
A bedding manufacturer in Germany imports large quantities of cleaned and disinfected goose down from Hungary, shipped in large bales via truck and rail, for filling high-quality duvets and pillows for the European market. A specialized fishing lure company in the United States imports treated pheasant skins with feathers from China, often via air cargo for delicate handling, to be meticulously used in the creation of intricate fly-fishing lures. Additionally, a large poultry processing plant in Brazil exports feather waste to an agricultural fertilizer manufacturer in the Netherlands, transported in bulk containers by sea, where it is converted into nutrient-rich organic fertilizers.
Subheadings under 05.05 2
Codes often confused with 05.05
Common mistake. The most common misclassification for goods under 0505 involves confusing them with processed or manufactured feather articles. If feathers or down are 'prepared or mounted,' or if they form 'articles of feathers or down' (e.g., feather dusters, feather boas, arranged decorative feathers), they fall under HS 6701, not 0505. The key differentiator is the phrase 'not further worked than cleaned, disinfected, treated for preservation' in 0505. Any additional processing, such as dyeing, cutting to specific shapes for assembly, or attaching to other materials, moves the product to Chapter 67. Another potential confusion could be with 0507, but 0505 is specifically for feathers and down, not hard animal parts.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 0505, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 0505 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 43% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Vietnam, with about 21% 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 $828M 43% of world exports
- 2 Taiwan* ~$122M 6.4% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 United States $108M 5.6% of world exports
World total: $1.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Vietnam* ~$395M 21% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 2 China $282M 15% of world imports
- 3 Germany $136M 7.3% of world imports
World total: $1.9B 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 05.05
What is HS code 0505?
HS code 0505 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Skins and other parts of birds with feathers, down; feathers, down and parts thereof; not further worked than cleaned, disinfected, treated for preservation; powder, waste and parts of feathers. Heading 0505 encompasses skins and other parts of birds with feathers or down, as well as loose feathers, down, and parts thereof, provided they are not further worked than cleaned, disinfected, or treated for preservation. This also includes feather powder and waste. The crucial boundary for this heading is the extent of processing: if the feathers or down are dyed, cut to shape, arranged, or assembled into articles (e.g., feather boas, fishing flies), they are excluded and typically fall under HS 6701. Key sub-categories include raw bird skins with feathers (e.g., for fly-tying), cleaned goose down (for bedding), disinfected duck feathers (for apparel insulation), and various forms of feather waste used in agriculture or industrial applications. Accurate classification is vital for trade compliance due to strict biosecurity regulations, animal health certificates, and potential CITES restrictions for certain bird species. Historically, feathers and down have been prized for insulation, decoration, and ceremonial purposes. Modern trade is heavily linked to the poultry industry, providing a large-scale source for these materials. This heading exemplifies Chapter 5's focus on raw or minimally processed animal products, specifying the exact types of treatments allowed while maintaining their raw material status.
What products fall under HS code 0505?
Raw duck skins with feathers, cleaned goose down, disinfected chicken feathers, treated pigeon skins with feathers, feather powder from poultry, waste feathers from processing plants, parts of ostrich feathers (unworked), eiderdown (unprocessed), white duck feathers for pillows (cleaned), grey goose down for jackets (disinfected), turkey feathers for fletching (preserved), decorative bird skins (unworked), feather meal (waste product), down clusters (unprocessed), feathers for crafting (unworked), pheasant skins with feathers (treated), peacock feathers (unworked), cleaned swan down, disinfected poultry feathers, unworked raven feathers.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 0505?
The most common misclassification for goods under 0505 involves confusing them with processed or manufactured feather articles. If feathers or down are 'prepared or mounted,' or if they form 'articles of feathers or down' (e.g., feather dusters, feather boas, arranged decorative feathers), they fall under HS 6701, not 0505. The key differentiator is the phrase 'not further worked than cleaned, disinfected, treated for preservation' in 0505. Any additional processing, such as dyeing, cutting to specific shapes for assembly, or attaching to other materials, moves the product to Chapter 67. Another potential confusion could be with 0507, but 0505 is specifically for feathers and down, not hard animal parts.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 0505?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 0505 in UN Comtrade data were China ($828M, 43% of world exports), Taiwan (about $122M) and the United States ($108M). World exports came to about $1.9B, 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 0505?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 0505 in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $395M, 21% of world imports), China ($282M) and Germany ($136M). World imports came to about $1.9B, 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.
How is HS code 0505 structured?
HS code 0505 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 05 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (05) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (05) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.