HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 05.11 – Animal products not elsewhere specified or included; dead animals of chapter 1 or 3, unfit for human consumption
What HS 05.11 covers
HS Code 0511 serves as a residual or 'basket' heading within Chapter 5, encompassing 'Animal products not elsewhere specified or included; dead animals of Chapter 1 or 3, unfit for human consumption.' This broad classification covers a diverse array of animal-derived materials that do not fit into more specific headings within Section I. Crucially, it includes whole dead animals from Chapter 1 (live animals) or Chapter 3 (fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.) that are explicitly deemed 'unfit for human consumption.' This 'unfit' criterion is a fundamental boundary. The scope extends to various animal by-products, such as animal semen and embryos for breeding, certain types of animal blood (not for pharmaceutical use), unreelable silkworm cocoons, and other animal materials used in pet food, rendering, research, or industrial applications. It's a critical heading for trade compliance as it often involves materials subject to strict sanitary, veterinary, and environmental regulations, especially for dead animals or animal waste, to prevent disease transmission. Its placement within Section I highlights its role in classifying primary animal products, serving as a catch-all for materials not precisely defined elsewhere in the animal products section, ensuring all such trade has a proper classification.
- Covers
- Dead laboratory mice (unfit for human consumption)
- Whole frozen pigs (unfit for human consumption, for rendering)
- Fish waste (heads, guts, bones for fishmeal)
- Poultry offal (unfit for human consumption, for pet food)
- Bovine semen
- Animal embryos (frozen)
- Liquid animal blood (not for pharmaceutical use)
- Unreelable silkworm cocoons
- Infertile birds' eggs
- Animal manure (prepared as a product)
- Animal glands (not for pharmaceutical use, e.g., for pet treats)
- Animal intestines (not for food or sausage casings)
- Dried animal gallstones
- Animal hair waste (not for textile use)
- Animal waste for compost.
- Examples
A large shipment of frozen poultry offal, certified as unfit for human consumption, is exported from a processing plant in the USA to a pet food manufacturer in Canada, where it will be incorporated into dog and cat food. Simultaneously, a livestock breeding company in Australia exports bovine semen, carefully preserved and packaged, to an agricultural enterprise in Argentina for artificial insemination programs. In another instance, a consignment of unreelable silkworm cocoons, by-products from a silk farm in India, is shipped to China for use in specialized textile waste processing or for cosmetic ingredients, demonstrating the diverse applications under this heading.
Subheadings under 05.11 3
Codes often confused with 05.11
Common mistake. A primary misclassification risk is confusing dead animals 'unfit for human consumption' (0511) with those fit for human consumption, which would fall under Chapter 2 (meat) or Chapter 3 (fish). The 'unfit' criterion is paramount. Another common error is classifying animal hides and skins (Chapter 41) if they are suitable for tanning; 0511 would only apply if they are unsuitable for tanning and not specified elsewhere. Furthermore, animal products specifically prepared as pharmaceutical products (Chapter 30) or fertilizers (Chapter 31) should not be classified here, as 0511 is for less processed or general-purpose animal products not covered by more specific headings.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 0511, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 0511 in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 14% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 22% 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 United States $508M 14% of world exports
- 2 Germany $373M 10% of world exports
- 3 Canada $287M 7.7% of world exports
World total: $3.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $895M 22% of world imports
- 2 Germany $479M 12% of world imports
- 3 France $226M 5.5% of world imports
World total: $4.1B 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 05.11
What is HS code 0511?
HS code 0511 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Animal products not elsewhere specified or included; dead animals of chapter 1 or 3, unfit for human consumption. HS Code 0511 serves as a residual or 'basket' heading within Chapter 5, encompassing 'Animal products not elsewhere specified or included; dead animals of Chapter 1 or 3, unfit for human consumption.' This broad classification covers a diverse array of animal-derived materials that do not fit into more specific headings within Section I. Crucially, it includes whole dead animals from Chapter 1 (live animals) or Chapter 3 (fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.) that are explicitly deemed 'unfit for human consumption.' This 'unfit' criterion is a fundamental boundary. The scope extends to various animal by-products, such as animal semen and embryos for breeding, certain types of animal blood (not for pharmaceutical use), unreelable silkworm cocoons, and other animal materials used in pet food, rendering, research, or industrial applications. It's a critical heading for trade compliance as it often involves materials subject to strict sanitary, veterinary, and environmental regulations, especially for dead animals or animal waste, to prevent disease transmission. Its placement within Section I highlights its role in classifying primary animal products, serving as a catch-all for materials not precisely defined elsewhere in the animal products section, ensuring all such trade has a proper classification.
What products fall under HS code 0511?
Dead laboratory mice (unfit for human consumption), whole frozen pigs (unfit for human consumption, for rendering), fish waste (heads, guts, bones for fishmeal), poultry offal (unfit for human consumption, for pet food), bovine semen, animal embryos (frozen), liquid animal blood (not for pharmaceutical use), unreelable silkworm cocoons, infertile birds' eggs, animal manure (prepared as a product), animal glands (not for pharmaceutical use, e.g., for pet treats), animal intestines (not for food or sausage casings), dried animal gallstones, animal hair waste (not for textile use), animal waste for compost.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 0511?
A primary misclassification risk is confusing dead animals 'unfit for human consumption' (0511) with those fit for human consumption, which would fall under Chapter 2 (meat) or Chapter 3 (fish). The 'unfit' criterion is paramount. Another common error is classifying animal hides and skins (Chapter 41) if they are suitable for tanning; 0511 would only apply if they are unsuitable for tanning and not specified elsewhere. Furthermore, animal products specifically prepared as pharmaceutical products (Chapter 30) or fertilizers (Chapter 31) should not be classified here, as 0511 is for less processed or general-purpose animal products not covered by more specific headings.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 0511?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 0511 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($508M, 14% of world exports), Germany ($373M) and Canada ($287M). World exports came to about $3.7B, 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 0511?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 0511 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($895M, 22% of world imports), Germany ($479M) and France ($226M). World imports came to about $4.1B, 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 0511 structured?
HS code 0511 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 05 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (05) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (11) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.