HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 05.10 – Ambergris, castoreum, civet and musk; cantharides; bile, dried or not glands, other animal products used in preparation of pharmaceutical products, fresh chilled, frozen or otherwise provisionally preserved
What HS 05.10 covers
HS Code 0510 is a highly specialized classification covering 'Ambergris, castoreum, civet and musk; cantharides; bile, dried or not; glands and other animal products used in the preparation of pharmaceutical products, fresh, chilled, frozen or otherwise provisionally preserved.' This heading is dedicated to valuable animal secretions, insects, and specific animal organs used primarily in the pharmaceutical, perfumery, and traditional medicine industries. The scope is precise, focusing on these specific high-value raw materials in their unprocessed or minimally preserved states. Key components include ambergris (a waxy substance from sperm whales), castoreum (from beavers), civet (from civet cats), and musk (from musk deer), all historically prized for their fixative and aromatic properties in perfumes. Cantharides (blister beetles) and animal bile (e.g., bear bile, ox bile) are also included, alongside various animal glands (e.g., pituitary, adrenal, pancreas) intended for pharmaceutical extraction. The 'provisionally preserved' aspect is crucial, meaning they are preserved only to maintain their integrity for transport and later processing, not manufactured into finished pharmaceutical products. This classification is vital for trade compliance due to the high value, rarity, and often endangered status of the source animals (e.g., CITES restrictions on musk deer and civet cats), demanding meticulous documentation and adherence to international wildlife protection laws. It highlights the unique role of animal-derived inputs in specialized industries, sitting within Section I, Chapter 5, as a distinct category of animal products.
- Covers
- Raw ambergris lumps
- Dried castoreum sacs
- Civet paste
- Dried musk pods
- Dried cantharides beetles
- Ox bile (dried)
- Bear bile (liquid, highly restricted)
- Provisionally preserved bovine pituitary glands
- Frozen porcine pancreas
- Dried snake bile
- Provisionally preserved ovine adrenal glands
- Deer musk grains
- Raw whale ambergris
- Prepared cantharides powder
- Frozen animal glands for pharmaceutical extraction.
- Examples
A high-value consignment of legally sourced, dried castoreum sacs is exported from Canada to a perfumery in Grasse, France, where it will be used as a fixative in luxury fragrances. Simultaneously, a pharmaceutical company in Switzerland imports a shipment of frozen bovine glands (e.g., pancreas, pituitary) from New Zealand, intended for the extraction of hormones and enzymes for medicinal preparations. In another scenario, a small, verified quantity of raw ambergris, found washed ashore in New Zealand, is legally traded to a fragrance house in the United Arab Emirates, underscoring the rarity and unique sourcing of such materials.
Subheadings under 05.10 1
Codes often confused with 05.10
Common mistake. A common misclassification involves confusing these raw materials with finished pharmaceutical products, which fall under Chapter 30. For example, processed insulin extracted from a pancreas would be in Chapter 30, whereas the raw, provisionally preserved porcine pancreas itself is in 0510. Another error is classifying highly refined chemical extracts (Chapter 29, e.g., isolated hormones) instead of the raw glands. Traders might also mistakenly classify animal fats (Chapter 15) if the product is primarily a fatty substance, but 0510 is specific to secretions and glands for pharmaceutical/perfumery use. The key is the 'provisionally preserved' and 'used in preparation of pharmaceutical products' criteria.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 0510, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 0510 in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 42% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Hong Kong, with 34% 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 Brazil $176M 42% of world exports
- 2 Russia* ~$38M 9.1% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 United States $30M 7.2% of world exports
World total: $418M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Hong Kong $156M 34% of world imports
- 2 Germany $84M 18% of world imports
- 3 South Korea $45M 9.8% of world imports
World total: $459M 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. 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 05.10
What is HS code 0510?
HS code 0510 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Ambergris, castoreum, civet and musk; cantharides; bile, dried or not glands, other animal products used in preparation of pharmaceutical products, fresh chilled, frozen or otherwise provisionally preserved. HS Code 0510 is a highly specialized classification covering 'Ambergris, castoreum, civet and musk; cantharides; bile, dried or not; glands and other animal products used in the preparation of pharmaceutical products, fresh, chilled, frozen or otherwise provisionally preserved.' This heading is dedicated to valuable animal secretions, insects, and specific animal organs used primarily in the pharmaceutical, perfumery, and traditional medicine industries. The scope is precise, focusing on these specific high-value raw materials in their unprocessed or minimally preserved states. Key components include ambergris (a waxy substance from sperm whales), castoreum (from beavers), civet (from civet cats), and musk (from musk deer), all historically prized for their fixative and aromatic properties in perfumes. Cantharides (blister beetles) and animal bile (e.g., bear bile, ox bile) are also included, alongside various animal glands (e.g., pituitary, adrenal, pancreas) intended for pharmaceutical extraction. The 'provisionally preserved' aspect is crucial, meaning they are preserved only to maintain their integrity for transport and later processing, not manufactured into finished pharmaceutical products. This classification is vital for trade compliance due to the high value, rarity, and often endangered status of the source animals (e.g., CITES restrictions on musk deer and civet cats), demanding meticulous documentation and adherence to international wildlife protection laws. It highlights the unique role of animal-derived inputs in specialized industries, sitting within Section I, Chapter 5, as a distinct category of animal products.
What products fall under HS code 0510?
Raw ambergris lumps, dried castoreum sacs, civet paste, dried musk pods, dried cantharides beetles, ox bile (dried), bear bile (liquid, highly restricted), provisionally preserved bovine pituitary glands, frozen porcine pancreas, dried snake bile, provisionally preserved ovine adrenal glands, deer musk grains, raw whale ambergris, prepared cantharides powder, frozen animal glands for pharmaceutical extraction.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 0510?
A common misclassification involves confusing these raw materials with finished pharmaceutical products, which fall under Chapter 30. For example, processed insulin extracted from a pancreas would be in Chapter 30, whereas the raw, provisionally preserved porcine pancreas itself is in 0510. Another error is classifying highly refined chemical extracts (Chapter 29, e.g., isolated hormones) instead of the raw glands. Traders might also mistakenly classify animal fats (Chapter 15) if the product is primarily a fatty substance, but 0510 is specific to secretions and glands for pharmaceutical/perfumery use. The key is the 'provisionally preserved' and 'used in preparation of pharmaceutical products' criteria.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 0510?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 0510 in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($176M, 42% of world exports), Russia (about $38M) and the United States ($30M). World exports came to about $418M, 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 0510?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 0510 in UN Comtrade data were Hong Kong ($156M, 34% of world imports), Germany ($84M) and South Korea ($45M). World imports came to about $459M, 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 0510 structured?
HS code 0510 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 05 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (05) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (10) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.