HS code · 2-digit chapter

HS Code 19 – Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products

What HS 19 covers

HS Chapter 19 encompasses a diverse and significant category of food products derived from cereals, flour, starch, or milk, including a wide array of pastrycooks' products. This chapter is crucial for international trade as it covers items that have undergone substantial processing beyond basic raw ingredients, making them ready for consumption or further preparation. Its scope extends from infant food preparations and various forms of pasta to breakfast cereals, bread, cakes, and biscuits. The boundaries of this classification are vital: it distinguishes processed food items from raw agricultural products (e.g., grains in Chapter 10, flours in Chapter 11) and from certain milk products (Chapter 04) or more complex composite food preparations (Chapter 21). Key sub-categories include Heading 19.01 for malt extract and food preparations of flour, starch, or milk (like infant formulas), 19.02 for all types of pasta and couscous, 19.03 for tapioca and its substitutes, 19.04 for prepared foods obtained by swelling or roasting cereals (e.g., corn flakes, muesli), and 19.05 for a broad range of bakers' wares such as bread, pastry, cakes, and biscuits. The correct classification within this chapter is paramount for trade compliance, directly impacting applicable import duties, value-added taxes, food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and eligibility for preferential trade agreements. Historically, products within Chapter 19 represent staples in diets worldwide, reflecting global culinary diversity and the increasing demand for convenient, shelf-stable food options. The evolution of food technology and consumer preferences for specialized diets (e.g., gluten-free, fortified foods) continues to drive innovation and trade volumes within this dynamic chapter.

Covers
  • Malt extract
  • Infant food preparations of flour
  • Dietetic food preparations based on cereals
  • Uncooked spaghetti
  • Instant ramen noodles
  • Frozen cheese ravioli
  • Prepared couscous
  • Tapioca pearls
  • Corn flakes
  • Puffed rice cakes
  • Instant oatmeal
  • Muesli breakfast cereal
  • Savory wheat crackers
  • Sweet chocolate chip cookies
  • Freshly baked croissants
  • Frozen waffles
  • Pancake mixes
  • Communion wafers
  • Rice paper for spring rolls
  • Gluten-free artisanal bread
  • Unbaked frozen pizza bases
  • Pre-mixed cake batters
  • Baked pretzels
  • Frosted flakes cereal
  • Panko breadcrumbs
Examples

A large Italian food company regularly exports containers of dried durum wheat pasta (spaghetti, penne, fusilli) to major supermarket chains across the United States and Canada, utilizing trans-Atlantic ocean freight. These products are consistently classified under HS 1902. A Japanese importer sources specialty instant noodles and rice paper from manufacturers in Vietnam and Thailand, shipping them via ocean freight across Southeast Asia to meet growing consumer demand for Asian cuisine products, classifying them under HS 1902 and 1905 respectively. A German bakery chain imports frozen, unbaked pastry items such as croissants and pain au chocolat from its production facility in France, transporting them by road freight within the European Union, where they fall under HS 1905 and benefit from the single market's free movement of goods. An American baby food manufacturer imports fortified cereal flours and malt extract from suppliers in the United Kingdom for its infant formula production, which is then distributed domestically and exported to Latin American markets. The raw ingredients and finished preparations are classified under HS 1901. A multinational food corporation imports breakfast cereals like corn flakes and puffed rice from its manufacturing plants in Mexico to distribution centers across the United States, primarily using truck and rail transport, benefiting from reduced tariffs under the USMCA agreement for goods classified under HS 1904.

Headings in chapter 19 5

19.01Malt extract; flour/groats/meal/starch/malt extract products, no cocoa (or less than 40% by weight) and food preparations of goods of headings 04.01 to 04.04, no cocoa (or less than 5% by weight), weights calculated on a totally defatted basis, n.e.c.19.02Pasta; whether or not cooked or stuffed with meat or other substance, or otherwise prepared, egg spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, lasagne, gnocchi, ravioli, cannelloni; couscous, whether or not prepared19.03Tapioca and substitutes therefor prepared from starch; in the form of flakes, grains, pearls, siftings or similar forms19.04Prepared foods obtained by swelling or roasting cereals or cereal products (e.g. corn flakes); cereals (other than maize (corn)) in grain form or in the form of flakes or other worked grains (not flour and meal), pre-cooked or otherwise prepared, n.e.c.19.05Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, other bakers' wares, whether or not containing cocoa; communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice paper and similar products

29 Brazil NCM codes in chapter 19 →

Codes often confused with 19

Common mistake. Common misclassification errors within Chapter 19 often occur with Chapter 11 (Products of the milling industry) and Chapter 21 (Miscellaneous edible preparations). Traders might incorrectly classify a composite flour mix (e.g., pancake mix) under Chapter 11, which is reserved for basic flours, starches, and malt. The addition of leavening agents, sugar, or other ingredients shifts it to 19.01. Similarly, prepared foods containing pasta or cereals, but forming a complete meal or a more complex savory preparation (e.g., a frozen lasagna with meat and vegetables), are often confused with Chapter 19. While pasta itself is 19.02, a complete ready meal containing it would typically fall under 21.06 (composite food preparations) or Chapter 16 if it contains a significant amount of meat or fish. Another common error involves milk-based preparations; basic milk powders or infant formulas that are solely milk-based without significant cereal content belong to Chapter 04, whereas cereal-based infant foods containing milk are correctly placed in 19.01.

Top exporters and importers of HS code 19, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 19 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 9.8% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 13% 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. 1 Germany $11.6B
  2. 2 Italy $10.7B
  3. 3 Netherlands $8.0B

World total: $118.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $16.1B
  2. 2 Germany $8.6B
  3. 3 United Kingdom $8.0B

World total: $120.5B 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 19

What is HS code 19?

HS code 19 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products. HS Chapter 19 encompasses a diverse and significant category of food products derived from cereals, flour, starch, or milk, including a wide array of pastrycooks' products. This chapter is crucial for international trade as it covers items that have undergone substantial processing beyond basic raw ingredients, making them ready for consumption or further preparation. Its scope extends from infant food preparations and various forms of pasta to breakfast cereals, bread, cakes, and biscuits. The boundaries of this classification are vital: it distinguishes processed food items from raw agricultural products (e.g., grains in Chapter 10, flours in Chapter 11) and from certain milk products (Chapter 04) or more complex composite food preparations (Chapter 21). Key sub-categories include Heading 19.01 for malt extract and food preparations of flour, starch, or milk (like infant formulas), 19.02 for all types of pasta and couscous, 19.03 for tapioca and its substitutes, 19.04 for prepared foods obtained by swelling or roasting cereals (e.g., corn flakes, muesli), and 19.05 for a broad range of bakers' wares such as bread, pastry, cakes, and biscuits. The correct classification within this chapter is paramount for trade compliance, directly impacting applicable import duties, value-added taxes, food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and eligibility for preferential trade agreements. Historically, products within Chapter 19 represent staples in diets worldwide, reflecting global culinary diversity and the increasing demand for convenient, shelf-stable food options. The evolution of food technology and consumer preferences for specialized diets (e.g., gluten-free, fortified foods) continues to drive innovation and trade volumes within this dynamic chapter.

What products fall under HS code 19?

Malt extract, Infant food preparations of flour, Dietetic food preparations based on cereals, Uncooked spaghetti, Instant ramen noodles, Frozen cheese ravioli, Prepared couscous, Tapioca pearls, Corn flakes, Puffed rice cakes, Instant oatmeal, Muesli breakfast cereal, Savory wheat crackers, Sweet chocolate chip cookies, Freshly baked croissants, Frozen waffles, Pancake mixes, Communion wafers, Rice paper for spring rolls, Gluten-free artisanal bread, Unbaked frozen pizza bases, Pre-mixed cake batters, Baked pretzels, Frosted flakes cereal, Panko breadcrumbs

What are common misclassifications for HS code 19?

Common misclassification errors within Chapter 19 often occur with Chapter 11 (Products of the milling industry) and Chapter 21 (Miscellaneous edible preparations). Traders might incorrectly classify a composite flour mix (e.g., pancake mix) under Chapter 11, which is reserved for basic flours, starches, and malt. The addition of leavening agents, sugar, or other ingredients shifts it to 19.01. Similarly, prepared foods containing pasta or cereals, but forming a complete meal or a more complex savory preparation (e.g., a frozen lasagna with meat and vegetables), are often confused with Chapter 19. While pasta itself is 19.02, a complete ready meal containing it would typically fall under 21.06 (composite food preparations) or Chapter 16 if it contains a significant amount of meat or fish. Another common error involves milk-based preparations; basic milk powders or infant formulas that are solely milk-based without significant cereal content belong to Chapter 04, whereas cereal-based infant foods containing milk are correctly placed in 19.01.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 19?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 19 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($11.6B, 9.8% of world exports), Italy ($10.7B) and the Netherlands ($8.0B). World exports came to about $118.1B, 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.

Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 19?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 19 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($16.1B, 13% of world imports), Germany ($8.6B) and the United Kingdom ($8.0B). World imports came to about $120.5B, 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 19 structured?

HS code 19 is a 2-digit chapter code in the Harmonized System maintained by the World Customs Organization. It represents a broad category of goods and contains multiple 4-digit headings and 6-digit subheadings for more specific classifications.