HS Code 15.05 – Wool grease and fatty substances derived therefrom (including lanolin)

HS code 1505 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Wool grease and fatty substances derived therefrom (including lanolin). HS Heading 1505 covers "Wool grease and fatty substances derived therefrom (including lanolin)," representing a specialized segment within Chapter 15, which deals with animal or vegetable fats and oils. This classification primarily encompasses crude wool grease, often referred to as 'suint,' which is extracted from raw sheep's wool, and its various derivatives, with lanolin being the most prominent. Lanolin is a waxy substance secreted by sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals, particularly sheep, and is chemically a complex mixture of esters, free fatty acids, and alcohols. The scope of this heading includes both unrefined wool grease and its refined fractions, provided they have not been chemically modified beyond purification processes like washing, bleaching, or deodorizing. Products like anhydrous lanolin, hydrated lanolin, lanolin alcohols, and lanolin esters, all maintaining the fundamental chemical structure derived from wool grease, fall here. This classification is critical for trade compliance as lanolin and its derivatives are high-value commodities with diverse applications. Historically, wool grease was a byproduct of the wool industry, but its unique emollient and emulsifying properties elevated lanolin to a significant raw material. It is extensively used in the pharmaceutical industry for ointments and creams, in cosmetics for moisturizers and lotions, and in various industrial applications like lubricants and rust preventatives. Proper classification ensures accurate tariff application, adherence to health and safety regulations, and compliance with specific import/export controls, especially for pharmaceutical and cosmetic grades. It distinguishes these specific animal-derived fats from other animal fats (e.g., 1501, 1502) and from prepared waxes (Chapter 34), emphasizing its direct origin from wool and its characteristic chemical composition.

Crude wool grease, raw lanolin, anhydrous lanolin, hydrated lanolin, pharmaceutical grade lanolin, cosmetic grade lanolin, industrial lanolin, lanolin alcohols, lanolin esters, ethoxylated lanolin, acetylated lanolin, liquid lanolin, hydrogenated lanolin, cholesterol from lanolin, lanolin oil, lanolin wax, wool wax, degreasing wool residues, refined wool grease, decolorized lanolin, deodorized lanolin, purified lanolin, medical lanolin, dermatological lanolin

Common misclassifications for products under HS 1505 often occur when traders confuse highly processed lanolin derivatives with prepared waxes of Chapter 34 or specific cosmetic/pharmaceutical preparations of Chapter 33. For instance, if lanolin is merely a component in a formulated skin cream, the final product likely falls under Chapter 33 (e.g., 3304 for beauty preparations), not 1505. Similarly, lanolin modified into a specific chemical compound might fall under Chapter 29 or 38, depending on its new chemical identity. Traders must ensure the product remains essentially wool grease or a fatty substance *derived therefrom* without further chemical modification that alters its fundamental character, otherwise, it may be confused with other animal fats (e.g., 1506) or even certain animal waxes (e.g., 3404 if synthetic or prepared).

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 1505 in UN Comtrade data were China ($45M, 22% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($33M) and Belgium ($24M). World exports came to about $207M, 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.

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 1505 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($36M, 19% of world imports), the United States ($25M) and Japan ($16M). World imports came to about $189M, 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.

HS code 1505 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 15 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (15) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (05) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.