HS code · 2-digit chapter

HS Code 23 – Food industries, residues and wastes thereof; prepared animal fodder

What HS 23 covers

Chapter 23 of the Harmonized System (HS) is dedicated to 'Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder.' This crucial chapter encompasses a diverse range of by-products generated during the processing of agricultural commodities into human food, along with specially formulated feeds for animals. Its scope is defined by the transformation of primary agricultural products into residues or the deliberate preparation of animal feed, distinguishing it from raw materials (like whole cereals in Chapter 10 or oilseeds in Chapter 12) or highly processed human foodstuffs (Chapters 16-22). Key sub-categories within this chapter include oil-cakes and other solid residues resulting from the extraction of vegetable fats or oils (e.g., soybean oilcake, sunflower seed oilcake), bran, sharps, and other residues from the milling of cereals or leguminous plants (e.g., wheat bran, rice bran), residues of starch manufacture (e.g., corn gluten meal), beet-pulp, brewing or distilling dregs and waste (e.g., DDGS, brewers' spent grains), flours and meals of meat or fish unfit for human consumption (e.g., fish meal, meat and bone meal), and crucially, prepared animal fodder, including pet food (e.g., dog food, cat food, poultry feed, cattle feed). Accurate classification under Chapter 23 is paramount for trade compliance. It directly impacts applicable customs duties, import quotas, and eligibility for preferential trade agreements. More significantly, products in this chapter are often subject to stringent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, animal health certificates, and feed safety regulations, given their direct impact on animal health and, indirectly, human food safety. Historically, the trade in these 'waste' products has evolved into a sophisticated global industry, valorizing agricultural by-products and providing essential nutrients for livestock and aquaculture, thereby contributing to food security and circular economy principles. Major headings like 2304-2306 cover oilcakes, while 2309 specifically addresses prepared animal fodder, which accounts for a significant portion of global trade value.

Covers
  • Soybean oilcake
  • Sunflower seed oilcake
  • Palm kernel expellers
  • Rapeseed meal
  • Wheat bran
  • Rice bran
  • Corn gluten meal
  • Beet pulp pellets
  • Brewers' spent grains
  • Distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS)
  • Fish meal
  • Meat and bone meal
  • Feather meal
  • Poultry feed
  • Cattle feed
  • Pig feed
  • Horse feed
  • Dog food
  • Cat food
  • Bird seed mixes
  • Mineral licks for livestock
  • Silkworm pupae meal
  • Grape pomace
  • Olive pomace
  • Yeast residues
  • Tapioca residue
Examples

A major American agricultural company exports thousands of tons of soybean meal (HS 2304) from the port of New Orleans to livestock farms in China, serving as a critical protein source for their vast swine and poultry industries. This trade route is vital for global animal feed supply chains. Similarly, Ukrainian producers frequently ship sunflower seed oilcake (HS 2306) to European Union member states, such as Germany and the Netherlands, where it is incorporated into feed formulations for dairy cattle, often via Black Sea ports to Rotterdam. In Southeast Asia, Thailand is a significant exporter of prepared pet food (HS 2309) – specifically canned cat food and dry dog kibble – to markets like Japan and South Korea, catering to the growing demand for premium animal nutrition. Brazilian meat producers often export specialized poultry feed (HS 2309) to countries in the Middle East, supporting their burgeoning poultry farming sectors. Furthermore, India exports large quantities of rice bran oilcake (HS 2306) to countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, where it is used as an ingredient in aquaculture feeds for shrimp and fish farms.

Headings in chapter 23 9

23.01Flours, meal and pellets, of meat or meat offal, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, unfit for human consumption; greaves23.02Bran, sharps and other residues; whether or not in the form of pellets derived from the sifting, milling or other working of cereals or of leguminous plants23.03Residues of starch manufacture, similar residues; beet-pulp, bagasse and other waste of sugar manufacture, brewing or distilling dregs and waste, whether or not in the form of pellets23.04Oil-cake and other solid residues; whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil23.05Oil-cake and other solid residues; whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of ground-nut oil23.06Oil-cake and other solid residues; whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of vegetable or microbial fats or oils, other than those of heading no. 2304 or 230523.07Wine lees; argol23.08Vegetable materials and vegetable waste, vegetable residues and bi-products; whether or not in the form of pellets, of a kind used in animal feeding, not elsewhere specified or included23.09Preparations of a kind used in animal feeding

36 Brazil NCM codes in chapter 23 →

Codes often confused with 23

Common mistake. Common misclassification errors in Chapter 23 often arise from confusing primary agricultural products with their processed residues or prepared animal feeds. Traders frequently confuse raw oilseeds (Chapter 12, e.g., whole soybeans) with oil-cake residues after oil extraction (HS 2304), failing to recognize the 'residue' aspect. Similarly, unmilled cereals (Chapter 10) are sometimes mistakenly classified with their bran or milling residues (HS 2302). Another frequent mistake is classifying simple mixtures of agricultural products (which might fall under Chapter 12) as 'prepared animal fodder' (HS 2309). The key distinction for 2309 is the specific formulation for animal nutrition, often involving multiple ingredients and processing. Conversely, some highly processed human food products (Chapter 19 or 21) that might share ingredients with animal feed are incorrectly placed here, overlooking the 'unfit for human consumption' or 'prepared for animal feeding' criteria specific to Chapter 23.

23.04Oil-cake and other solid residues; whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil23.02Bran, sharps and other residues; whether or not in the form of pellets derived from the sifting, milling or other working of cereals or of leguminous plants23.09Preparations of a kind used in animal feeding

Top exporters and importers of HS code 23, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 23 in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 13% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 6.3% 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 United States $13.6B
  2. 2 Brazil $9.0B
  3. 3 Germany $7.8B

World total: $104.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Germany $7.0B
  2. 2 China $6.9B
  3. 3 United States $5.4B

World total: $111.1B 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 23

What is HS code 23?

HS code 23 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Food industries, residues and wastes thereof; prepared animal fodder. Chapter 23 of the Harmonized System (HS) is dedicated to 'Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder.' This crucial chapter encompasses a diverse range of by-products generated during the processing of agricultural commodities into human food, along with specially formulated feeds for animals. Its scope is defined by the transformation of primary agricultural products into residues or the deliberate preparation of animal feed, distinguishing it from raw materials (like whole cereals in Chapter 10 or oilseeds in Chapter 12) or highly processed human foodstuffs (Chapters 16-22). Key sub-categories within this chapter include oil-cakes and other solid residues resulting from the extraction of vegetable fats or oils (e.g., soybean oilcake, sunflower seed oilcake), bran, sharps, and other residues from the milling of cereals or leguminous plants (e.g., wheat bran, rice bran), residues of starch manufacture (e.g., corn gluten meal), beet-pulp, brewing or distilling dregs and waste (e.g., DDGS, brewers' spent grains), flours and meals of meat or fish unfit for human consumption (e.g., fish meal, meat and bone meal), and crucially, prepared animal fodder, including pet food (e.g., dog food, cat food, poultry feed, cattle feed). Accurate classification under Chapter 23 is paramount for trade compliance. It directly impacts applicable customs duties, import quotas, and eligibility for preferential trade agreements. More significantly, products in this chapter are often subject to stringent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, animal health certificates, and feed safety regulations, given their direct impact on animal health and, indirectly, human food safety. Historically, the trade in these 'waste' products has evolved into a sophisticated global industry, valorizing agricultural by-products and providing essential nutrients for livestock and aquaculture, thereby contributing to food security and circular economy principles. Major headings like 2304-2306 cover oilcakes, while 2309 specifically addresses prepared animal fodder, which accounts for a significant portion of global trade value.

What products fall under HS code 23?

Soybean oilcake, Sunflower seed oilcake, Palm kernel expellers, Rapeseed meal, Wheat bran, Rice bran, Corn gluten meal, Beet pulp pellets, Brewers' spent grains, Distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS), Fish meal, Meat and bone meal, Feather meal, Poultry feed, Cattle feed, Pig feed, Horse feed, Dog food, Cat food, Bird seed mixes, Mineral licks for livestock, Silkworm pupae meal, Grape pomace, Olive pomace, Yeast residues, Tapioca residue

What are common misclassifications for HS code 23?

Common misclassification errors in Chapter 23 often arise from confusing primary agricultural products with their processed residues or prepared animal feeds. Traders frequently confuse raw oilseeds (Chapter 12, e.g., whole soybeans) with oil-cake residues after oil extraction (HS 2304), failing to recognize the 'residue' aspect. Similarly, unmilled cereals (Chapter 10) are sometimes mistakenly classified with their bran or milling residues (HS 2302). Another frequent mistake is classifying simple mixtures of agricultural products (which might fall under Chapter 12) as 'prepared animal fodder' (HS 2309). The key distinction for 2309 is the specific formulation for animal nutrition, often involving multiple ingredients and processing. Conversely, some highly processed human food products (Chapter 19 or 21) that might share ingredients with animal feed are incorrectly placed here, overlooking the 'unfit for human consumption' or 'prepared for animal feeding' criteria specific to Chapter 23.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 23?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 23 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($13.6B, 13% of world exports), Brazil ($9.0B) and Germany ($7.8B). World exports came to about $104.7B, 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 23?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 23 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($7.0B, 6.3% of world imports), China ($6.9B) and the United States ($5.4B). World imports came to about $111.1B, 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 23 structured?

HS code 23 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.